New Analysis Shows Why Democrats Are Wrong to Fear Bold Embrace of Medicare for All
On the same day a new poll showed an overwhelming majority of Americans think the nation’s healthcare system is “in state of crisis,” a new analysis shows that Democrats should listen to those Americans—and end their reluctance to run on the promise of a bold solution like Medicare for All while propping up the for-profit system.
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A new Gallup survey released Monday showed that 70 percent of respondents saw the U.S. healthcare system as having “major problems” or being in a “state of crisis.” Eighty-four percent of Democrats expressed these concerns about the system in which many families are forced to pay high premiums and and deductibles, with worse health outcomes than in other high-income countries, while 56 percent of Republicans agreed.
“Democrats shouldn’t fear authentic candidates who articulate our values. Those candidates offer the best path forward for the party.” —Sean McElwee, Data for ProgressGallup has conducted the poll since 1994, with varying majorities of respondents generally expressing similar levels of concern with the U.S. system—but in recent months more Americans have pointed to Medicare for All as their preferred alternative to the for-profit model.
Meanwhile, the progressive think tank Data for Progress found in a recent analysis of the 2018 midterm election results that Democrats need not fear negativity regarding Medicare for All as they look toward 2020 and other future elections.
Looking at Democratic candidates who won in districts that had been held by Republicans in 2018, Data for Progress found (pdf) that candidates who supported Medicare for All were no more likely to lose their elections than so-called “moderate” Democrats.
“Medicare for All is politically safe ground for Democrats in general elections,” said Emma Einhorn, a campaign director for MoveOn, which funded the report. “November’s election results show that universal, higher-quality, lower-cost healthcare through Medicare for All is all moral upside—without political downside. Democrats shouldn’t let corporate interests scare them away from supporting real change that would save lives.”
“There is no evidence that Medicare for All harmed progressive performance in the 2018 midterms. Democrats shouldn’t fear authentic candidates who articulate our values. Those candidates offer the best path forward for the party,” added Data for Progress co-founder Sean McElwee.
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