Speedkill

In my lack of posting anything positive about Kerry (and not 10 minutes ago saying he depresses me), I find this. Among the ideas I like:

Minimum wage. Conservatives have spilled a lot of ink attacking a minimum wage hike. The main gripes: a wage hike will raise unemployment, and will bite into profits and raise consumer costs, spurring inflation; and most minimum-wagers are wealthy teenagers working summer jobs. Don’t believe it. John Kerry’s proposal to raise the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7 makes eminent sense.

…

[Health care]Under John Kerry’s proposal, the government would pay for 75 percent of medical bills over $50,000 a year. Because the costs of covering catastrophic illness would be greatly reduced, insurance companies would no longer have incentive to avoid those who need health care the most. Insurance rates would fall, and younger, healthier people would be more likely to buy health insurance, since they no longer have to pick up the tab for the less fortunate. Kerry’s plan attacks the worst aspects of private insurance, while preserving its benefits. If Kerry can stress this point, and allay fears about a government takeover of health care, he could well convince moderate Republicans to sign on.

Sounds good to me, though his overall economic plan doesn’t strike me as great.

But what do I know?