The Access Press Candidate Survey
Pam Ellison
(Independence Party)
We will attempt to offer some ideas that will particularly
assist those with disabilities, and these areas are embedded in our
platform on our Web site pamforgov.com.
The top issue of reform for myself as a candidate for governor pertains
to reforming the current health care system to the extent that it
affords all Minnesotans access and affordability. The United
States is the only nation in the industrialized complex that does
not provide comprehensive health care for all of its citizens, and
yet even though over 43 million are not yet covered we pay double
what the most magnanimous country pays per capita for health insurance. In
my opinion this is deplorable. It is estimated that if we converted
to a single payer system nationwide, we would be able to not only
cover everyone, but could save over a trillion dollars yearly and
improve the care we provide substantially for all. This
would include everyone—seniors, those on disability as
well as the rest of the population.
In Minnesota this could be accomplished by using Minnesota Care as
the vehicle for all for their insurance, and by diverting money
from programs that are questionable for the state to be providing
as well as other streams of revenue the state could greatly
improve the health care delivery system as well as detach medical care
from employment, which would spur economic growth in the private
sector. By detaching the health care coverage from employment,
those that are laid off or unemployed for a time due
to medical or other types of leave would not risk having no
coverage. There would be no need for a COBRA plan, which in
most cases is cost prohibitive. The large corporations that
are sending jobs overseas to avoid paying such benefits
might reconsider bringing those jobs back to Minnesota, and would
be able to provide pensions that are guaranteed to lifelong employees
without fear of corporate raiding. Small businesses would start
up with no fear they would not be able to sustain the costs of healthcare
for their employees or themselves.
Secondly, my running mate, Kari Johnson, has been a part
of the housing industry for many years, specializing in
transitional, affordable and multi-use housing. In our housing
platform we believe we need to provide more assisted living
apartments and affordable housing for those that are custom-made
to the specifications of their particular disability. This
is something that can make a huge difference in the lives of
families with disabled adults that need to live independently, but
have the ability to have assistance with medical and social
needs that arise. These housing complexes would be beautiful
and welcoming and would have all the necessary services needed in-house,
with social workers and medical staff on hand to assist the tenants
with needs as they arise.
In addition, we would like to set up a more comprehensive network of
employment opportunities and focus on telemarketing, data entry,
and transcription services to allow people with disabilities
more opportunity to work either at a workplace or from their own
home if desired. We would be remiss if we did not mention
the need for more access to excellent transportation options, and
we are concerned that our transportation platform include more options
available to the disabled. We need more accessible transportation
for social and shopping outings as well as provide a greater network
of support for transportation to and from the clinic for health
appointments.
In addition to the above, we would also like to make certain that
educational opportunities are also extended through online learning
or through learning at the post-secondary level. We would
like to provide the option that best suits each individual, which
could include learning through video conferencing, distance online
learning, and classroom experience with appropriate transportation
tailored to the needs of the people that wish to learn in the classroom
setting.
We would like to establish one agency that would be able
to match employers with would be employees. Right now, we
are looking for fund-raisers for my campaign and we would love to
get in touch with those who would like to do some telephone
calling from their homes and earn a 20% commission of all they raise
for our campaign. We are not certain where to go
to hire those who would like the opportunity and need to
be able to work from home. If we could have a state Web site
that would accomplish this, this would greatly help employers who
have work of this nature that can be set up in ones home, and it
would help those folks that would rather be able to work from their
homes.
We are certain there are other pressing needs that can be looked
into further, however, these are the concerns that we think
can be addressed to assist people comprehensively. If we can
provide affordable healthcare, unattached to employment, and also
provide affordable, customized housing that meets the needs
of those with disabilities, along with post-secondary educational
opportunities as well as jobs that can be done in one’s home,
we can comprehensively build on this to make the quality of
life better for the future. The ability to get in touch
with those who need these jobs, and that can benefit from doing
these jobs from home, only makes the possibilities more exciting.
Thank you for the opportunity to allow me to send you my platform.
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