Why is there so much resistance in the U.S. to a national health care system? for Questionland Seattle

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Why is there so much resistance in the U.S. to a national health care system?

Every other industrial or post-industrial society has a national health care system. It's not a big deal. Here Obama has proposed several tiny (and probably ineffective) changes to a profit-motivated inefficient insurance system which gives us the 43rd "best" system in the world which costs the most; and those tiny changes are met with a wall of resistance. It makes no sense.

Ballard Pimp asked in News & Politics over 2 years ago | Report

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Toasterhedgehog

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Because America is fighting for its identity. We're a plutocratic oligarchy that is still tethered to the vestiges of a representational democracy. The insurance industry paid $46,635,720 in political donations this year. They have paid to play, and a government insurance agency, unburdened by the need to make profit, would provide better insurance at lower rates. The insurance companies have paid to play, and that money trumps public opinion. The propaganda wing of our oligarchy we call news media is making the case on behalf of their advertisers, and the government officials those advertisers have paid to put in office. The reason our healthcare is so expensive is because of the obscene profits the drug companies, doctors, and insurance companies rake in.

That socialized health care which would benefit all middle and lower class Americans, and is desired by 70% of the populace is even being considered, is hopeful. If we don't get socialized health care, it will prove without a doubt that people are shut-out from their own government.

Toasterhedgehog answered in News & Politics over 2 years ago | Report

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Millerisben

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Because of the increasing tensions between the two parties (and their increasing polarity on the *american* political spectrum) there has been a lot of bickering between the two. In general dems seem to be for health care, this means that republicans MUST be against health care. The populace, if actually asked in a meaningful way with out all the propagandizing, would probably lean towards wanting a better health care system.

There is a generation gap at play here as well. Baby boomers and older still have memories of the cold war and the very fervent hatred fostered in the american people towards communists. Any time something moves towards government centralization one party or the other can accuse their opponent of socialization, which really means very little (as no socialization is going on in any of these situations) but does drum up a backlash of people still holding on to their antiquated views of a political system they don't understand.

sorry for the long answer, i just kept going...

Millerisben answered in News & Politics over 2 years ago | Report

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Because americans are used to a consumer-driven society where everyone is supposed to get everything they WANT and they would never accept a system where everything is rationed and controled and people are supposed to only get what they NEED. Everyone talks about equality but in reality no one wants be be equal. Everyone wants to be special.

Maria Ruiz answered in News & Politics over 2 years ago | Report

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because the media is telling people that we will become the soviet union if they don't resist it.

if you're thinking "what media", find a radio, flip the switch to "AM" and tune any given station. And remember that such stations cover pretty much the whole country.

guy answered in News & Politics over 2 years ago | Report

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Because they're possibly ineffective?

elenchos answered in News & Politics over 2 years ago | Report

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It would cost far too much to implement right now. As someone who has worked in HR and seen the costs in print... comprehensive medical insurance is obscenely expensive per person. For the government to subsidize that in full as things stand now would bankrupt the country practically overnight. There are a variety of reasons, relevant and irrelevant to the insurance industry, why it's so expensive.

The issue right now is finding an affordable way to provide universal health care, and that's why we're not seeing a bill rushed through.

Steven Gomez answered in News & Politics over 2 years ago | Report

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