Now can we talk about it?

Universal health care coverage has long been considered one of the third rails of American politics and even mentioning it in public has been extremely controversial. But the NY Times has some new reporting out this morning: Most Support U.S. Guarantee of Health Care.:

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.

That's pretty unambiguous. And so far, only one democratic candidate has come out and called for the entire enchilada, universal health care. That's Barack Obama.

The rest of the party needs to come on board. The republicans WILL. NOT. They will protect the profits of the health conglomerates, pharmaceutical companies, and insurance companies to the bitter end. And if you think the health care industry is going to do this without someone's boot up their ass, well, think again. Exhibit A: have any of you seen those smarmy ads that say the new medicare drug plan is "working for seniors! don't change it!"?? That's nothing more than a blatent ploy to turn the public against what's surely coming - reform of that clusterfuck of a plan by the new democratic congress.

It's up to us to do something. Not only is it good politics for our side, it's the right and moral thing to do. It's a travesty that in the richest country in the world, people still die needlessly because they cannot get adequate treatment.

It's time to have an honest debate about how to get this done. And it's time for politicians on both sides to quit being political and do the right thing.