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82% of Americans Want Major Health Care Reform

livescience.com — The vast majority of Americans are dissatisfied with the U.S. health care system, and 82 percent think it needs to be overhauled, a new survey found. "There is a broad view by the public that our health care system needs a full overhaul, either to be totally rebuilt or reformed."

Who dugg this? Made popular Aug 8, 2008

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  • BlackJackJester, on 08/07/2008, -18/+112I believe it, but don't for a minute think that this 82% want universal healthcare....
  • pintomp3, on 08/08/2008, -12/+83we pay more than any other industrialized country and get less.
  • DivineMonkey, on 08/08/2008, -40/+76Americans are afraid of universal healthcare because they are told to be.
  • iMattK, on 08/07/2008, -30/+65Whatever is done, I don't want the federal government to manage it. Costs can be cut immediately if I'm permitted to buy my health insurance from any provider no matter what state they're based in. Also, I don't want to continue to fund the health care costs for illegal aliens.
  • RedPhalanx, on 08/07/2008, -12/+46Reform ≠ Natl. Healthcare

    Most of the Ron Paul/Bob Barr supporters want reform, but I think it's safe to say none want Natl. Healthcare.
  • h3lx, on 08/08/2008, -13/+45Reform yes, Government mandated involvement in their plan, not so much.
  • lazerus9, on 08/08/2008, -11/+39I want the profiteering motivation out of medical care. When health care became big business, care became currency.
  • notque, on 08/08/2008, -15/+41They have for over 10 years. You don't believe it, because the media doesn't report it.

    In a 2003 Washington Post-ABC News poll, 80 per cent regarded universal health care as "more important than holding down taxes."
  • Lyk4n, on 08/08/2008, -6/+32I wait for hours while sick and I'm in US.
  • merripen, on 08/08/2008, -3/+29In a related story, 18% of Americans have yet to be screwed over by their health care system.
  • jocampbe, on 08/08/2008, -13/+39Your health care cost don't go up because of "illegal aliens." Your healthcare costs go up because of price gouging insurance companies and coporate health care orgs. Unless you believe Fox News, in which case you're a moron anyway.
  • BinaryFragger, on 08/08/2008, -5/+27This FUD is always brought up in these topics.
    It's true that some Canadians have to cross the border for treatment, but they are the exception; it's not as common as you think.

    I've always received quality and prompt care from doctors. And as a sufferer of ulcerative colitis, I can get tests booked within 48 hours. If you have a serious medical emergency, you WILL be cared for promptly. Non-critical surgeries do have long waiting lists, but if your life is in danger, you'll get bumped to the top of the list. It's all priorities.

    Funny how non-Canadians such as yourself seem to know so much about Canada. It's a shame that you're knowledge is wrong. You probably think we live in igloos, too.
  • pintomp3, on 08/08/2008, -10/+31"But I'm not down for paying for other peoples problems." exactly. let's scrap the fire department too. why should i have to pay if your house burns down?
  • unknownpoltroon, on 08/08/2008, -18/+38The other 18 percent believe the propaganda the insurance companies put out.
  • BXRWXR, on 08/08/2008, -1/+20Any reform would be a start.

    Americans want what every decent human being wants. Health and prosperity for themselves and others.
  • pintomp3, on 08/08/2008, -1/+20exactly. matters of life and death should not be influenced by profits and the bottom line.
  • notque, on 08/08/2008, -10/+29The profit motive needs to be removed. Health Care must be nationalized for the sake of the population that dies from easily preventable disease because they cannot afford health care, plus paying for profit for large corporations.

    Nationalized Health Care for all!
  • inactive, on 08/08/2008, -6/+24Um, isn't that what health insurance is? I mean, if you've got that kind of cash that you can afford to not pay for insurance, more power to you, but generally speaking, the idea of insurance is that none of us can afford major health care expenses on our own, but since health crises don't occur too often, we can pool our resources and thus guarantee health care for everyone in the pool.

    I'm not saying that universal health care is a good idea - just pointing out that the argument of "I don't want to pay for other people's problems," is kind of dumb given that that's exactly what we do under the current system (unless you're a millionaire).
  • lonesomewolf, on 08/08/2008, -5/+23What if I have a pre-existing condition and what I want is comprehensive health insurance? What insurance company is going to cover me exactly without some level of government interference setting the rules of the game? Or should I just be left to die because I am too weak - all in the name of pure free market economics?

    Another example. Perhaps I am in excellent health and then I get cancer. Well, the logical thing to do is to deny coverage and drop me like a rock. Why sell insurance on a burning building? That doesn't make sense and eats into the bottom line. So, again, without some kind of government interference how is that going to work exactly?
  • minorthreat, on 08/08/2008, -4/+22but your OK with our government handing out billions of tax breaks to corporations? Billion of money in foreign aid? Billion of dollars to people who are going to foreclose? Billions in incentives for oil companies to look for more? Billions to fight the useless war on drugs? Billions in welfare..... Billions....the list goes on...

    I don't believe your uninformed, I just believe people have came accustomed to allowing our government to spend/waste on specifics, but when a new specific is introduced, people get worked up with they think of the idea that their tax dollars are going to help those poor, poverty stricken people(who don't pay taxes) seek medical attention. They feel like their money should be spent more wisely.
  • inactive, on 08/08/2008, -1/+18I am voting libertarian because I am actually a conservative and not some America hating liberal Neo Con.
  • Nosferotu, on 08/08/2008, -2/+18I would rather have to wait a couple hours in a waiting room and know I was gonna get care, then not be able to afford healthcare, and not have ANY care available no matter HOW long I wait.
  • pintomp3, on 08/08/2008, -1/+16people seem to forget that medical expenses is the #1 cause of bankruptcy in the US. that is unconscionable.
  • notque, on 08/08/2008, -14/+28Exactly. The media only repeats that Universal Health Care is bad, and doesn't give any information on the actual evidence.

    It doesn't tell the population that 82% are for Universal Health Care, and has been for over 10 years.

    Public Opinion is irrelevant in this country. We need Democracy to change that.
  • moracity, on 08/08/2008, -30/+44There are 2 reform camps:

    1) get the government out of healthcare once and for all

    2) let the government control it

    Right now, government interference and regulation is the reason for increases in both health insurance premiums and health care costs. We need to get rid of employer-based healthcare and government mandated coverage. Insurance companies don't need the government telling them what to cover. Consumers can drive that just fine. Some insurances companies may not want to cover certain things, but other companies will pick up that slack. Companies that don't offer what consumers want will go out of business. This is how a free market works. When the government interferes, it breaks the system and gives the illusion that the free market doesn't really work.
  • Tantrum, on 08/08/2008, -9/+23I believe we are the only developed nation that doesn't have universal health care for its citizens. It's disgusting.
  • dusanmal, on 08/08/2008, -4/+18While you are correct in the second part, illegal aliens do need health care and they are getting it. For free. Someone is paying the cost - hospitals and their employees are definitely not taking the cost themselves... Simple arithmetic: 14+ million illegal immigrants get health care paid by the rest of us. You don't need any News organization for this simple reasoning.
  • Nosferotu, on 08/08/2008, -4/+17You gonna preach personal responsibility to the guy who got laid off, so he has no health care, and then gets hit by a car by no fault of his own? Eh? How about that guy? Guess he shoulda seen it coming, or should just man up and walk it off, huh?
  • GothAlice, on 08/08/2008, -4/+17100% of Americans won't get it.
  • Nosferotu, on 08/08/2008, -7/+20This is exactly the kind of blind faith in the free market that makes me want to get the hell out of this country.
  • lonesomewolf, on 08/08/2008, -2/+15I waited about 3 hours in the emergency room a few months ago before I was seen. Then I had to wait a week to see my personal doctor. My Canadian friends are baffled by our system and seem happy with theirs except that the trend is to make it more like our system. They are not happy about that.
  • DivineMonkey, on 08/08/2008, -7/+20Funny, it doesn't cost a fortune where i live.
  • andibarnes, on 08/08/2008, -1/+14You think insurance companies don't pool the premiums to pay for other people?
  • pintomp3, on 08/08/2008, -1/+13taxes go up, but insurance premiums go away.
  • TrueXtremeIcon, on 08/08/2008, -1/+13What people seem to never consider when they espouse hatred for national health care system is that although their taxes would probably go up, it is balanced out (to a large degree) by the elimination of the ridiculous health insurance premiums you are already paying.

    Even if it did involve an increase in taxes to bring about national health care, I would be for it. And this is coming from someone who doesn't even pay for health insurance right now because it is 100% covered by my employer.
  • notque, on 08/08/2008, -2/+14In a 2003 Washington Post-ABC News poll, 80 per cent regarded universal health care as "more important than holding down taxes."
  • SkittlesUSA, on 08/08/2008, -3/+15The sad part is that Democrats would actually agree with your first point. Digg always talks about how stupid the population is. They truly think the government can spend the People's money better than the People can.

    I often ask liberals I meet this question: "Do you think people are so stupid that they need the government to tell them how to spend their money and live their lives?"

    The honest ones will say 'yes.'

    But you hit wayyyy too close a nerve you will surely get dugg down no matter how right you are.
  • azhura, on 08/08/2008, -4/+16Do you really think that any company, person, etc. out there to make a profit is going to have the best interest of their consumers at heart? The answer is: HELL NO. Let's not be naive. They are there to make money, not get people the coverage that they need.
  • SuperMoses, on 08/08/2008, -1/+12"Take a proactive approach and get exercise, sleep regularly, eat healthy, and you'll be just, *****, fine."

    Ya, and genetics has no relation to most diseases. /sarcasm.
  • solboldi, on 08/08/2008, -21/+32Most adult Americans are obese or getting there. The gov't does *not* owe healthcare to people who don't take care of themselves and who are self-destructive.
  • algaeturd, on 08/08/2008, -1/+12it's embarrassing. Our country is a vampire.
  • ghuytro, on 08/08/2008, -2/+13Think how much money the police and fire departments could make if they were privatized!!

    Imagine the quality of policing you would get in gated communities versus the inner cities?

    Then we could trot out statistics like "We have our murders solved in 24 hours in Pebble Beach but in Canada or the UK they have some cases that are still unsolved!!"
  • toxicityj, on 08/08/2008, -4/+15Yeah because exercise and diet is going to prevent broken limbs, cancer, etc.
  • wunksta, on 08/08/2008, -0/+10medicare is a horrible example for universal health care
  • inactive, on 08/08/2008, -1/+11How does it feel being within that 82% you quoted?
  • bigkazzyry, on 08/08/2008, -0/+10There is something wrong when one trip to the doctor requires the patient to pay on three different bills. You have to pay the receptionist, doctor, x-ray tech, the radiologists, and the janitor. Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit but only a fool would think the system is working as is.
  • alpha94, on 08/08/2008, -2/+11Do you want to know the truth? Those are all lies.
  • Nosferotu, on 08/08/2008, -6/+15God damn, you people bitch that government is inefficient, but at the same time do you think big businesses are any better? We all hate dealing with the bureaucracy of large corporations (waiting on the phone for 40 minutes to get help with your cell phone plan for example). They are not necessarily more efficient, and while I understand the argument that "then you go to somewhere else", maybe there isn't going to be a better place. PARTICULARLY with a totally free market approach - you will just get a few massive corporations running everything. Anti-trust laws by the government are huge interference in the free market, and if they weren't in place, we'd all be raped by corporations until we had nothing left.

    Businesses are huge, unwieldy, and inefficient as well, but their bottom line is profit. Government is huge, unwieldy, and inefficient, but their bottom line is serving the people. Yes, there is corruption, but if the goal is helping people and there is corruption, you get less efficient at helping people. If your goal is profit, you're not trying to help people regardless of how clean your system might be.
  • calibration, on 08/08/2008, -0/+9That happens in the US a lot too (bleeding to death in the ER). It's on the news all the time.
  • BinaryFragger, on 08/08/2008, -0/+9Bleeding to death in the ER?
    Sources please.
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