Scott Rasmussen has been polling like crazy on this issue and comes up with some interesting insights on what the Democrats need to do to sell their health care bill. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204313604574330442429438938.html
Exactly. The idea that health care needs to be reformed isn't a point of argument--the vast majority agree. How it's done is the real issue of disagreement. And the House proposal is a joke.
I think it's safe to say that anything that comes out of the political process from either side is going to be a joke.
The thing I can't understand is why the Democrats don't just discuss expanding Medicare. Nothing else. Just say, "Every year we're going to lower the age requirement to qualify for Medicare by two years, and anyone under 18 can enter it right now." Suddenly they've got a pretty winning argument, "Those evil Republicans are anti-Medicare!" Hard to get around one of the most popular government programs ever among AARP members. I suppose the amount of taxes we'd have to raise to pay for the expansion makes it too implement? *shrug*
Given that the elderly are much more likely to vote than the average American, I wonder how many of that 68% are already currently covered by "socialized medicine" (Medicare/Veterans Administration)?
Medicare is much different than a single-payer system would be. Right now, there is no board deciding on the treatment someone on Medicare is going to receive. Right now, people on Medicare can purchase supplimental insurance to cover a different level of care (private rooms, unlimited treatment, etc.). Right now, there is no waiting period for a physician. If someone needs a hip replacement, they get it in a week. And there is certainly no "end of life" counseling sessions.
The problem is if we go to a Medicare based system (which is already hugely overstretched), it's not only expensive and inefficient, but doctors wouldn't be able to make any money. My mother's friend just had a tumor removed from her skull. She found great comfort in the fact that this neurosurgeon made seven figures a year and went through a brutally winnowing system from which only the best, brightest and most capable survived. If you remove the ability for doctors to make money, those people move to other professions where they can make money. Or if they go into medicine, they waste their talents packing bags of saline solution into womens' chests because that's the practice that pays.
Another interesting read: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204908604574330950122077732.html
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Representative Green obviously has no idea what he is talking about.
I think it would be difficult to continue campaigning that healthcare costs would go down if the proposal was to expand Medicare. The Democrats are still trying to justify their proposals by saying that healthcare costs will go down overall, even though numerous groups are predicting the opposite.
