The New York Times reports that nearly three-quarters of Americans favor a government-run Medicare-like health care plan that’s open to everyone. This is a serious and direct threat to the existing power structure, and as such a perfect measure of whether The One is really gifted, or simply fluent. Let us hope for the former, because we need it.
What really surprised me is not that
- People with greater incomes are more upset about taxes
- Folks are concerned that their own personal health care might suffer, but they’re willing to deal with that outcome to make sure everyone has some
- Even half the Republicans responding favor a government-run option
- By 65-26, Americans think covering everyone is more important than controlling costs
No. What surprised me was that the Times straightforwardly asked the single most relevant question.
When anti-single-payer people are pressed to the wall, they’ll often say, “Well, do you want your health care run by the government?” No reasonable person is completely comfortable saying yes. But considering that the alternative is insurance companies running your health care, I was happy to see the Times mention what pollwatchers have long known.
The Times poll asks, Do you think the government would do a better or worse job than private insurance companies in…
- …providing medical coverage?
- …holding down health care costs?
For the first question, it’s Better by 50-34. Two years ago it was 30-44. For the second, it’s gone from 47-37 to 59-26. Another reason to thank George W. Bush.
No semi-intelligent semi-rational being falls for the insurance company propaganda about private enterprise doing things cheaper because they have the profit motive. If you’re assuming I’m that dumb, you can expect business from other locales.
If this were Iran the people would be in the streets before they let the insurance companies and pharmaceuticals take away their rights to representative government. They really need our help to learn how to be a democracy, or was that plutocracy?
Posted by: knowdoubt on June 21, 2009 7:42 AMI fear that the One is gifted. Gifted enough to make Democrats believe he really, really tried to get us a "public option" and feel satisfied with the worthless, complicated and corrupt bill that will finally get passed. If he had been gifted, he would not have compromised before he started negotiating. If he had started with demanding single-payer we might have been able to get a public option. By starting with a public option, Obama signaled that he really wasn't serious.
Posted by: Charles D on June 21, 2009 8:57 AMHow Will Congress Avoid the Popular Will This Time?
Oh, they'll find a way. Have a little faith.
Posted by: Roddy McCorley on June 21, 2009 11:23 AMIn Germany the statutory health insurance (medicare) has one third of the overhead expense of private insurance companies. So much for "private enterprise doing things cheaper".
Posted by: Peter on June 22, 2009 3:14 AM