Most Support U.S. Guarantee of Health Care

[Selatius]

A majority of Americans say the federal government should guarantee health insurance to every American, especially children, and are willing to pay higher taxes to do it, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

While the war in Iraq remains the overarching issue in the early stages of the 2008 campaign, access to affordable health care is at the top of the public’s domestic agenda, ranked far more important than immigration, cutting taxes or promoting traditional values.

...

One question offered a choice between the current system and a national health insurance program covering everyone, administered by the government and financed by taxpayers. Thirty-eight percent said they preferred the current system, 47 percent the government-run approach.

Robert Blendon, an expert at Harvard on public opinion and health, said politicians had to find some compromise between these philosophical divisions on the role of government, which are deep-seated in American culture, or “we’re going to have the same train wreck we did before.”

The Clinton plan, itself an attempt at a compromise, collapsed under attacks from an array of interests, including the insurance industry, which warned that the plan amounted to a big government takeover.

Mr. Blendon noted that many politicians were seeking a blend between the private market and the government in their health plans.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/02/washington/02poll.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin

It seems the likeliest thing to pass Congress at this point is some sort of mandatory health insurance law requiring everybody to enroll and setting up a risk pool for those who couldn't qualify for private insurance or can't afford it. Unfortunately, I think such a plan is a waste of money unless the government can collectively bargain with insurance companies for entry-level insurance plans. Otherwise, there is no check on rising health care costs from the side of the consumer.

[redqueen]

1. Of course that's likeliest to pass... it ensures continued PROFIT.

I'm so sick of this crap.

[John Q. Citizen]

2. Single Payer is the only affordable method to insure quality care for all Let's self insure

[redqueen]

3. Damn right.

Now watch while maybe 2% of Dems on the Hill have the integrity to support it.

Lots of insurance company cash floating around, I'm sure.

[John Q. Citizen]

4. Well we have one candidate (Kucinich) and one potential candidadate (Gore) who

are on board.

I bet we can count some more from the progressive caucus.

It will be an epic battle when it comes down. The People VS Acme Health Insurance Company Inc.

[redqueen]

5. I don't know how it'll be a battle even...

if the people's interests aren't represented on the Hill.

It seems like the people have a handful of representatives, and corporations have the rest.