We should be embarassed

The United States of America has been a world leader in technology, innovation, human rights, and medicine for over a century. Yet over 40 million people don't have health insurance, and they cost taxpayers far more than any program to provide them health care could cost.

There is NO reason why we shouldn't be able to figure out how to give every American easy access to quality health care while preserving good quality health care for those who already have it.

What's more, overhauling the health care system, specifically with the provision of a government insurance plan, enjoys huge support.

The national telephone survey, which was conducted from June 12 to 16, found that 72 percent of those questioned supported a government-administered insurance plan — something like Medicare for those under 65 — that would compete for customers with private insurers. Twenty percent said they were opposed.

Republicans in Congress have fiercely criticized the proposal as an unneeded expansion of government that might evolve into a system of nationalized health coverage and lead to the rationing of care.

But in the poll, the proposal received broad bipartisan backing, with half of those who call themselves Republicans saying they would support a public plan, along with nearly three-fourths of independents and almost nine in 10 Democrats.

Congress, just get it done!