The Public perception of Universal Healthcare? Can you say "it's tanking"?
Obama says that the public is CRYING OUT for healthcare reform. The Progressives are saying that WE MUST HAVE IT!
Um, folks? Seems, according to Rasmussen, the regular folks HATE the idea! Do you see a POSITIVE number in the chart below?
| % Saying their | |
| Health Coverage Will | |
| Income | Get Better |
| Under $20,000 | -46% |
| $20-40,000 | -21% |
| $40-60,000 | -19% |
| $60-75,000 | -12% |
| $75-100,000 | - 8% |
| $100,000 | - 5% |
| Age | |
| 18-29 | -33% |
| 30-39 | -24% |
| 40-49 | -21% |
| 50-64 | -13% |
| 65+ | - 6% |
NO - you don't. EVERYONE, based on either socioeconomic class or age class, believe that Government will ONLY screw it up - and the younger / poorer you are, the less they like it. Americans are peculiar people - they don't like to be told what to do or told, over and over again, "do this because it is good for you".
Side bar: ever listen to some of the talk shows via the 'Net when the over-the-air broadcast is doing PSAs (Public Service Announcements)? Most of them are Government sponsored - I can tell you that they ABSOLUTELY believe we citizens are merely morons....
Wanna get rid of some wasted taxpayer money? Shut these people OFF!
Want to solve the problem? Get Government OUT of the way, incentivize individuals and let them be in charge of their own healthcare by removing government mandates and "walls" from the process. Remove the increasing tendency for Government (and society at large) for socializing bad decisions - LET PEOPLE FAIL!
Trust me - the vast majority of people will learn from their mistakes. Yes, some bad decisions may be fatal - but while they may not serve a purpose for those that are now taking a dirt nap (other than removing their genes from our pool), others will take note and think "hmm, maybe that isn't such a hot idea" and not try it for themselves.
Healthcare insurance has not been an insurance market for a long, long time. Instead, it has become a healthcare payment system; that needs to change. Once it does change into a real marketplace, you will see quality go up and costs go down.
Let Government do what it should - set some oversight rules (but not micromanage as it does now and wants to do more), keep the marketplace competitive, and bag the lawbreakers.
Then get out of the way, allow us the freedom to do as we think best for us and our families, and allow us to succeed. Or fail as the case may be. And stop being a Nanny.
(H/T: NRO)
