Eight out of ten Americans say they want a “public option” for health care, but fewer than four in ten Americans even know what a “public option” is … comforting huh?
This disconnect comes courtesy of new polling data released Tuesday by AARP – which in case you forgot is the group that U.S. President Barack Obama mistakenly said had endorsed his health care reform proposal (back when it wasn’t such a moving target).
In spite of their ignorance of the terminology associated with the health care debate, though, the poll showed Americans were crystal clear about one point – they don’t want to pick up socialized medicine’s massive $1.5 trillion tab.
In fact, the poll showed that sixty-five percent of Americans are opposed to paying more in taxes to cover the uninsured, while 73% say they are unwilling to see their private premiums increase to cover the uninsured.
Washington political analyst Charlie Cook – who helped present the data – told an AARP audience in Denver that the current polling data is actually worse for Democrats than in 1993, when President Bill Clinton proposed a massive health care reform overhaul that delivered control of the Congress to Republicans the following year.
Cook also said the health care debate was costing Obama the support of independent voters.
“I don’t know that there’s an ending that the president is going to like,” he said.
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By jacksmith August 26, 2009 at 6:30 pm
NO CO-OP’S! A Little History Lesson
Young People. America needs your help.
More than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% republicans). Basically everyone.
Our last great economic catastrophe was called the Great Depression. Then as now it was caused by a reckless, and corrupt Republican administration and republican congress. FDR a Democrat, was then elected to save the nation and the American people from the unbridled GREED and profiteering, of the unregulated predatory self-interest of the banking industry and Wallstreet. Just like now.
FDR proposed a Government-run health insurance plan to go with Social Security. To assure all Americans high quality, easily accessible, affordable, National Healthcare security. Regardless of where you lived, worked, or your ability to pay. But the AMA riled against it. Using all manor of scare tactics, like Calling it SOCIALIZED MEDICINE!! :-0
So FDR established thousands of co-op’s around the country in rural America. And all of them failed. The biggest of these co-op organizations would become the grandfather of the predatory monster that all of you know today as the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry. And the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry.
This former co-op would grow so powerful that it would corrupt every aspect of healthcare delivery in America. Even corrupting the Government of the United States.
This former co-op’s name is BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD.
Do you see now why even the suggestion of co-op’s is ridiculous. It makes me so ANGRY! Co-op’s are not a substitute for a government-run public option.
They are trying to pull the wool over our eye’s again. Senators, if you don’t have the votes now, GET THEM! Or turn them over to us. WE WILL! DEAL WITH THEM. Why do you think we gave your party Control of the House, Control of the Senate, Control of the Whitehouse. The only option on the table that has any chance of fixing our healthcare crisis is a STRONG GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION.
An insurance mandate and subsidies without a strong government-run public option choice available on day one, would be worse than the healthcare catastrophe we have now. The insurance, and healthcare industry have been very successful at exploiting the good hearts of the American people. But Congress and the president must not let that happen this time. House Progressives and members of the Tri-caucus must continue to hold firm on their demand for a strong Government-run public option.
A healthcare reform bill with mandates and subsidies but without a STRONG government-run public option choice on day one, would be much worse than NO healthcare reform at all. So you must be strong and KILL IT! if you have too. And let the chips fall where they may. You can do insurance reform without mandates, subsidies, or taxpayer expense.
Actually, no tax payer funds should be use to subsidize any private for profit insurance plans. So, NO TAX PAYER SUBSIDIZES TO PRIVATE FOR PROFIT PLANS. Tax payer funds should only be used to subsidize the public plans. Healthcare reform should be 100% for the American people. Not another taxpayer bailout of the private for profit insurance industry, disguised as healthcare reform for the people.
God Bless You
Jacksmith — Working Class
Twitter search #welovetheNHS #NHS Check it out
(http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)
Senator Bernie Sanders on healthcare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbWw23XwO5o) CYBER WARRIORS!! – TAKE THIS VIRAL
By Marcus August 27, 2009 at 3:36 am
Dear jacksmith,
You obviously have great contempt for the “DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY” but may I remind you, we do live in a country that is based on free markets, free enterprise and capitalism. If you do not appreciate the benefits of living in a capitalist society, there are several other countries that you could relocate to, and you can find out if your quality of life is better or worse in such places. Might I suggest that you try Cuba or perhaps China. (In the event that you do select China, maybe you can find out for me whether the Chinese call their good plates “America”… I’ve been curious about that for some time.)
Bottom line: A majority of Americans don’t need to fall prey to “scare tactics” to understand that another government boondoggle is exactly the opposite of what our economy needs at this time. In fact, this would be a bad idea in any time. They don’t want this, plain and simple. If Democrats have a lick of sense they will abandon this before they lose their congressional majorities just like they did the last time a liberal president tried to force universal healthcare on the American people who did not want their already wasteful, incompetent, money-guzzling, ultra-bureaucratic federal government to get involved in this.
By BC August 27, 2009 at 10:39 am
Dear Marcus,
You can put a price tag on most products and services and claim it to be for-profit but health insurnace is one of the worst things to affix this comparison on. Many Americans find themselves fighting with their health insurance companies just when they need them the most. The industry has a term for paying out benefits on your behalf when you get sick, its called medical losts. Your sickness represents a lost for the commpany and if the amount becomes too great they will cut you off. That’s it! Now, how do you feel? Do you feel as if the free market system is working on your behalf? Do you see the issue from a different perpsective?
Universal healthcare is not a hand out but an investment that will foster stability of the nation’s future. The free market system has a place but health insurance should have not been allowed to be placed into this system. I promise you, the Presidents of Cigna/Aetna/Blue Cross Blue Shield won’t voluntary a dollar of their salaries to help keep your coverage active when you become seriously ill or diagnosed with a disease.
By Marcus August 27, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Dear BC,
I dislike and distrust insurance companies as much as you do, and know exactly what you are talking about. However, just as you argue against comparing health care products services to other “for-profit” products and services, a majority of Americans do not feel that government involvement in this aspect of our lives would be appropriate.
I appreciate what you wrote about fostering stability of the nation’s future. That is indeed a worthy goal; however, when we have a projected $8 trillion national debt as a result of runaway spending by Washington politicians, the future of our nation and economy seems anything but stable. If you read the article above, the polling data reflects a growing concern among Americans that we are digging ourselves into too big of a hole, with potentially dire costs and consequences not only for ourselves, but for future generations of Americans.
By rick August 31, 2009 at 2:57 pm
People, People, People…can we agree on at least one thing….the government has done such a wonderful job on SSI solvency, Medicare reform, Prescription drug plan and that model of efficiency and rectitude the US Postal Service that I think we should in fact allow the government to administer to our health care needs….now those that want government mandated health care please raise your hands and go to the front of the line….the environmentalists will be happy, population reduction at its best, and since we refuse to allow the stupid to die needlessly, this will be a good opportunity for some good old fashioned Darwinism.