A majority of Americans say the federal government should guarantee health insurance to every American, especially children, and are willing to pay higher taxes to do it, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.
While the war in Iraq remains the overarching issue in the early stages of the 2008 campaign, access to affordable health care is at the top of the public’s domestic agenda, ranked far more important than immigration, cutting taxes or promoting traditional values.
Only 24 percent said they were satisfied with President Bush’s handling of the health insurance issue, despite his recent initiatives, and 62 percent said the Democrats were more likely to improve the health care system.
Americans showed a striking willingness in the poll to make tradeoffs to guarantee health insurance for all, including paying as much as $500 more in taxes a year and forgoing future tax cuts.
It is particularly good news to see support for tax increases. Despite the endless mantra of the insurance industry and their Republican sleep-mates that we have the best health care system in the America, the plain facts of the matter are becoming evident. Our health care system is a mess and the most efficient way to fix it and deliver affordable care for all Americans is through a government funded program. It will take the shared sacrifice of a tax increase to make it happen.
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