Americans are ready to throw in the towel on
the Democrats’ healthcare bill, according to recent polls. Democrats should
too.
Failing support for
the healthcare bill
It is little
surprise to Americans that last Thursday’s publicly televised summit ended
without an agreement on the healthcare bill—on Feb. 23, a USA Today/Gallup poll indicated that 77% of Americans predicted the
stall (Newport). According to a Gallup poll on Jan. 20, 55% of Americans are
ready to suspend work on the bill with only 32% believing it should be the top
priority (Jones).
While the
concept of universal healthcare is rooted in the democrats’ ideology and
President Obama’s message of change, many Americans have expressed an opposing
view on change. With the liberal state of Massachusetts electing republican
Scott Brown to fill Edward Kennedy’s seat, the democratic supermajority in the
Senate was spoiled—a shocking pronouncement of public discontent with the approach
President Obama and democratic leaders have taken on healthcare reform
(Lehigh).
Democrats are
struggling to maintain support for the bill even within their own ranks. In an
election year expected to be difficult for democrats, House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi (D-Calif.) emphasized the need for democrats to more forward on
healthcare regardless of the associated reelection hazard, urging, “we’re not
here just to self-perpetuate our service in Congress” (Kronblut).
Passing the
legislation without even a semblance of republican support would jeopardize
hopes for democrats in the coming fall elections, especially because passing
the bill would require the controversial use of reconciliation—a parliamentary
procedure that allows budget items to become law with a simple majority vote. By
a margin of 52% to 39%, Americans oppose this filibuster-dodging tactic,
according to a Gallup poll on Feb. 23 (Newport).
So, should
Democrats stop pushing health care?
Probably so. For
democrats who face legitimate republican opposition, failing to listen to
constituents could mean disaster in the coming election. Opposition to
healthcare is voiced by Americans who view the healthcare reform bill as an
effort to socialize healthcare or who simply don’t think the bill will help. It
appears that the majority of Americans are not prepared to join other developed
nations in offering healthcare as a social program.
Social policies
in history
The essence of
the healthcare debate follows in the tracks of previous social policy debates.
It’s rooted in the same conflict between individual autonomy and a government-provided
sense of security. Do Americans choose equality of opportunity or equality of
benefits? Do they choose individual freedom (and responsibility) or do they look
to social programs. Do they prefer the preservation of the free market or a
more centrally controlled economy—more choices for the citizen, or more for his
or her representatives in government? These questions have been asked before, and
they’ll be asked again and again.
So what tips the
balance?
President
Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Social Security Act of 1935 and other New Deal
measures forced Americans to ask the same basic questions. The result of each
such policy battle seems to depend largely on the state of the economy and
American prosperity. When life is hardest, these bills do best. With the great
depression in full force throughout the 1930s, Americans looked to the
government to solve the prevailing economic problems. This time of extreme crises
led to the greatest steps in progressive legislation of the century. Americans
chose government intervention and social programs because they were desperate
for change and desperate for help.
Today,
controversy has surrounded the government’s involvement in the auto and
financial industries.
In the case of
healthcare, Americans are not ready for change—not for drastic change. On Feb.
23, a Gallup poll indicated that Americans oppose, by a margin of 49% to 42%,
the current democratic-style bill (Newport). The conditions are not dire enough
to convince Americans to scrap their private insurance for broad public
coverage.
Democrats
seeking reelection ought to give healthcare a break to avoid political suicide.
Bibliography
Jones, J. M. (2010, January 22). In U.S.,
Majority Favors Suspending Work on Healthcare Bill. Retrieved March 2,
2010, from Gallup: http://www.gallup.com/poll/125327/Majority-Favors-Suspending-Work-Healthcare-Bill.aspx
Kornblut, A. E.
(2010, March 1). Democrats will have votes for health bill, Obama aide
says. Retrieved March 2, 2010, from The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/28/AR2010022803243.html?wpisrc=nl_politics
Lehigh, S. (2010,
January 22). Breaking up the healthcare bill. Retrieved March 2, 2010,
from boston.com:
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/01/22/breaking_up_the_healthcare_bill/
Newport, F. (2010,
February 25). Americans Tilt Against Democrats' Plans if Summit Fails.
Retrieved March 2, 2010, from Gallup:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/126191/Americans-Tilt-Against-Democrats-Plans-Summit-Fails.aspx
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