The vast majority of Americans would support single-payer health care in a heartbeat

[brentspeak]

There's a health industry meme that somehow the nation is too "center-right" to accept a single-payer universal health care system, that The People "aren't ready for it".

That's a lot of crap. There are over 300 million American citizens as opposed to a few health industry executives, lobbyists, and various stooges like corporate media personalities and GOP/DLC politicians. And just to make things a bit more fair, let's concede the Greed Side with, say, 50 million citizens dumb enough/greedy enough to oppose single-payer. That's still 250 million vs. 50 million.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

1. AMERICA'S PROBLEM IS THE MIDDLEMEN AND PARASITES

[bvar22]

14. "Middle Men and Parasites"...

You are, of course, talking about our elected representatives in Washington.

[denem]

2. Except after the massive scare campaign

with every vested interest pulling out every stop. Willie wHorton anyone?

[bunkerbuster1]

3. Of course they would. I believe this with all my heart.

Yes, there would be a financial disruption during the transition, but I think that it would pale in comparison to what we're already taking on with the banking bailout.

dump the private insurers, pay a few of these vile fuckers enough to keep them quiet and hire the best to run a new single payer system. That's what is needed. The more we stall the more we're screwed.

And I've been saying this for about a decade, now.

[Sebastian Doyle]

4. It's the goddamn corporatist spin about "socialized medicine".

Of course nobody has a problem when the "socialized" police department arrests criminals, or when the "socialized" fire department keeps your house from burning down. And that damn "socialized" military?? How dare they defeat Hitler and Japan??

[ejpoeta]

5. and i think the more people lose their jobs and/or their insurance, the more

support there will be. Employer based health insurance only works if you have an employer. AND if you have the same employer for your entire working career. This is quickly becoming the exception rather than the norm it once was. As more people are uncertain about their future and are fully aware of the possibility of illness, then the more they should be wanting single payer.

My fear if the insurance companies get their way would be a system more like auto insurance. Think about your auto insurance. As long as you never need to use it, it can be inexpensive. Especially if you are not a teenager or young driver. Now, imagine the insurance companies cannot preclude you due to a preexisting condition. but you are mandated to have it. They could charge you astronomical amounts and you'd have to pay it because you have to have it. That friggin scares me!

I think single payer is a lot more doable than some might think. It's not the same atmosphere as it was in the early 90s. Costs are skyrocketing and folks are getting screwed left and right. The insurance companies just want to keep the cash machine going. I say they can offer add on insurance and make money with that.

[eridani]

11. The possiblilites you describe are actualities in Massachussetts

Everybody likes mandatory insurance except for sicker and lower income people.

[drm604]

6. As I understand Obama's plan, there will be a government program available as one of the options.

I suspect that this is a backdoor to single-payer, as for profit insurance companies won't be able to compete price wise and will eventually go out of the health insurance business leaving only the government option. There may be a few companies left that serve wealthy people who are philosophically opposed to a government program but I suspect that most Americans will eventually go with the government program.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

7. Agreed! K&R nt

[Thrill]

8. Well they should vote for Senators who will support it

Its has no Republican support. And with Baucus leading the charge you would be lucky to get 20 Dems supporting it. This Reality will come if Sanders bill ever makes it to a floor vote

[terisan]

9. I agree. Is there an outfit doing planning on how to address the mechanics of the changeover

I think we are going to have to bring the conversation to the next level---and outline, at least very generally, how workers in the private industry can be helped through transition and how companies in the industry will transition.

[global1]

10. Think Of The Lobbying Power We Have If We Could Get $1 From Each Of......

these 250 million people.

We're learning our votes didn't count for that much - as we heard President Obama "Just Say No" to single payer.

If insurance and pharmaceutical companies are using their monies (which actually they got from us from overcharging) then we have to fight fire with fire and beat them on their playing field.

I've heard in other threads that we should wait and see what this Health Task Force comes up with. My feeling is that it will be too late if we wait. We need to speak up and speak up now - if we want to influence them.

Waiting will just give us more of the same - packaged a little differently - and sold to us a 'reform'.

[Raster]

12. Healthcare insurance companies = parasites.

Any questions?:kick:

[eridani]

13. The chair of WA State Health Care for All gave a talk two weeks ago in Oak Harbor

Two people came up to him afterwards and said "We're conservative Republicans. How can we help you implement this?"

[biopowertoday]

19. times are achanging.

[bvar22]

15. Those supporting Single Payer...

...need only tie the wealthy CEOs of the Health Insurance Industry to the Wall Street Bankers.
There is enough populist outrage in the USA to pass Singler Payer.

[drm604]

17. Good post.

I think you may be right. So how do we do this?

[bvar22]

18. First,

Never mention one without the other:

"Wall Street Bankers AND Health Insurance CEOs"

[drm604]

20. That's all well and good

but we don't have TV and radio shows (at least I don't). That's where it needs to be done.

[cottonseed]

16. I like this post. And I agree with you 100%.

No offense, but the Obama lied, and we're all victims stuff was wearing thin. American citizens would go for a single payer system, but getting that passed in the face of the industry's immense influence with both parties, corporate news, and the pundit class is the issue. I hope we can work our way towards it. I know I'd love it. The system we have now is just broken -- completely unsustainable.

[drm604]

21. In what way did he lie?

I don't recall him ever promising single payer.

[TBF]

22. I think they should slash the budget - take health insurance away from every member of Congress

for one year. We'll see how they vote at the end of the year.