Why would an average American side with the insurance lobby over Universal Health Care?

Question

Why is it that there are so many people that vote against their own economic interests?

The showdown is really between Americans andf the Insurance lobby.

http://www.amsa.org/uhc/

Answer 1

Because the average American gets his/her news from only one (usually biased) source. We need lobby and election reform to save people from themselves, since most don't know how to stay informed other than via their only (usually biased) news source.

BTW, Good to see you dstr! I hadn't seen you in a while. Everytime i get to your answers, I can almost give you a thumbs up and THEN read your answer!

I'll look forward to seeing more of your answers and questions.
Are you still not accepting any fans or adding anyone to your contacts? ;o)

Answer 2

There are many sides to a story. But since your question deals with the "average" American I think that it may be because:
- They don't trust the government to provide adequate health care
- They don't believe that there would be any savings
- They already have health insurance through their employer
- It is believed that Americans have the best care in the world, why change it
- Many believe that other UHC programs (in Europe) are faltering (there is strong evidence that they are if you do some research on your own - most of Europe and now Canada is developing a new private system)

Answer 3

Hmm, let's see. Where I work, I get excellent medical and dental. In fact, for the services I have received through these benefits, I would have paid 20% more for the services than I have paid into my plan so far. So, in total, the current system delivers me what I need for a lower price. The system works for me. Because I work for the system.

Now, if UHC were to be implemented, I'd pay for myself AND everyone else out their that can't afford. This is my money and that's not fair. My hard work shouldn't go to paying some slacker's medical bills. Voting for UHC WOULD be voting against my economic interests.

Answer 4

Yes, Americans are easily duped, especially when it comes to government-sponsored programs. They somehow accept the argument that the private sector can do things more inexpensively, more efficiently, and respect our personal freedom in the bargain. Of course, the private sector promotes this view with advertising, and in recent years, the government has spent our money poorly. But privatization of gov't services has failed miserably, due to the greed of corporations, and they do much more to rob us of our freedom than does the government. Insurance companies are among the worst offenders: they don't want anyone living dangerously, for example, because they don't want to pay your insurance until you've outlived the actuarial predictions on which your rates are based, so they push for laws that keep us at home, safe and sound, sober and sterile, until they've made a profit on your life expectancy. Personally, I hate them, but the pharmaceutical lobby is also in on the racket, and so is the medical industry. They've created an "Axis of Evil" to steal everything from the sick and wounded, and they're not going to allow any change without a bitter fight.

Answer 5

They stir up the ghost of Joe McCarthy and use that old chestnut 'Communism' and everyone runs for cover. It is too easy to be a lemming and follow the crowd over the cliff than it is to make an informed, educated decision. Someone else tells them it is a bad idea, so therefore it must be. Give me a break. Socialized medicine is not mandated, you are able to have private insurance if you wish, it is just that it is more cost effective to have a healthy citizenry rather than one who doesn't know when, where and how his next medical visit will be paid for....

Answer 6

I think that most Europeans are quite happy with their system, and would not readily exchange it for one in which half of the money paid for "healthcare" went to insurance company overhead and dividends to shareholders. The profit motive has not made the insurance industry one bit more efficient. They increase their profits by denying claims, and then denying coverage to those who have made claims.

The reason the average American falls for it is a combination of fear of the unknown and the residual myth of the "rugged individualist" who never asks anyone for help and makes his own way, thank you very much.

Socialized roads, police, defense, and fire protection work fairly well, and even with all of its troubles, the public school system is a bargain compared to any of the private schools around here (not all of which surpass the public schools in quality, even if the parents spend 10 grand per child per year tuition).

Answer 7

Why do you blame the insurance indusrty for the high cost of medical care ?


Shouldn't you blame those who charge so much for health care treatment ?

When someone can actually tell me:

How much will unIversal health care cost.
How it will be funded.
Who will control decisions about health care coverage..

Then i might start worrying about the debate.

But ive never seen any universal health care proponent, who has been able to even attempt to answer those questions.

Answer 8

You have asked a very important question. I think it is because the insurance lobby throws out the term 'socialized medicine' and Americans have a knee-jerk reaction to that instead of thinking it thru.

Answer 9

Because government and corporate propaganda in the U.S. has, over time, convinced many millions of Americans that "real Americans" will smile and salute as they're getting fleeced by the richest 3% of the wealthy.

They've actually come to believe that being taken to the cleaners is an act of patriotism.

Sick, sick, sick...

Answer 10

Voting against your economic interests, well there are two things wrong with that statement; first of all, if the government ran our healthcare system it would be degraded in quality with the single payor (Tax Payer) system. The wages of health care workers would become stagnant and we would lose valuable professionals. Health care would have to be rationed. With the insurance plans, you have the Freedom of choice.
The second thing wrong with that is corruption, it is terrible to see corrupt politicians, but what about corrupt citizens? Isn't
voting your economic interest just being a corrupt citizen?
You would be selling your vote.
Well that's what Democrats do, we Republicans care for the good of the country and vote for those who would stand up for us on the global scale and leave us alone on the local scale.