That last number, 63 percent opposed, would basically be for independents - that is, the swing voters whom the administration has increasingly alienated in healthcare and deficit reduction.Thirty-two percent (32%) of voters nationwide favor a single-payer health care system where the federal government provides coverage for everyone. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% are opposed to a single-payer plan.
Fifty-two percent (52%) believe such a system would lead to a lower quality of care while 13% believe care would improve. Twenty-seven percent (27%) think that the quality of care would remain about the same.
Forty-five percent (45%) also say a single-payer system would lead to higher health care costs while 24% think lower costs would result. Nineteen percent (19%) think prices would remain about the same.
There's wide political disagreement over the single-payer issue. Sixty-two percent (62%) of Democrats favor a single-payer system, but 87% of Republicans are opposed to one. As for those not affiliated with either major party, 22% favor a single-payer approach while 63% are opposed.
See also, the Astute Bloggers, "OBAMA WANTS TO REGULATE PROFITS, NOT JUST THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY."
More at Memeorandum.
5 comments:
Well I guess it's a good thing that Obama isn't proposing that we move to a single-payer system, huh? Or weren't you aware of that, Donald?
If it helps, here's a Health Reform for Beginners post that Ezra Klein wrote back in June. Yes, he's a liberal, but this is just basic stuff that even you can't disagree with. This way, you won't look so stupid when you try to scare people about Socialized Medicine or Single-Payer Systems which aren't under serious discussion. After that, it's possible you'll be the smartest dude on your side of blogdom. You can go to all your fancy tea parties and brag "I know what a single-payer system is" and watch as everyone swoons. You'll be a real hit.
And yes, while Obama would probably have preferred a single-payer system and many Democrats still do, he's pragmatic enough to realize that it would be politically infeasible. So he's shooting for an extension of our current hybrid system. After all, Medicare is a single-payer program within our hybrid system and it's quite popular. And all the public-option does is give people the option of getting in a Medicare-like program; which I suspect will be fairly popular too.
But of course, you don't like "handouts" like Medicare, either. It's better to just let the old people fend for themselves, eh?
Dr. Biobrain,
Yes, Medicare is a single payer system and it's bankrupt. Obama has made it clear in the past that he favors a single-payer system and only the naive would believe he won't try to phase one in over time.
No, we don't like handouts. If there were tort reform and more doctors, market solutions would substantially reduce the cost of health care. Than those old folks could be around longer and afford to pay for it themselves. Furthermore, they wouldn't have to worry about their rationed Obamacare being cut off because they are no longer "worth the investment."
By the way, a "single payer" system is another name for monopoly -- a government run one at that.
Up your ass, biobrain.
This is where we who love freedom an liberty, two concepts you are wholly alien to, idiot, have chosen to make our stand.
Should we lose, then this will no-longer be the U.S. of America we were all born into, meaning that the freedom-hating jerk-offs such as yourself, have won the day.
Should we prevail, fuck you and the horse you rode in on, you fucking communistic, Obama-oral-servicing asshole from hell.
-Dave
Yes, Medicare is a single payer system and it's bankrupt. Obama has made it clear in the past that he favors a single-payer system and only the naive would believe he won't try to phase one in over time.
The reason Medicare is having problems is because healthcare costs are skyrocketing. It's that simple. But of course, Medicare is still more efficient than private insurers because it doesn't have to pay for marketing or profits, so I don't see what you're trying to say here. Medicare is so popular that they oppose Obama's plan because they fear he'll screw it up.
And yes, he favors a single-payer system. So do I. Yet both Obama and I believe that it's too drastic of a change, so it's not going to happen. And I guess you can count me as naive, as I don't see how he's going to phase-in a single-payer system.
If you could provide me some clue as to how he could realistically do it, I'll listen. But so far, I've only heard crazy conspiracies of the government penalizing doctors for accepting private insurance or forcing big business to drop private insurance. That's completely unrealistic. Nor do I see why it would be necessary. It might be better, but as long as we get a public-option, we'll be ok. I doubt Obama's going to want to refight this battle after it's over.
BTW, Medicare isn't a handout. It's a program that we all pay into and the people getting the benefits are getting what they paid for when they were in the workforce. It's an earned benefit, not a handout.
And seriously, you guys ranted for years about our Tax & Spend tendencies and how we never saw a tax dollar we didn't want to spend. Now you're worried that we'll cut spending in a way that kills voters? Not bloody likely. We'd sell military secrets to the Chinese before we cut spending on seniors.
Up your ass, biobrain.
Well put, Dave. I guess I really hadn't thought of it that way before. Thanks for clearing things up for me. I guess I'll just go find my nearest liberal congressman and start shouting in his face.
Bring on the freedom, bitches!!
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