CBS's 'Sicko' Spin-Americans Don't Want Single-Payer Health—Except They Do

[babylonsister]

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3124

CBS's 'Sicko' Spin
Americans Don't Want Single-Payer Health—Except They Do

6/25/07

On the June 22 broadcast of CBS Evening News, reporter Jeff Greenfield's critique of Michael Moore's documentary Sicko relied on a single premise: that the U.S. public and its political leaders do not embrace Moore's preferred solution (a single-payer system, where medical care is provided by private doctors and hospitals but paid for by the government). But that argument is at odds with the available evidence.

While noting that Moore's film "features affecting stories of personal suffering at the hands of indifferent corporations," Greenfield argued that even though presidential candidates "have all talked a lot about changing the health care system...no one, Democrat or Republican, has come close to advocating the kind of government-run national health system Michael Moore proposes." This is incorrect; Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D.-Ohio), a presidential contender, supports the very same approach, as do dozens of congressmembers who have co-sponsored H.R. 676, a bill that would provide single-payer coverage in the United States. Ironically, Kucinich appears on the screen next to Moore as Greenfield made this false claim.

Greenfield elaborated on this storyline, claiming that the U.S. does not have universal health coverage because "Americans are just different." He went on to quote Paul Ginsburg of the Center for Studying Health System Change: "We're much less willing to have government make decisions for people than is the case in Canada and Europe. It's a cultural difference."

That assessment is contradicted by recent polling. In a recent CNN poll (5/4-5/6/07), 64 percent of respondents supported the idea that "government should provide a national health insurance program for all Americans, even if this would require higher taxes." And a recent CBS/New York Times poll (2/23-27/07) found 64 percent support for the idea that the federal government should "guarantee health insurance for all," and 60 percent supported paying higher taxes to provide such coverage. Additionally, 50 percent believed "fundamental changes" to the healthcare system were necessary, and another 40 percent thought the country needed to "completely rebuild" the system.

If Greenfield meant to say that political elites are slow to act on public opinion, he's surely correct (and this would apply to many other political issues as well). The same is true of elite media outlets, which have dismissed and maligned single-payer healthcare for years. Imagine what the polls would like if there were a serious discussion of the issue, instead of dismissals from the likes of Jeff Greenfield.


ACTION: Tell CBS Evening News to correct Jeff Greenfield's assertions about public opinion and single-payer health coverage. You could also point out that Dennis Kucinich—a proponent of such a system—is in fact a presidential candidate.

CONTACT:
CBS Evening News
[phone]
[e-mail]

[aquart]

1. Okay, this is what I emailed them:

AMERICANS WANT UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE LIKE EVERY OTHER WESTERN NATION.

We want to stop living in terror of illness.

You want to win the war on terror? Give us universal healthcare. Because being allowed to die by an unfeeling HMO is exactly what terrifies us. Bin Ladin? Not so much.

Have your pollsters ASK which is more frightening: a health crisis or bin Ladin? I dare you.

[defendandprotect]

25. Medicare for everyone --

This is why the GOP attacks Medicare because they are fearful it will be extended to everyone.
It's a simply single-payer system and we can easily extend it to everyone.

That's what the GOP fears and why they work at destroying it --

[EVDebs]

33. HR 676 - Conyers and in Calif. SB 840 ! Go baby, Go !!!! nt

[sandnsea]

2. But they still reject single payer

From the same poll. March 2007. Advocating guaranteed insurance for everyone DOES NOT mean advocating single payer for everyone. Democrats have simply got to start reading the entirety of these polls in order to get reform passed. Not even a majority of Democrats think government will do better than insurance and private providers.

http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/CBSNews_polls/health_care.pdf

But only about half as many Americans – less than one in three - think the government can do a better job than private insurance companies at actually providing medical coverage. Many are not sure how government would fare in this role.
WOULD GOVERNMENT DO BETTER OR WORSE AT PROVIDING COVERAGE
THAN PRIVATE COMPANIES?
Government better 30%
Government worse 44
Don't know 23
There are partisan differences: four in ten Democrats think the government can do a better job than private companies but only two in ten Republicans agree; six in ten Republicans think the government would do worse.
However, more Americans

[mrcheerful]

3. It depends on who is asked and how the question is framed in these polls.

Another words, people are morons when it comes to actual thinking about a question. I seen a pollster ask a guy if government should pay for health care for illegals. Then the pollster asked the same guy if illegals should recieve health care provided by government. The fool said no to the first question then turned around and said yes to the second. American non thinking at it's best.

[sandnsea]

10. It's pretty clear

Do people think government would do a better job than insurance. Nothing complicated about that.

DUers just can't seem to see the difference between guaranteeing health INSURANCE or CARE and turning health care over to the government. People will say yes to the first and no to the second, over and over and over.

Since we've got support on the first, let's go with that.

[rog]

7. Here's the point that people miss ....

... and that Michael Moore says over and over again in interviews.

In a single payer system the government does NOT "provide" health care. Physicians and hospitals provide the health care. Decisions are made by doctors and patients. The government agency merely makes sure everyone gets paid, hence "single PAYER."

If we could just jump on this pro-insurance talking point that "we don't want government to decide our health care," we'd be WAY ahead of the game.

Universal INSURANCE is not the same thing as universal CARE. Single payer is the only way to go.

Watch the movie.

.rog.

[sandnsea]

11. Don't tell me

I'm just providing the rest of the info from the poll. If we don't start with the truth of what people think, we'll continue to talk right past them.

[rog]

13. I hear you.

The post above was not meant to be an attack on you. It's just that I hear this "government will mess up health care," or "no one wants the government to provide their health care" line all the time on media panels and in anti-single payer talking points, but no one ever calls them on it.

I agree, we can't have our heads in the sand. Still, those of us who favor single payer have to make a strong and straightforward case. The "government will mess up health care" meme will spread like wildfire if we don't shoot it down every time they try to stand it up.

Sorry if it seemed as though I was getting on your case. I didn't intend that.

Edited to say that, besides ... who can mess it up more than insurance companies and HMOs have already.

.rog.

[gatorboy]

15. If we had another eight years of what we went through?

Oh, I'm sure they'd figure out a way to screw it up. Purposely.

[rog]

16. I'm really not planning on eight more years of this.

I hope I'm right about that, no matter who gets elected, if you know what I mean.

Don't worry, I'm voting for the nominee ... but I'm also going to ride herd on whoever gets in.

.rog.

[gatorboy]

18. It was really more of a comment towards sandnsea's posts.

Of COURSE folks would think government would do a worse job. For the past eight years we've heard nothing BUT how lousy this current government, and on many occasions purposely, screw things up. We've had to live with a group of cretins who admit to HATING government, RUNNING government.

[sandnsea]

20. We've had that line for decades

People have been told how horrible government is since I can remember. That is the key problem we had with Hillary's health plan. I don't even like Hillary, but it's bullshit that she caved to the health care industry and that's why it didn't pass. It didn't pass because of Rush's Cradle to Grave mantra. Not trusting government DID NOT just crop up with this crowd.

[gatorboy]

21. And what party of merry men have been broadcasting this the loudest?

You only have to as far as SICKO for this answer and witness Ronnie Reagan's narration of, "The Horrors of Socialist Medicine."

The Republican party has, for as long as I've known said, "Hey, you can't trust government-Oh and by the way, we're running for office."

What happened to New Orleans is a great example. It wasn't that they had mis-managed FEMA. No, to them the problem was, "See government doesn't work, we need to scuttle this program." Hell, look how they reacted to the Foley scandal. To them, it wasn't necessarily his fault, we just need to get rid of the Page Program. THe problem is lately they don't want to operate as government, only as an extension of The Chamber of Commerce.

[sandnsea]

22. I agree

I was just making it clear that it didn't just pop up with the Bushie's. I hear way too many people buying into the idea that there is some kind of good government Republican out there, when the truth is 99% of them are exactly like Bush. Religious radicals, rich tax haters, and the anti-government crowd - it's their base. I can't figure out how that lines up with some traditional "good" Republican.

[ProudDad]

28. You're right there

It began right after Goldwater had his clock cleaned by Lyndon.

The right-wing has spent BILLIONS spreading their bullshit.

But, I'm still hopeful enough to believe that a truth can overcome even the most expensively promoted lies, and Moore and the rest of us HAS the truth about health insurance leaches.

[Bridget Burke]

41. Why do you hate America?

The key problem "we" had with Hillary's health plan?

Bush & his pals want to convince us that everything the Government touches turns to shit. Congratulations for swallowing the propaganda.

[emmadoggy]

36. Exactly. Thank you.

:thumbsup:

I hate the way those poll questions are framed because it's misleading and forces people to make a false choice.

[ProudDad]

27. C'mon sandnsea

We've gone over this before in other threads, please listen.

Single-Payer, as in HR676, is NOT GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTH CARE. It's the best financing method FOR Health Care NOT a replacement for the health delivery system.

Please DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!!

------------------

I'll help you - I've already covered your arguments here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1172227

Thanks :hi:

----------------------------

Brief Summary of Legislation

The United States National Health Insurance Act establishes a unique American national universal health insurance program. The bill would create a publicly financed, privately delivered health care system that uses the already existing Medicare program by expanding and improving it to all U.S. residents, and all residents living in U.S. territories. The goal of the legislation is to ensure that all Americans will have access, guaranteed by law, to the highest quality and most cost effective health care services regardless of their employment, income, or health care status. With over 45-75 million uninsured Americans, and another 50 million who are under- insured, the time has come to change our inefficient and costly fragmented non- health care system.

Who is Eligible

Every person living or visiting in the United States and the U.S. Territories would receive a United States National Health Insurance Card and ID number once they enroll at the appropriate location. Social Security numbers may not be used when assigning ID cards.

Health Care Services Covered

This program will cover all medically necessary services, including primary care, inpatient care, outpatient care, emergency care, prescription drugs, durable medical equipment, long term care, mental health services, dentistry, eye care, chiropractic, and substance abuse treatment. Patients have their choice of physicians, providers, hospitals, clinics, and practices. No co-pays or deductibles are permissible under this act.

Conversion To A Non-Profit Health Care System

Private health insurers shall be prohibited under this act from selling coverage that duplicates the benefits of the USNHI program. Exceptions to this rule include coverage for cosmetic surgery, and other medically unnecessary treatments. Those who are displaced as the result of the transition to a non- profit health care system are the first to be hired and retrained under this act.

Cost Containment Provisions/ Reimbursement

The National USNHI program will set reimbursement rates annually for physicians, allow for global budgets (annual lump sums for operating expenses) for health care providers; and negotiate prescription drug prices. A “Medicare For All Trust Fund” will be established to ensure a dedicated stream of funding, as well as an annual appropriation to ensure optimal levels of funding for the program.

The conversion to a not-for-profit health care system will take place over a 15 year period, through the sale of U.S. treasury bonds.

HR 676 Would Reduce Overall Health Care Costs

Families Pay Less

A study by nationally recognized economist, Dean Baker, of the Center for Economic Research and Policy concluded that under H.R. 676, a family of three making $40,000 per year would spend approximately $1900 per year for healthcare coverage. Currently, (in 2007) the average annual premium for families covered under an employee health plan is $11,000. (National Coalition on Health Care.)

Business Pays Less

In 2005, without reform, the average employer that offers coverage will contribute $2,600 to health care per employee (for much skimpier benefits), or 217.00 per month. Under HR 676, the average costs to employers for an employee making $30,000 per year will be reduced to $1,425 per year; or about $119.00 per month.

Baker's study reported that HR 676 would reduce health spending in 2005 from $1 trillion, 918 billion dollars to 1 trillion, 861.3 billion dollars, which translates into a saving of $56 billion in overall health care spending while covering all of the uninsured. This is a 3% reduction in over-all health care spending.

Proposed Funding For USNHI Program:

Maintain current federal and state funding for existing health care programs; employer payroll tax of 4.75, an employee payroll tax of 4.75; establish a 5% health tax on the top 5% of income earners; 10% tax on top 1% of wage earners, 1/3rd of 1% stock transaction tax, closing corporate tax loop-holes; repeal the Bush tax cut for the highest income earners.

[sandnsea]

29. You don't GET IT

You act as if I don't have a clue as to all the different health plans being proposed. I do. Lots of people do. It's not the point.

You have to convince people GOVERNMENT can work. All the statistics in the world aren't going to do that. People do not make decisions with statistics. They make decisions with their heart. How do you convince the 85% to risk their child's health, to turn their children over to the same government who lied about the air at ground zero, that ignored the danger of the levees, that has never cut a cost in 100 years. That's what those polls reflect.

You are asking 45 million Americans to sit around and wait while the left, that can't get 5% of the vote, convinces 60% of the country that everything that Republicans have told them about government is a lie. I think that's a stupid idea. I think we should get those 45 million people into a doctor, any way we can.

THEN we can hammer away at the waste and expense in our current system.

[eridani]

39. So, you think you can convince them to pay higher taxes--

--to subsidize insurance compamies instead?

[ProudDad]

46. Two Words

Social Security...

The most popular government program EVER devised in this country.

It's a single-payer, government administered retirement program...

Those of us who are old enough to collect would KILL YOUR ASS if you tried to muck with it...


What part of the other inadequate programs that will ALL raise taxes by shoveling more money at the health insurance mafia do YOU think you can sell to the great unwashed?

None of the other plans will allow ME to go to a doctor!!!

THIS IS NOT A LEFT/RIGHT ISSUE. That's what SickO is and will prove. Get on the winning side while you can...

[John Q. Citizen]

37. You don't understand single payer, that is obvious, or you wouldn't write

"Not even a majority of Democrats think government will do better than insurance and private providers." (bolding mine)

You seem to be under the impression that a single payer fee for service system would interfere with private care providers. Nothing is farther from the truth. Please educate yourself on what single payer is and how it works.

I spent 3 years 5 days a week knocking on doors in 7 states raising money and talking to people about single payer health insurance. I spoke with approximately 21,000 households during that time. People like the idea, by and large. In fact, many are enthusiastic about the idea, particularly private care providers, including doctors, nurses, and other ancillory providers, because they understand what it means and how it would work.

Insurance company employees, salesmen, and officers hate the idea. I know, they told me so.

So please correct your mistake. Single payer fee for service keeps private care providers private. Please quit spreading incorrect and false information. Thanks.

[dysfunctional press]

43. "Not even a majority of Democrats think government will do better than insurance..."

that's what has to change, because it's simply not a true mindset-

medicare spends much less of each dollar on administrative costs than ANY private insurer.

[Spinzonner]

4. Perhaps it's time to require that so-called News organizations

be required to provide sources for their claims in commentaries, or commentaries masquerading as movie reviews, and equal time for opposing views to critique and present their own materials.

If these corporations are going to use the country's airwaves to promote their own take on political issues then the rest of the country should have the same use of those airwaves.

[BlooInBloo]

5. Now the pushback starts... And DUers will gleefully eat it up.

[babylonsister]

6. What does that mean? nt

[Gabi Hayes]

8. how can I put this:

FUCK Jeff Greenfield. what a worthless, lying tool

just check him out at FAIR, media matters, or daily howler, to discover just how craven he is

then, there's always that horrible horrible, cringe/sleep inducing CEO Exchange, which my horrible horrible PBS station, WTTW plays about 20 times a week

how about a LABOR exchange, PBS? how many business oriented shows do you have on your horrible horrible Right wing led network? LOTS and lots, don't you?

how many labor shows?

None? oh

[malaise]

9. Very good

Let MSM spin Sicko and Single-Payer Health care away. It will only discredit them sooner. Let the people see that MSM is siding with HMOs and the Pharma and Insurance companies.

People will soon see the light. Lie away MSM - skew, spin, invent, distort!! The people are watching and more and more of them know the truth.
Sicko will open up many more eyes. Bring it on MSM, bring it on!!

[Mythsaje]

12. This movie will help people see that insurance corps

are profiting mightily on their illnesses and injuries. Eventually all the spin in the world will not be able to disguise that fact. THEY go in to debt, the insurance people make BILLIONS, and millions of people suffer with none at all.

[Shakespeare]

14. I love this: people don't want the government making healthcare decisions for them.

But they have no problem with some mouthbreather with no medical background at a desk making healthcare decisions for them based on the insurance company's profit goals. :crazy:

[Hieronymus]

17. Precisely .. Americans have been so lied to that they have no idea

what the truth is about single payer.
In France, people have a choice of doctors and specialists .. no waiting lines .. private hospital rooms .. doctors will even make house calls.
France #1
US #37

[sandnsea]

19. They've been taught to trust the corporation

And hate the government. Think of the Hurricane Katrina aftermath. Tons of people were saying for the government to just get out of their way and let them take care of their problems themselves. Even here at DU. People are taught to hate the government, more than they're taught to hate corporations. That is what we have to deal with when we try to get some kind of health care reform.

[rog]

23. You are right ...

Sandnsea said, "People are taught to hate the government, more than they're taught to hate corporations. That is what we have to deal with when we try to get some kind of health care reform."

Fixing the health care mess is a formidable task, but we didn't have the power of the internet last time. Working together is the only thing that will make a difference, but I'm hoping that the 'net will help us do that. There's a lot of money out there, and there ability to gouge more money is at stake. They'll do anything to maintain the status quo, but we are not as powerless as the last time. Let's see what happens.

.rog.

[eridani]

40. In Canada, the government does not make health care decisions

--that's mainly why Canadians like their system. They can go to any doctor they want--of course this doesn't solve the problem of people way out in the sticks being 300 miles away from the nearest doctor, but we have that problem as well.

[high density]

24. Why did CBS News hire this idiot after CNN shit-canned him?

Jeff Greenfield responds:
...
Michael Moore is very clear about what he is proposing: it is not simply a "single payer" system. What Moore advocates is a government-run system in which the doctors work for the government, as they do in Britain, Canada, and elsewhere. He devotes part of "Sicko" to an interview with a British doctor, who lives in a fine home and drives a nice car, to make his point that state-employed doctors need not face privation. Later in the film, he answers the charge of "socialized medicine" by noting that we already have "socialized" police officer, firefighters, and teachers: all of whom are public employees.
...
My point is not that such a system is a good or bad idea; only that what Moore advocates is simply not on the political radar. Moore himself told me in an interview that there is a "pioneer mentality," an "everyone for himself" tradition that needs to be confronted if his goal is to be achieved. In this regard, Moore shows a much clearer understanding of the American political climate than does FAIR.

Lots of weaseling going on.

[depakid]

26. Because CBS is trying to outdo Fox

Poster children for media divestment and re-regulation.

[EVDebs]

34. Jeff's a bullshitter! Gov Ahnold vetoed SB840 last year...IT'S BACK withavengeance !

HR 676 - Conyers !!!!

[harlinchi]

30. Glad to have been the 5th! n/t

[Javaman]

31. And here comes the media hit death squad. nt

[salinen]

32. How can we afford wars

with single payer healthcare?

[EVDebs]

35. WE CAN'T CBS Snooze's War on Waste... DoD can't account for $2.3 TRILLLION

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/01/29/eveningnews/main325985.shtml

[Supersedeas]

38. Greenfield earning some corporate shillage wings

[Bridget Burke]

42. And how many drug ads ran during that show?

Watching the evening news makes me feel young & healthy. Because I'm not interested in the endless, expensive ads for prescription medicine. Aimed at the consumer.

"Please tell your Doctor if you've had an organ transplant, AIDS, etc."...

What the HELL kind of doctor doesn't take a patient's medical history?

[Vincardog]

44. My email

Recently Jeff Greenfield's stated that the American public does not want single-payer health care. I am here to tell you he is wrong. The vast majority of US citizens are demanding quality affordable HEALTHCARE. NOT INSURANCE.

Mr. Greenfield also asserted that no Presidential Candidate supported a single-payer system; please note that Dennis Kucinich—a proponent of such a system—is in fact a presidential candidate.

I am sure you will be happy to correct the miss-impression Mr. Greenfield's statements have created.

Thanks for your time and attention.

MYNAME

[HootieMcBoob]

45. Edward's plan opens the door to single payer system

In his plan anyone who wants will be able to join a medicare type system. Once people have this option it's only a matter of time before single payer becomes the norm.