The Big Ideas Project

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Merged Idea

Submitted by Lorna Emerich from WA in Health Nov. 21, 2014, 2:03 p.m. 1

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7895 votes

Merged Idea

Allow all Americans to enroll in Medicare. Because the insurance premiums people pay would be equal to the cost, the program would pay for itself. In many states, a few private insurance companies control the market, restricting consumer choice and driving up the cost of care. The people deserve a public option. Opening up the Medicare system increases competition and provides more options to consumers.

Submitted by Rep. Alan Grayson (FL-9) in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 2:09 a.m.

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#18

5466 votes

Merged Idea

Allow Medicare to negotiate drug pricing.

Submitted by Richard Lamb from MN in Health Nov. 17, 2014, 11 a.m. 1

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#20

5233 votes

Merged Idea

Add vision, dental, hearing, to Medicare benefits for all ages.

Submitted by Kamishibai in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 1:35 p.m. 1

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#33

4147 votes

Merged Idea

Reign in the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The FDA works for the drug companies and the USDA works for Monsanto. Appointing corporate insiders and industry friendly politicians to these agencies is leading to the destruction of the health of the nation. Its no different than appointing Wall street insiders to manage the people's money. The revolving door between industry and government must be closed in these two agencies so they can be reformed.

Submitted by charles m. from NC in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 5:17 p.m.

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#68

2869 votes

Merged Idea

Require Labeling of GMO foods, so people are informed about what they are eating, and can make intelligent choices. "Those that try to keep things secret, do so to control others."

Submitted by Brian Z. in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 1:32 p.m.

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#74

2734 votes

Take the issue of women's right to choose and abort an unwanted pregnancy off the table in politics; it's a woman's personal decision, not the government's. It should be a basic right to choose and not up for grabs every election. The hardest hit by this are the poor and minorities. It's wrong to subject someone to a pregnancy if they can't or don't want to raise a child. Keep politics out of such decisions!

Submitted by Lynn Putnam (Food Revolution Network, T. Colin Campbell Foundation) in Health Jan. 7, 2015, 10:41 p.m. 2

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#88

2434 votes

Merged Idea

Designate water a human right that cannot be privatized. Determine amounts needed, with excess usage to be taxed. No one can be denied water nor have to purchase it in normal usage amounts.

Submitted by ejjohnson in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 1:29 p.m.

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#107

2060 votes

Prescription medicine should be competitive with other countries---make drug companies compete world wide for cost of prescriptions while making sure the prescriptions are highest quality and eliminate the donut hole now in Medicare.

Submitted by Kathy G. from MO in Health Nov. 11, 2014, 5:21 p.m.

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#120

1858 votes

Merged Idea

Reform federal farm subsidies so that crops are supported in proportion to the government dietary recommendations. This means that fruit and vegetable production will receive about 50% of all subsidies (rather than the 2% they currently receive), making them more affordable and increasing their production.

Submitted by mikekurokawa in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 1:31 p.m.

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#123

1834 votes

Paid maternity/paternity leave for new parents (similar to Canada and European countries). It's a disgrace that the United States is one of only three of 85 industrialized nations who doesn't have paid maternity leave (even Pakistan has 12 weeks). New moms are NOT ready to leave their newborns after 2 weeks (vacation) or 6 weeks (short term disability if they are lucky) and it's not good for the baby either. How about one of the parties actually supporting family friendly policies?

Submitted by Tammy V. from FL in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 4:41 p.m.

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#124

1814 votes

Readily affordable and available birth control including abortion. Women must have absolute control of their reproductive lives if we are to move forward with a progressive agenda. Unplanned pregnancy hurts our economy.

Submitted by Ruth R. from CO in Health Nov. 11, 2014, 12:07 p.m. 1

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#134

1711 votes

It is absurd the US is the only industrialized country that does not provide healthcare insurance to every one of its citizens. It is long past time we had a comprehensive uniform national healthcare insurance program under the federal government. All other insurance would be eliminated. Everyone would be required to have it and employers only should be given the option to contribute. Existing insurance companies would be contracted to administer the program under uniform federal standards.

Submitted by Stuart in Health Jan. 4, 2015, 12:32 p.m.

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#140

1646 votes

Subsidize organic farms and help small farmers flourish. Stop subsidizing industrial farming that is cruel to animals, pollutes the earth, and is profoundly unhealthy due to the use of pesticides, GMOs, and animal antibiotics.

Submitted by Janiece J. from NM in Health Jan. 12, 2015, 7:56 p.m. 1

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#142

1615 votes

Prohibit Factory Farms from using excessive amounts of antibiotics and GMO feed. Require the animals have access to open fields to roam and graze. Require the animals are treated humanely and allowed to stay with their offspring.

Submitted by jLAB in Health Jan. 4, 2015, 6:33 p.m.

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#146

1542 votes

REQUIRE GOVERNMENT ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH INSURANCE, AND NOT AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE.

Submitted by Gregory in Health Jan. 4, 2015, 4:32 p.m.

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#150

1516 votes

Pharmaceutical companies should not be allowed to promote their products directly to patients with expensive ad campaigns designed to create a market for their new drug. Pharmaceutical companies should not be allowed to bribe doctors to promote their products, including using lots of euphemisms for "bribe" to get away with using this unethical practice.

Submitted by Mary Rocco in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 4:35 p.m.

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#151

1512 votes

Add dental, vision and hearing insurance to Obamacare and Medicaid and require insurance companies to cover all expenses with no maximum limits and minimum acceptable coverage requirements.. These policies currently can cost consumers tens of thousands of dollars per year even when they have insurance.

Submitted by Les Mezei in Health Jan. 13, 2015, 12:11 p.m. 1

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#157

1475 votes

Protect women's reproductive freedom and stop the erosion of access to abortions. Require that all employers provide health insurance that covers various forms of contraception.

Submitted by Michele J. from CT in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 4:27 p.m.

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#177

1348 votes

Medicare must cover 100% of the medical expenses of retired seniors, including teeth, eyes and ears. We paid for Medicare when we were working, and now we must continue to pay for it, and a supplement, from our meager Social Security income. This is double jeopardy.

Submitted by Joby McClendon in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 2:42 p.m.

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#178

1342 votes

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