Slog
News & ArtsThursday, December 3, 2009
Health Public Preference: Public Option
Posted by Dominic Holden on Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Sixty percent of Americans want Congress to create a government-run health insurance provider to compete with the private racket firms (voting begins in the Senate today)... but they don't think it's going to make difference in the quality of health care. Thomson Reuters released the results of a poll today:
* Believe in public option: 59.9 percent yes, 40.1 percent no.* 86 percent of Democrats support the public option versus 57 percent of Independents and 33 percent of Republicans.
* Quality of healthcare will be better 12 months from now: 35 percent strongly disagree. 11.6 percent strongly agree. 29.9 percent put themselves in the middle.
* Believe the amount of money spent on health care will be less 12 months from now: 52 percent strongly disagree, 13 percent strongly agree.
* 23 percent believe it will be easier for people to receive the care they need a year from now.
You're have to be mad to believe that health insurance is best handled entirely by the private market. Of course, I'd argue that at least 40 percent of Americans are on the brink of totally nuts.
1
not nuts - willfully ignorant. you can't educate them on this issue - they won't listen. and many of them have shit for insurance, or none.
2
You'd also have to be mad to believe that congress gives a shit what people think unless it falls in line with the stream of money, then they're all populists.
3
Considering the rate at which these things move, I'd be surprised if any change of any kind has gone into effect within only 12 months.
4
This American Life's late-November show "Someone Else's Money" convinced me the "public option" ain't all that, certainly not in the ridiculous shape it's taken now, and carries unintended negative consequences that outweigh by a mile any accidental benefit.
It's become no more than a sop to stave off single-payer.
It's become no more than a sop to stave off single-payer.
6
@4 – I’m pretty sure that’s all it ever was, right? Before the ’08 election, Paul Krugman was basically saying that single payer is the best approach, but it’ll never happen. So, here’s an incredibly complicated work-around (public option + some other things) that mimics single payer but hopefully won’t scare the “OMG Socialism!” crowd too much.
The way I see it, single payer is the ideal, but it’s not politically viable (because Americans have this weird hang-up around anything smelling of socialism – right up until the time that a program is implemented, and then just try to reduce or take away their Social Security or Medicare benefits). Though, I haven’t seen polling on single payer in awhile (I notice this survey didn’t ask the question). Not that it really matters since most Americans probably don’t understand single payer vs. public option vs. what we have now. Blegh.
The way I see it, single payer is the ideal, but it’s not politically viable (because Americans have this weird hang-up around anything smelling of socialism – right up until the time that a program is implemented, and then just try to reduce or take away their Social Security or Medicare benefits). Though, I haven’t seen polling on single payer in awhile (I notice this survey didn’t ask the question). Not that it really matters since most Americans probably don’t understand single payer vs. public option vs. what we have now. Blegh.
7
If the America-hating Republic Party of No can cripple it, they will.
We all know that - and given all the money going to both parties to do just that and ignore what the vast majority of American citizens want, we expect that's what we'll get.
Doesn't matter to me - I can retire to Canada and pay $42 a month for the best health care in the world while you starve like animals.
We all know that - and given all the money going to both parties to do just that and ignore what the vast majority of American citizens want, we expect that's what we'll get.
Doesn't matter to me - I can retire to Canada and pay $42 a month for the best health care in the world while you starve like animals.
8
@3,
Unless something's changed recently, I'm pretty sure the plan doesn't take full effect until 2013.
Unless something's changed recently, I'm pretty sure the plan doesn't take full effect until 2013.
9
Of course the problem is not the cost of health insurance but health care. Its not like insurance companies are making obscene profits. Doctors are. The fault lies in the crazy costs of health care delivery.
We just pay the insurance companies so that is the focus of our anger.
We just pay the insurance companies so that is the focus of our anger.
10
Dominic, have you ever worked in the health care field? Ever run a business and met a payroll and paid for insurance for a dozen employees? Ever done anything but bitch and whine?
Have a joint.
STFU.
Have a joint.
STFU.
11
Maybe the 40% against are the people who currently get their healthcare from the government. They have nothing to gain from a public option.
12
For the most part they are, @11. Medicare, Medicaid, and VA benefits comprise about 90 percent of those protesting against allowing us hard-working Americans to get single payer national health care, because they're already ON socialized medicine.
13
The private market is best for providing things we want, but don't need, like bubblegum, cadillacs, and vacation packages.
The private market isn't so great for providing things we need, but don't like to think about, like prisons, the military, and caring for the sick.
The private market isn't so great for providing things we need, but don't like to think about, like prisons, the military, and caring for the sick.
14
What a ridiculous interpretation. There is no way a public option would kick in 12 months from now. People are being sensible and not expecting changes that fast.
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
Hating People Doesn't Make Them Thinner by Jen Graves
-
Los Angeles Gay Bar Bans Bachelorette Parties Until Marriage Equality Is Attained by David Schmader
-
Fill in the Blank by Grant Brissey
-
This Reminds Me of the Great Calculator Scare of the Late '70s/Early '80s by David Schmader
-
Idiot Tries to Defend Bigoted Anti-Gay-Marriage Preacher on Anderson Cooper by Paul Constant
-
Six Moms with Too Much Time on Their Hands and a Shitty Website Decide to Fight Gay Superheroes by Paul Constant
-
Why Mayor McGinn's Wife Canceled Her Family's Seattle Times Subscription by Eli Sanders
-
What the Hell Is Wrong With Seattle's Pride Parade? by Dominic Holden
-
The Saturday Morning News by Unpaid Intern
-
NYC Man Ticketed for Not Riding in the Bike Lane by Jonathan Golob
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (14) RSS