One would hope there would be such an adverse reaction to full-blown socialistic policies that supporting them would be political suicide. Indeed, many conservatives believe that universal health care is still so unpopular that Hillary Clinton's sponsorship of it in the Nineties could sabotage her presidential ambitions today.
But I fear Americans' concern over health care has grown enormously since HillaryCare imploded. There is so much anxiety about rising costs that it is conceivable -- perish the thought -- that a politician's endorsement of socialized medicine could actually benefit him politically.
In fact, just last week, a news story reported, "As Democrats prepare to take control of the 110th Congress a new approach to healthcare reform is expected -- universal coverage."
Imagine that. The electorate sent Republicans packing in November, due, in part, to their unbridled spending proclivities, and now Democrats believe they have a mandate to spend recklessly greater amounts. (We tried to warn you about the dangers in "throwing the bums out," just to replace them with bigger bums.)
But there is a method to the Democrats' madness. The same news story reveals -- disturbingly -- that "a majority of Americans would favor government intervention." The good news is that the majority is not yet behind wholesale "government-run health care."
Then again, Democrats have not yet revved up their propaganda engines. If you think they shamelessly demagogued President Bush's noble efforts to reform Social Security, just wait 'til they get the chance to demonize anyone courageous enough to propose reasonable, market reforms to health care.
John Edwards will probably resurrect his "two Americas" stump speech. John Kerry will tell us that if it hadn't been for Bush's war for oil everyone would be covered. Al Gore will say that Bush's refusal to surrender America's car keys to Kyoto has intensified global warming, which has made us all sick and health care costs skyrocket.
Bill Clinton will say, "I did not have sex with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky." Hillary will say, "Yes, you did. But if instead you had put more energy into my health care reform plan, I could have run (and won) in 2000 instead of that idiot Al Gore."
Let's not underestimate the gravity of the problems with our health-care system, nor the stakes involved in choosing the right cure.