Why do Americans seem to be so scared of a European/Canadian style health care system?

[JackRiddler]

9. Answer: Americans are not against a universal health care system.

The propaganda is. The health-profiteering corporations are. The politicians and the paid wonks of "realistic" policy are.

The majority of the people would support the adoption of a German or Canadian model. They only need to hear about it. A campaign to have adopted it, explicitly citing these and other countries, would have triumphed against all opposition in 2009-10. Possibly even in 1993-94. Instead, you got an insurance company bailout with a moderate extension of coverage to many of the uninsured (from which I've benefited, thanks). In the end, you get talking points like the above, purporting to blame the lack of a universal health care system on "American exceptionalism" and other abstractions so useful to the wonks.

All that was lacking was the will, and the courage to express ideas with clarity, instead of making up excuses why some incomprehensible compromise is more feasible even though it ends up pissing everyone off.