Yesterday, the House of Representatives took the next step towards setting up government-run health care. The House will vote in September, and the Senate is also working on its version. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/01/health-care-showdown-looms-house-panel-passes/?test=latestnews
The problem for President Obama and the Democrats is that the more people learn about the details of government run health care, the more people don't like it. The turning point came when the Congressional Budget Office said that, far from reducing the costs of health care, President Obama's plan would increase the federal deficit by $1.1 Trillion. Uh, that's Trillion with a "T" folks. Talk about sticker shock!
The latest Rasmussen polls show how people are starting to turn against Obamacare. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/july_2009/just_23_believe_health_care_costs_will_go_down_if_reform_passes_congress
As of Tuesday, July 28th, while 47% favor Obama's plan, 49% now oppose. More significantly, while 76% of Democrats support and 76% of Republicans oppose--no surprise there--among Indpendents, 35% favor while a whopping 60% are opposed. In other words, if you remove the ideological factor, more people are now opposing Obama's plan than support it.
In my opinion, the reason is that Obama's plan is designed to guarantee access to health care for everyone. While most people sympathize with people who can't afford health insurance, far and away the most important issue is the cost, not access, of health care. Most people want to choose their own health care, and realize that if cost is reduced, more people would have access to it. Also, the truth about Euro-style government health care has come out: although everyone in Europe and Canada has access to health care, there are huge waiting times if someone actually needs medical care. In Britain and Canada, people sometimes have to wait years to have surgery! This explains why, although many Americans go to Canada to buy medicines, Canadians by the droves come to America for medical procedures.
Full disclosure: this opinion is written by someone who does not currently have health insurance.
Amercians are starting to realize that if Obama and the Democrats pass a health care plan that puts government in charge, health care will be rationed, just like in Europe and Canada. For all its shortcomings, America has the best health care in the world, and people want it to be more affordable. Also, Americans are already frustrated with HMO bureaucrats making decisions for them; they sure don't want goverment bureaucrats doing the same!
One thing Obama and the Dems can do that would take a huge chunk out of the cost of health care is tort reform. It is well known that doctors peform tests and procedures not because they are necessary, but to protect them from lawsuits. I used to date a doctor, and she showed me all the things she had to do on even minor illnesses, just in case she was sued. Also, she charged someone with health insurance much higher than someone who had none, in order to balance out the cost of running her practice. Now, there are incompetent doctors, but placing limits on lawsuits, and limiting payouts to actual, rather than punitive, damages would lower costs for everyone. Of course, Dems won't do that, because one of their major constituancies are trial lawyers, for whom a significant part of their income is suing doctors. See John Edwards.
Another idea I like is the concept of a co-op--insurance companies or small businesses who band together to offer lower cost insurance. I think most people would look favorably on that.
Realistically speaking, as long as conservative Blue Dog Democrats go along with it, Obama has the votes in Congress to pass health care reform. It was one of his central campaign themes, and there is pressure for him to get it done quickly. However, if more of the public turn against his plan, then he will have to water down his proposal, or postpone it. It goes to show that the real power in America rests with the people, after all!
The problem for President Obama and the Democrats is that the more people learn about the details of government run health care, the more people don't like it. The turning point came when the Congressional Budget Office said that, far from reducing the costs of health care, President Obama's plan would increase the federal deficit by $1.1 Trillion. Uh, that's Trillion with a "T" folks. Talk about sticker shock!
The latest Rasmussen polls show how people are starting to turn against Obamacare. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/july_2009/just_23_believe_health_care_costs_will_go_down_if_reform_passes_congress
As of Tuesday, July 28th, while 47% favor Obama's plan, 49% now oppose. More significantly, while 76% of Democrats support and 76% of Republicans oppose--no surprise there--among Indpendents, 35% favor while a whopping 60% are opposed. In other words, if you remove the ideological factor, more people are now opposing Obama's plan than support it.
In my opinion, the reason is that Obama's plan is designed to guarantee access to health care for everyone. While most people sympathize with people who can't afford health insurance, far and away the most important issue is the cost, not access, of health care. Most people want to choose their own health care, and realize that if cost is reduced, more people would have access to it. Also, the truth about Euro-style government health care has come out: although everyone in Europe and Canada has access to health care, there are huge waiting times if someone actually needs medical care. In Britain and Canada, people sometimes have to wait years to have surgery! This explains why, although many Americans go to Canada to buy medicines, Canadians by the droves come to America for medical procedures.
Full disclosure: this opinion is written by someone who does not currently have health insurance.
Amercians are starting to realize that if Obama and the Democrats pass a health care plan that puts government in charge, health care will be rationed, just like in Europe and Canada. For all its shortcomings, America has the best health care in the world, and people want it to be more affordable. Also, Americans are already frustrated with HMO bureaucrats making decisions for them; they sure don't want goverment bureaucrats doing the same!
One thing Obama and the Dems can do that would take a huge chunk out of the cost of health care is tort reform. It is well known that doctors peform tests and procedures not because they are necessary, but to protect them from lawsuits. I used to date a doctor, and she showed me all the things she had to do on even minor illnesses, just in case she was sued. Also, she charged someone with health insurance much higher than someone who had none, in order to balance out the cost of running her practice. Now, there are incompetent doctors, but placing limits on lawsuits, and limiting payouts to actual, rather than punitive, damages would lower costs for everyone. Of course, Dems won't do that, because one of their major constituancies are trial lawyers, for whom a significant part of their income is suing doctors. See John Edwards.
Another idea I like is the concept of a co-op--insurance companies or small businesses who band together to offer lower cost insurance. I think most people would look favorably on that.
Realistically speaking, as long as conservative Blue Dog Democrats go along with it, Obama has the votes in Congress to pass health care reform. It was one of his central campaign themes, and there is pressure for him to get it done quickly. However, if more of the public turn against his plan, then he will have to water down his proposal, or postpone it. It goes to show that the real power in America rests with the people, after all!
(0) Comments