Hey, David Broder’s on a roll: Here’s a nice report (not a column) on governors’ support for SCHIP, the program that expands Medicare to cover some kids. And the Bush administration faces bipartisan pressure on this one. The Guvs don’t specifically call for the higher cigarette tax to pay for it — amazingly, one of the administration’s objections — but I think that’s just understood at this point. You want the care, cigs pay for it.
Here’s the dirty little secret, which needs to be screamed from the mountaintops: People like government-paid health care — when they get it. In spite of any number of problems, Medicare is politically popular, and ought to remain so, even in spite of destructive tinkering (Part D, Medicare Advantage) by the GOP. Maintaining or even expanding health care for kids is a bipartisan issue, and — who knows? — may even merit a veto override.*
More government-paid health care, please!
*(Unfortunately, I don’t see a veto-proof majority for the House plan, which cuts subsidies for the insurance industry. The industry likes those, and it probably will get what it wants, sadly.)
It’s one of the first lessons in government:
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People like government-funded X when they get it…health care, jobs, transport networks, etc. Nothing special about health care here.
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But few of the health care polls bother to ask, do they like government-funded health care once they’re told how much it will cost?
Well, the recent BCBS Foundation poll actually said that yes, people would pay more in taxes for health care for all. But in reality, government health care (esp. universal care) ought to be less expensive than private care.
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So really, the question that needs to be posed is whether you think it’s best to spend more on private care, or less on government-funded care. And that’s not even addressing the issue of equity, which I’m optimistic that people would respond well to.
If you want universal health care in tUSA, start bu getting universal health care for the young’uns [and preggo women]. This way, everyone has it and then “grow out of it”. This will frustrate people something fierce, and allow the care to simply be expanded, at least until the child is 18.
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Then, once all “non-workers” have health care, it won’t be that hard a sell to point out that health care is solved for two groups of citizens, and the ones who working and taking the sharp end of the stick.
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I’m an incrementalist — some is better than none. Let’s push this idea of health care for all children and pregnant women as a start, and at least improve the situation.