In Health Care Debate, Fear Trumps Logic

America will never have a single payer healthcare system because Americans do not trust their own freely elected government. Americans distrust and fear the officials they freely elected. Instead, Americans trust insurance companies. It is okay for an insurance company to deny a policy because of a pre-existing condition, to delay payment on a claim while the patient gets sicker, to refuse a claim while the patient dies, or to pay a small part of the claim resulting in huge copays that will bankrupt the policy holder. Americans call this system free choice and free enterprise because they can chose the insurance company that kills or bankrupts them. Americans like having a choice. Americans believe that in a single payer system their own freely elected government will “take over” healthcare. This will result in “death panels” of politicians deciding who will live and die. Americans prefer the existing system where insurance CEOs decide who lives and dies. Many insurance companies will offer this and Americans know that competition is good. Competition has done so much for healthcare already. The price of your healthcare insurance keeps going down every month because of all the competition and free enterprise and hard work of the insurers. Americans believe their own freely elected government is incapable of handling so big a business as healthcare. A big company like General Motors, AIG, or Enron would be far better at managing healthcare than the government. They also fear their tax dollars will be spent inappropriately. This could result in a band aid being given to a person who did not pay taxes. That would be socialism if that happened. It only takes one band aid for democracy to perish and socialism to take over. I don’t understand why were are even debating this issue when every American knows we have the best healthcare system in the world and nothing needs to change.

Why do you suppose that the vast majority (if not all) of the lies and misrepresentations are coming from the opposition to reform? If they had any moral ground to stand on, they could use facts to debate the issues. Instead they use fear-mongering to manipulate public opinion, and I think it is ironic that the people who buy into the lies and fear are the same ones who like to call reform supporters "sheep".

The trouble is that it is a lot easier to pass along chain emails that encourage fear with sensational distortions than it is to go and get the facts

http://factcheck.org/2009/08/twenty-six-lies-about-hr-3200/

"The chain e-mail purports to give "a few highlights" from the first half of the bill, but the list of 48 assertions is filled with falsehoods, exaggerations and misinterpretations. We examined each of the e-mail’s claims, finding 26 of them to be false and 18 to be misleading, only partly true or half true. Only four are accurate."

the issue isn't even about "gov" health care. any fool could look at any other developed nation and see that it works better and cheaper than our system.

it's about the inherent fear american's seem to have of the government in general.

america just be full of crazies, i mean shit, we were founded by them too.

You all try to blame the Republicans but it is both parties. Until the parties have the same benefits as common people we will have crumbs.

One sure way to get a good health care plan is to make every politician from president to congressman use one universal health plan so that everyone will have healthcare without the red tape and determinations of the government. The President and his family should be entitled to the same healthcare as every common American and no less and no more. One thing we should all remember that the poliitician is not above the law and no better than the common citizen whom they are paid to serve. If the president and the congress and senate are forced to use the same health care as we the people, I don't believe there will be the arguing and wheeler dealing. We will son have a good health plan. But if congress has their way the public will always be screwed.

Republicans tried to use fear of government involvement to try to defeat Social Security and Medicare. The majority of Americans saw these as needed programs and so they eventually were passed. Maybe it will be the same with health care.

Fear does trump logic in public opinion, and lobbyists know it.

It seems that the GOP has used fear to support everything they have been doing for quite some time. Fear of terrorism to pass the Patriot act. Fear of WMDs to invade Iraq. Now, fear of unplugging grandma in an effort to stop what could be the biggest step forward America has taken in recent history.

GodsnConservatives I can understand why you do not want any more government involvement in the private sector. I do not like the bank bailouts or C4C program any more than the next guy. I do feel however that health coverage is one thing that cannot be left to our capitalist system. But, as samthesixth says, maybe we should save the debate until there is a bill to deal with.

Yes, fear of the unknown. Let us save the debate until there is a bill we are dealing with!

Personally, I think the Republicans used fear because that was the easiest way to defeat the legislation. I'd like to think that they were looking out for the American people and upholding our Constitution, but I think it's more of the case of them not liking being "beat" by the other side.

Why complain? If they are successful, then we are saved from yet another tyrannical bill limiting our constitutional liberties. It's really a win win... I'm torn though, because I don't like seeing people be manipulated, but it's for the greater good...