How do you think we would fare in a global epidemic, being the only country without Single Payer?

[branford]

59. Be careful what you wish for.

Unfortunately, the "socialized medicine" that would result in treating a serious, nationwide outbreak of a terminal disease would be FEMA-like camps run by the CDC where patients are rounded-up and guarded by the National Guard, and quite possibly, regular army troops operating on US soil.

I'm confident that identification, treatment, security and disposal would be organized, efficient and absolutely terrifying, well apart from the disease itself.

On a more positive note, the support for such a draconian and authoritarian (and likely necessary) response would probably be bipartisan and wildy popular.

However, after the dust has settled, just like after 9-11, people will be comfortable giving up certain liberties for security, and the damage to our economy and reduced revenues would make real socialized health care all the more politically difficult to pass and implement.