NYT: Most Support U.S. Guarantee of Health Plans

[Rose Siding]

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.

Only 24 percent said they were satisfied with President Bush’s handling of the health insurance issue, despite his recent initiatives, and 62 percent said the Democrats were more likely to improve the health care system.

Americans showed a striking willingness in the poll to make tradeoffs to guarantee health insurance for all, including paying as much as $500 more in taxes a year and forgoing future tax cuts......

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

[Doremus]

1. Make that a SINGLE PAYER health plan and I'm in.

This weaselly mandatory insurance junk is nothing more than a gift to the insurance companies and I'll be damned if I'll willingly participate.

[salitine]

2. It'll only cost your soul. And 2,000 dollars a month.

But look, you can buy band-aid brand eyeglasses, and go to Moe's certified mechanic and dentistry.

[Rose Siding]

3. What makes you think so?

The govt is more efficient at paying for health care than the private sector, proved yet again by another study out just today-

A commission that advises Congress told lawmakers that Medicare spends about 12 percent more for care administered through private insurers than when the same care is provided through traditional Medicare.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2751906&mesg_id=2751906

[salitine]

4. I just don't believe the government would do something to

improve the lives of americans when they can say they did and put the money in their pocket.

[msongs]

6. do you drive on public streets? oh, there's that loser government again.... nt

[thethinker]

5. Single payer health care is the only system that will work

They have to cut out the insurance companies. They are what drives the costs up and the care down. There is no reason to have them - except greed and campaign contributions.

Any program that includes insurance companies is just a Band Aid solution to say they did something. It won't work.