The Republicans, who often accuse the Dems of being unpatriotic and "blaming America first," have themselves a predilection for blaming Americans first. For example, at the Republican debate I wrote about the other day, John McCain said that "we have to make the recipient of the health care more responsible." More responsible? Over at Power Line, John Hinderaker elaborates in his commentary on the topics that came up in the debate:
Health care: Generally, I thought the discussion here was positive. Again, we are seeing a preview of the general election, and I think the Republican candidate can fare well on the issue if he keeps pounding away at the disaster of socialized medicine and emphasizing positive, market-based solutions. Romney was the clear winner here, not only because of his command of the issue, but because he was willing to articulate one of the basic problems of our current system: that millions of Americans prefer to be free riders, obtaining free (to them) medical care at hospitals rather than paying for insurance.
The number of Americans without health insurance is at 47 million and rising, and unpaid medical bills are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy. Yet in the world according to wingnuts the problem is the "millions" of Americans who "prefer" not to have insurance. It is undoubtedly true that some Americans decline to buy health insurance. That is because they can't afford it. Suppose your employer makes available to you a very basic plan, with a relatively high deductible, at a monthly cost to you of $250. If the monthly premium is a fifth of your take-home pay, you will quite reasonably decline to participate. Better to pay the mortgage (or the rent), the utility bills, and the grocer. If your employer does not offer health insurance, or you are unemployed, forget it. You will not be able on your own to buy a reasonable policy.
Whatever ails us, we have the Republicans to tell us that it is our own damn fault. Are there fewer people living in poverty in other industrialized countries? It must be that Americans are comparativly lazy and feckless. An American health care crisis? No, our system is the best in the world, but it would be even better if there were fewer freeloaders. The issue hardly matters. Their analysis is the same. Americans are to blame for the problems of America, the greatest country on earth. They always blame Americans first. They love America but are disgusted with the people who live here. They are the blame-Americans-first crowd.
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