A couple of days ago, I brought you the results of a recent Rasmussen Poll showing that a plurality of Americans (48%) would support a single-payer health insurance system, while 36% would oppose it and 16% are unsure about it. Now two new polls have been released on the question, and both also show pluralities supporting single-payer.
The Politico / Morning Consult Poll was done between September 14th and 17th of a random national sample of 1,994 registered voters, with a margin of error of 2 points. It shows 49% support it, while 35% oppose it and 17% are unsure.
The Economist / YouGov Poll was done between September 17th and 19th of a random national sample of 1,292 registered voters, with a 3.1 point margin of error. It shows 40% support and 29% opposition, with 31% being unsure.
While it is gratifying that support is growing in the U.S. for a single-payer system, and now a plurality support the concept -- that is not sufficient for Congress to seriously consider it.
We know their will be no single-payer system passed while the Republicans control Congress (and likely won't even be a vote on it). Republicans don't believe decent health care is a right of all citizens. They consider it just a product to be purchased by those who have the money to buy it.
So the first thing that must happen is to flip Congress to control by the Democrats. Until that happens, single-payer will just remain an unattainable dream. But even that will not be enough. The problem is the unsure voters -- 16% in Rasmussen, 17% in Morning Consult, and 31% in YouGov. The Democratic politicians will be afraid those unsure voters will decide a single-payer system went too far -- and punish them at the polls the same way they did after the passage of Obamacare.
Single-payer will only happen when a clear and significant majority ask for single-payer (probably at least 60%). Public opinion is moving in the right direction, but much more remains to be done.
