Fred Thompson on the Issues - Part 3
Healthcare
Americans have the best healthcare in the world. Some, however, choose not be insured; others cannot afford it. Every American should be able to get health insurance coverage that is affordable, fully accessible, and portable. Coverage should meet their individual needs and put them in control. Those who propose a one-size-fits-all Washington-controlled program ignore the cost, inefficiency, and inadequate care that such a system offers. Access to affordable, portable health care can be made available for all Americans without imposing new mandates or raising taxes. Current government programs must also be streamlined and improved so that those who truly need help can get the health care they need. I am committed to a healthcare system that:
- Realigns programs and creates a system around individual consumers and patients by providing more information and more opportunities to choose affordable health care options that best meet their needs and those of their families.
- Improves the individual health of all Americans by shifting to a system that promotes cost-effective prevention, chronic-care management, and personal responsibility
- Modernizes delivery and administration of care by encouraging the widespread use of clinical best practices, medical information technology, and other innovations.
- Increases competition and consumer choice while streamlining regulations through free-market solutions that benefit individuals and reduce costs for employers.
- Promotes and speeds medical research and life-sciences innovation.
Building Strong Families
Strong families are the bedrock of our nation and our culture. They are built around the sanctity of life and the institution of marriage, which is the union of a man and a woman. To counter coarseness in today’s culture that oftentimes victimizes our children and undermines the traditional values parents want to instill, we must not only protect but strengthen the institutions of family and marriage. I am committed to:
- Using the Presidency to encourage policies that promote a culture of life, strengthen the institution of marriage and traditional families, and advance freedom of religion.
- Returning authority to the levels of government closest to families and communities—the states—and then protecting states from further intrusion by the federal government, the judiciary, and other states.
- Combating the spread of obscenity over TV and other media by making sure parents can better exercise their responsibilities.
Government Effectiveness
Our government is outdated, inefficient, and wasteful. It is often unable to perform even the most basic tasks our citizens expect. It is no longer enough just to want limited government; the American people deserve more effective government. Given today’s challenges, we cannot afford—and shouldn’t accept—anything less than a nimble, effective, and efficient government that is able to focus its resources on the important issues facing our country. It must be able act on behalf of the American people and our national interests in a timely manner. The key to competent government is strong, committed leadership from the top. The key to good government is good people who are well-managed and put the national interest first. I am committed to:
- Attracting and rewarding the best Americans to serve in government and ensuring they have the authority and resources needed to get the job done.
- Fixing government accounting so tax dollars are properly spent and the American people know exactly what they are being spent on.
- Improving government performance by making agencies accountable for accomplishing their missions on time and within budget.
- Ensuring information technology systems are secure and that they give our government the capacity and effectiveness to get the job done.
Posts
