In a recent analysis of candidate platforms by the Los Angeles Times, it was pointed out that John McCain, Fred Thompson and Rudy Giuliani would not be able to receive health insurance under each of the candidate’s own health care plans. These three presidential candidates have been treated for cancer; McCain for melanoma, Thompson for lymphoma and Giuliani for prostate cancer.

Of course, these guys don’t have to worry about being covered by some kind of medical insurance. I’m pretty certain that the benefits that any government employee receives are pretty darn good.

What a shame for the rest of the country.

The focus of a Republican health care plan would require people to buy their own health insurance packages. Many health insurance providers tend to reject people with pre-existing conditions, like cancer, from receiving coverage.

The Republican plans do not include regulation of insurance companies when it comes to who can be covered. For those who do receive coverage, what’s to stop the health insurance providers from charging unaffordable premiums?

While Michael Moore’s “Sicko” isn’t the most balanced view of America’s health care system, it does get the idea right: we need major overhaul and reform.

That’s a hard thing to even start. The health insurance companies make a lot of money off of the individual, and under these Republican plans, they would make a whole lot more. But that just makes sense—make the rich richer.

Of course, the Democrats would rather increase government regulation and—gasp—perhaps raise taxes.

By embracing the idea that America is full of people who need help, the Democrats are becoming the party of compassion. Other countries, like Canada, the U.K. and France, already have universal health care. While these systems are not perfect, at least these countries understand that their citizens need to be cared for.

It seems like a waste to vote for a candidate who shows that he does not care about the average person. Actually, that sounds like voting for George W. Bush. People voted for the “Compassionate Conservative” and instead received the mess that is known as the Bush administration.

The presidential candidates have a chance to overhaul and make the American health care system competitive with those in the rest of the world. Instead, the plans of McCain, Giuliani and Thompson will snub the very people that voted for them.