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ProgressiveATL

(50 posts)
16. WOOT!
Wed Mar 28, 2012, 12:07 PM
Mar 2012

Roughly one out of two people access health insurance through employer. In 2000, it was two out of three people. Huge drop, and that trend continues. Much of the slack is and will continue to be picked up by government-funded programs, and that need will continue to grow. At some point it, this unworkable system will collapse and a national pooling of risk (medicare-for-all) will be the only workable solution. Because of rising insurance costs, that might well happen within a decade or two.

40 million were without health insurance when all the new plan talk started a few years ago. I've read estimates it's up to about 80 million now, folks without any or with far too little health insurance.

And by 2033, health insurance premiums will surpass household income: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=155840

And as recently as 1989, conservatives were for a "socialist" single-payer solution too:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/27/why-the-right-turned-its-back-on-the-individual-mandate.html

“There is an implicit contract between households in society, based on the notion that health insurance is not like other forms of insurance protection. If a young man wrecks his Porsche and does not have the foresight to obtain insurance, we may commiserate but society feels no obligation to repair his car. Healthcare is different. If a man is struck down by a heart attack in the street, Americans will care for him whether or not he has insurance. If we find that he has spent his money on other things rather than insurance, we may be angry but we will not deny him services – even if that means more prudent citizens end up paying the tab … A mandate on individuals recognizes this implicit contract.”

Two-thirds of Americans support Medicare-for-all: http://pnhp.org/blog/2009/12/09/two-thirds-support-3/

"The more people know about single-payer, the more likely they are to support it. We see this pattern when we compare the “jury” results with poll results, and we see it when we compare polls that show high levels of support for single-payer with those that don’t."

It's time for a single-payer variant.

K&R liberal N proud Mar 2012 #1
K&R! Ian David Mar 2012 #2
I think the case for single payer will be made if the S. Court rules... polichick Mar 2012 #3
No one ProSense Mar 2012 #4
K & R yesphan Mar 2012 #5
K&R n/t Lugnut Mar 2012 #6
Health care... shrdlu Mar 2012 #7
Agreed and all part of the fight libtodeath Mar 2012 #9
Absolutely. The real focus here should be to do away with health insurance companies loudsue Mar 2012 #20
The immense wealth (= political clout) of the insurance industry is aligned against "real people." TahitiNut Mar 2012 #8
It's my impression that the insurance industry is highly concentrated, such that a relatively small HiPointDem Mar 2012 #54
Of course that's what we need. bowens43 Mar 2012 #10
I will never give up - health care is a basic human right. n/t adigal Mar 2012 #11
yes, health care is a basic human right newspeak Mar 2012 #23
Hell yes! daleanime Mar 2012 #12
I have believed all along that "health care reform" like we got kestrel91316 Mar 2012 #13
Don't give up my neighbours to the South. Fix The Stupid Mar 2012 #14
Someday. Someday we as a nation won't be so fucking ignorant. byronius Mar 2012 #15
WOOT! ProgressiveATL Mar 2012 #16
And single-payer obviates need for mandate, and thus the legal concern at center of fray ProgressiveATL Mar 2012 #17
K&R abelenkpe Mar 2012 #18
The battle will be to get single payer at the state level... villager Mar 2012 #19
Yes,get it in forward thinking and progressive states to show the cost effectiveness! libtodeath Mar 2012 #24
K&R Never give up! n/t Cleita Mar 2012 #21
K&R!! ClassWarrior Mar 2012 #22
K&R lsewpershad Mar 2012 #25
duh n/t librechik Mar 2012 #26
K&R nt Granny M Mar 2012 #27
K/R Jack Rabbit Mar 2012 #28
No tcaudilllg Mar 2012 #29
If the 5 conservative justices Iliyah Mar 2012 #30
K&R! Rhiannon12866 Mar 2012 #31
Abso-FUCKING-lutely! eridani Mar 2012 #32
K&R Chorophyll Mar 2012 #33
K&R. n/t TriMera Mar 2012 #34
KnR Vincardog Mar 2012 #35
k&r hwmnbn Mar 2012 #36
K & R!!! RufusTFirefly Mar 2012 #37
K&R patrice Mar 2012 #38
There is no alternative. kenny blankenship Mar 2012 #39
K&R Luminous Animal Mar 2012 #40
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Mar 2012 #41
k and r DonCoquixote Mar 2012 #42
Fuckin' A, Bubba! TheKentuckian Mar 2012 #43
Count me in goclark Mar 2012 #44
K&R Volaris Mar 2012 #45
Without a doubt. donheld Mar 2012 #46
Of course. Blue_In_AK Mar 2012 #47
I think it is the best solution. n/t Yo_Mama Mar 2012 #48
K&R. nt DesertFlower Mar 2012 #49
Thank you, imua! mahina Mar 2012 #50
K&R me b zola Mar 2012 #51
There ya go! caseymoz Mar 2012 #52
right on! lovemydog Mar 2012 #53
K&R! onestepforward Mar 2012 #55
Kickin it! Esse Quam Videri Mar 2012 #56
does this need another kick? Lifelong Protester Mar 2012 #57
K & R chazzio Mar 2012 #58
Yes...for Single payer Tippy Mar 2012 #59
K and R (nt) bigwillq Mar 2012 #60
It's not that we are giving up. It's that we live in a corrupt corporate run country. mmonk Mar 2012 #61
No argument on that but saw a bunch of we will never get anything now posts libtodeath Mar 2012 #65
KR SHRED Mar 2012 #62
One immediate step thucythucy Mar 2012 #63
K&R jwirr Mar 2012 #64
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