*Opponents of it tell vague tales about Canadians flocking to the United States in vast droves because their own system is so faulty. They exaggerate.
*They call it "socialism." Just like your local police and fire departments. As if that were a bad thing.
*They claim that it's "not free." Nobody ever said it was.
*They even say that you will not be able to choose your own doctor. As if you could with your company plan, if you are fortunate enough to have one.
But their boldest lie is when they try to tell us that most of us really prefer the system already in place.
[snip] "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."
Then they trot out their "liberal media" canards.
You can't fool all of the people all of the time. We have that google-thingie and the intertubes now.
"I have thrown out these as loose heads of amendment, for consideration and correction; and their object is to secure self—government by the republicanism of our constitution, as well as by the spirit of the people; and to nourish and perpetuate that spirit. I am not among those who fear the people. They, and not the rich, are our dependence for continued freedom."
From Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to Samuel Kercheval, dated 1816. The University of Virginia Library has all of Jefferson's letters available online.
Jefferson is a very soothing balm and a great antidote to the billious and foamy rightwing rant-fests that are so ubiquitous throughout the electronic media these days.
