TED RALL - IN DEFENSE OF RADICALISM

In American politics style frequently trumps substance in the pursuit of a moderate image. "On paper [Kerry is] even more liberal than Dean," a top GOP strategist complained to the pro-Bush New York Post. A few days earlier, however, the paper contributed to the opposite perception, running side-by-side photos that declared Kerry's suits and shoes more "presidential"--i.e., moderate--than the cheapy threads favored by the Vermont doctor.

More than 100 million people are un- or underinsured. An overwhelming majority of Americans, including many conservatives, would happily pay higher taxes to solve the healthcare crisis. But John Kerry's proposal would cover a mere 27 million citizens, a small fraction of the uninsured. And Bush's plan is even more modest, covering only the 10 million workers who are unemployed. Nothing short of a radical healthcare plan, one that provides every American with free or affordable access to medical attention, will solve the problem.