Senator Bernie Sanders makes the excellent point. The Republicans try to scare us that socialized medicine will be terrible, but the truth is that we already have socialized medicine in this country — it is run by the Veterans Administration. If any politician tried to get rid of the VA health benefits, they would quickly lose their job.
Likewise, the Republicans try to scare us that single payer health insurance will be horrible, but the truth is that we already have single payer health insurance in this country — it is called Medicare. And any politician who tried to get rid of Medicare would also find themselves quickly out of a job. In fact, even Dubya added a prescription benefit to Medicare.
So when Republicans try to scare you by throwing around terms like single payer or socialized medicine, it isn’t because they won’t work or won’t be popular, they are scared that they will work and they will be popular. Of course, that’s if the Republicans don’t manage to purposely make health care reform horrible (like they did with the prescription drug benefit they added to Medicare).
UPDATE: The Anonymous Liberal makes the point that in order “to adopt the Republican position on health care requires believing that every other country in the world is wrong, that their policy experts are misguided and their citizens confused. Indeed it requires believing that the American people themselves are wrong, that despite endless opinion polls to the contrary, people in this country really love the system we have.”
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Republicans look like the proverbial chicken running around with no head. Every- thing they attack bites them in their butts. Without existing social programs many of us would be destitute- a word whose meaning is lost on Reublicans anyway.
Republicans want to keep the current paradigm of poverty for most and riches for few. Fortunately, most Americans have realized the epic failures of the GOP and are now ignoring their lies and misrepresentation of facts.
These are great points. We need to hear more this kind of logic from those debating the liars on health care reform. The ridiculousness of their position must be repeated time and time again until every American understands this issue.
Quit worrying about the Republicrats, or supporting the Demicons.
The people get it… Both parties are corrupt and out for power only.
Defend the constitution. Live free or die.
EXTREMELY GOOD POINTS….PLEASE GET THE MESSAGE OUT…ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT REFUSE TO CONSIDER A “PUBLIC OPTION” ARE CHOOSING TO NOT HEAR A LARGE PORTION OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
PLEASE GET THE MESSAGE OUT…I QUESTION WHY ANY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE IS NOT EVEN WILLING TO DISCUSS A PUBLIC OPTION….I LIVED IN FRANCE FOR 10 YEARS AND GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTH CARE WORKS…. AS TED KENNEDY SAID ALL AMERICANS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME HEALTH CARE AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
The right wing republican model of society depends on an economic stratification of society, each level feeding upon all those below it. This model depends on an underclass that can provide cheap labor, serve in the military etc. Anything that might upset this stratification strikes fear into the upper echelons. Denying health care to people is just one instrument used to maintain an underclass and continue this model of society.
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