In yesterday afternoon’s debate, the Republicans exposed their strategy for opposing single-payer universal coverage healthcare—or any healthcare system reforms for that matter—in the United States: quality of service will go down. Or, as Rudy Giuliani put it, showing his intellectual dishonesty or stupidity, take your pick: “Where will the Canadians go for healthcare?”
For several election cycles, it was Harry and Louise bemoaning the level of bureaucracy inherent in the proposed reforms (which were neither single-payer nor universal coverage). Then it was claims that they wouldn’t be able to see their family doctor any longer—the government would assign them a physician. Both claims were, of course, lies manufactured by the insurance industry.
Most experts agree that a single-payer universal coverage plan, commonly known as “Medicare for all” would eliminate up to 20% of administrative costs and associated red tape. And no single-payer proponent has ever advocated eliminating individual choice in healthcare matters. But universal coverage, single-payer healthcare has never gotten a fair hearing in America. And it looks like that’s not going to happen this election cycle either.
What’s laughable about the current round of Republican opposition is that none of the Democrats (except Dennis Kucinich) is advocating a universal coverage, single-payer healthcare system. Never mind that most other industrialized nations have just such a healthcare system and are doing much better than the US.
In fact the Democrats are proposing very minor, very Republican-like heathcare reforms: universal coverage, mostly mandatatory. Clinton and Edwards support mandatory coverage and Obama would mandate coverage for children but not adults because, he says, he doesn’t see people not wanting health insurance coverage.
So, when (if?) the gloves come off with regard to healthcare reform this election cycle, inform yourself. Republicans will oppose universal coverage and the Democrats—with one exception—never seriously considered a single-payer system. Listen for the pavlovian keywords: the level of quality of healthcare service will go down. Then remember it’s fear-based, entrenched-interest bullshit. And ask yourself why, when even some Republicans support a single-payer, universal coverage system, can’t we get it?
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