There is a cognitive leap that Americans have to take

[LiberalLovinLug]

I was encouraged to post this as an OP from another thread I was in.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141722460#post10

As a Canadian, I admire the American spirit of the individual doing it "my way". Your history is seeped in characters with this attribute. So I understand. Even many conservative Democrats probably feel uneasy about it (mandated health insurance payments). As Jason Pye, director of public policy and legislative affairs at FreedomWorks opined on the new Republican plan that is the "continuous coverage requirement which critics likened to the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate" that is what is wrong with it. Of course true single payer goes much further but the basic premise that EVERYONE is required to contribute, if they are employed, in order to cover EVERYONE. One has to crack this "party of personal responsibility" wall so they can see the light of community responsibility. It takes a village and all that.

It just has to be presented properly. How does the federal government fund the Armed Forces? And all the different aspects. It's funding is run as a socialist system. If every State, every county with an armed forces base all had to find individual manufacturers for say, new uniforms, the cost to taxpayers would be even higher. When the federal government negotiates a better price for uniforms for every base that is short on this particular model, from one or maybe a few manufacturers, they get the best deal for taxpayers, and they take care of every base that needs them. Of course the same principle goes for weaponry, planes, etc.

Americans just have to wrap their collective heads around the notion of pooling their money together to get a better deal for their families and for their neighbours, when it comes to health care. And, like the funding for the armed forces, everyone has to contribute for it to work. Even pacifists. Its another argument for another thread on the issue of over-spending on the military. I am presenting ways we can connect to conservative values.

Another advantage I have heard is to business. Those bidding on international contracts, in this ever increasing globalist world, must always include all costs to themselves, including any healthcare insurance they put out for their employees. Every other western democracy and even non democratic countries, it is the workers themselves that pay for that insurance cost through their own taxes with a single payer system. American companies always have a disadvantage there.

Another thing to put out there is what is the definition of "freedom", which is a cherished word in America. Mandated payments can be viewed as restricting ones freedom, but, especially in the case of full blown single payer, it can also be viewed as unshackling people from worrying about heath care. They don't have to fear changing jobs, or locations. You and every member of your family is covered from birth to death no matter what, so you can concentrate on working or starting a business wherever or whenever you want. Freedom to move around, change doctors, change careers, and freedom from concern in one big area of ones life.

[elleng]

1. 'Americans just have to wrap their collective heads around the notion of pooling their money togethe

to get a better deal for their families and for their neighbours, when it comes to health care. And, like the funding for the armed forces, everyone has to contribute for it to work. Even pacifists. Its another argument for another thread on the issue of over-spending on the military.'

[Buckeye_Democrat]

2. Is it any wonder that there's so much anxiety in the USA?

http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/features/united-states-anxiety

28.8% of Americans [in the USA] will suffer anxiety in their lifetime — the highest level in the world

[LiberalLovinLug]

5. This is an important point

For some reason I am reminded of different reality shows of the same franchise done in the US as well as other countries. Top Chef, Masterchef, Next top model, even The Apprentice etc... I know its probably partly that producers think that Americans want drama and conflict in order to watch and so audition anger issue contestants, but what does that say? Chicken or Egg? But when I watch the Canadian, or Australian, or British versions of these shows it is night and day. I really enjoy Masterchef Australia where it is more about learning about food and dishes and encouraging each other.

anyways, to get back to your point. I think the overall mood of a country can definately be affected by things like defining health care as a right for everyone, and not a privilege based on if you can afford it or luck out to work for a good company. all kinds of undefined tangents including domestic abuse and violence.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

8. I didn't know that, but I'm not surprised by it.

I rarely watch cooking shows anyway, but one of the few that I've enjoyed is America's Test Kitchen (PBS) because it's mostly educational. The only form of "competition" that I've observed on that show is when they review various cooking tools on the market.

In addition to competition and individualism, violence is frequently promoted too.

Have you seen MythBusters? I often found the "quiet" experiments to be more interesting, but it didn't surprise me to hear that most people liked the show for the big explosions.

[unblock]

3. the individual responsibility myth is a bigoted lie perpetrated by rich people who rape the commons

individual responsibility and success is for other people, the more "other" the better. rich people know it's far easier to tax the little guy and reap the rewards.

people who are in positions of power have family, community, business, and government resources there to help them every step of the way. governments take community taxes and outsource work to businesses, make public discoveries that businesses can monetize, even sell public assets outright. governments also protect private interests through police and the courts, not to mention the military.

making it "on your own", refusing government help, is for *suckers*. rich people take full advantage of every bit of government help they can get their greedy paws on to. then they deny that they had any help and whine about poor people getting out any money at all, even from a program the poor people themselves paid into, such as social security, medicare, or unemployment insurance.

[leftstreet]

4. I don't intend to cognitively leap for Insurance/Pharma profits

You're actually spot on about people understanding they may need to pool their monies to help each other.

But you're overlooking the PROFIT problem when we're just pooling our monies to help corporations

Big Insurance and Big Pharma can fuck off

[LiberalLovinLug]

7. that is true

A single payer system where there is no middle man to scoop up profits and pay their CEO millions in salary is preferable.
But the ACA was at least a baby step in that it included a mandated aspect. Once that concept is accepted by explaining the advantages then it would pave the way for an actual single payer system to cover everyone. It is just a mental leap to switch from 'socialist' to 'pooling money to get the best deal'.

Another side line is that here in Canada the government negotiates drug prices from the same manufacturers as you buy from. The difference is that our government negotiates for the entire population. Especially for more commonly used drugs. So that means that the most used drugs are also the cheapest they can get them for.

There are just so many advantages, both stress relief and wallet relief. Its just how you look at it.

[pat_k]

9. Universal Health Care means Freedom from Fear needs to be our drum beat.

The fact that universal health care means freedom from fear needs to be inserted into every discussion of our health care system.

We also need to STOP saying "Don't replace Obamacare." Instead, every single time anyone talks about Replacing/repealing Obamacare we need to say

"Hell Yes! Replace Obamacare! Replace it with Universal Health Care. It's time for Americans to be freed from fears about medical expenses. Freedom from those fears is REAL freedom."

One thing American "Free Marketeers" need to get into their heads is that health care is NOT a commodity. "Free market forces" don't apply. You need the health care you need when you need it. We all need a certain amount of preventative care. Some of us get sick. When we do, we need more. It's not like buying a car, or other commodity. You don't wake up one morning and think "I'd like to start injecting myself with Enbrel, I know it's expensive, but I deserve it!"

Recognizing that health care is not a commodity, and the implications of that, is not much of a "leap." It is merely acceptance of a simple fact.

It has always mystified me that so many of my fellow Americans are happy to pay taxes to support national defensive, public education, and infrastructure, but somehow don't see Health care as a basic necessity. The electorate seems to "get" that you cannot have a functioning constitutional democracy if people don't have equal access to a basic level of education. And you can't have a functioning democracy if people don't have equal access to a basic level of health care.

It really isn't much of a "leap." The only thing holding us back are the corporatist that have held control over the minds of FAUX viewers and the levers of our government for WAAAYYYY too long.

[LiberalLovinLug]

10. Well said!

It really speaks to the power of the MSM and their corporate owners who probably have ties to Big Insurance. They do not want to educate the public on the benefits of single payer. I was shocked to watch the MSM's behavior during the time the ACA was being debated. All I saw were horror stories from GOP guests about the government taking over, death panels, socialism. which is to be expected from them. But there were no counter objective discussions on what exactly are the possibilities. What are other countries doing wrong...and doing right.

The best investigative journalism was done in a movie "Sicko" by Micheal Moore. Unfortunately it was only seen by a minority and probably was singing to the choir.

There is a flick of the switch that needs to be made. If only Americans were as passionate about the right to medical care as they are the right to bear arms. The simple idea that healthcare is a right and not a privilege.