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Originally Posted by irateplatypus
filtherton,
i think that if that many people were genuinely discontent with the medical coverage they're getting it would be a galvanizing issue. the idea just doesn't have much traction in the U.S. It could be an institutional thing (people don't like the general idea of the government managing their healthcare) or a practical thing (they're satisfied enough with their current coverage and don't see a strong need for change.).
Kerry gave a pretty strong hint that he was in favor of some form of socialized healthcare in his convention speech. No one noticed, no one cared.
This is something that effects every single citizen, yet the Senator (and the media god bless'em) want to talk about vietnam... and the President won't stop glossing over Iraq. Beautiful.
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There is a huge number of people in this country whose only medical plan is to not get sick. These people wait until the situation is critical and then go to the emergency room. Medical coverage isn't cheap, especially if you don't have an employer to help you out with it. Pair that with cuts in social programs that provide affordable healthcare and you have a lot of people with no healthcare at all.
http://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/p60-226.pdf
These are all for 2003
45 million uninsured.
76.8 million were covered by government programs including medicaid.
1.3 million people lost coverage through their employer
11.4 percent of all american children are not covered at all. That's 8.4 million children.
19.2 percent of children in poverty are uninsured.
Nearly a fourth of people who make less than $25000 a year are uninsured.
I find it difficult to believe that these people wouldn't support universal healthcare over no healthcare at all. Especially in light of the idea of universal healthcare plus a third party system for those who didn't want to use the government's program. Kind've like public vs. private schools. Imagine what the country would be like if the poor were to organize like the AARP. How much power would they have? That power is there for the taking and if there is any more of a galvanizing idea i have not heard it. Yet they don't organize. I think if they could unite they would, and they have on some things, but not for a long time.
Besides, kerry mentioned a lot of things in his speeches. Right now all we hear about kerry is his flip-flopping or his vietnam service. The gop seems to be controlling the discussion and nationalized healthcare doesn't seem like a big issue to them. I think kerry would love to talk about healthcare and if bush agrees to debate, which any respectable candidate should be able to do, then i have no doubt that we will hear more about the issue.