Matt12 asks, "Have you checked out [Physician's for a National Health Care System]'s new blog? What's your take on their argument against Obama's health plan? Also, what do you think of their response to launch of Health Care for America Now?"Well, their take on Obama's health plan is that it's not single payer, so they don't support it. And their take on Health Care for America Now coalition is that it's not pushing single payer, so they don't support it. Both of which are fair points for supporters of single payer to make. In criticizing HCAN, however, PNHP makes a slightly obtuse argument. "What is weird," they write, "is that [HCAN] seem to truly believe that the message that will resonate with the American people is our single-payer message that the insurance companies are the problem...[but they're not asking Americans] to call on their Congresspeople to sign onto HR-676."HR-676 is John Conyers' single payer bill. And it's true, HCAN's campaign does argue that private insurers are the problem. They believe an anti-insurer message will resonate. As an institution, private insurers are tremendously unpopular. But they don't believe that an anti-insurer policy will resonate. Because as an institution, private insurance -- which is to say, what people currently have -- is extremely popular. This is the paradox of public attitudes on health care: Voters think our system is fundamentally flawed and requires substantial reform, they hate private insurers and can't stand Big Pharma, but at the same time, they like the private insurance coverage they themselves have, and the health care they themselves receive, and they won't let you to take it away. This graph from a recent Gallup poll makes the case well:
