consumers vs. citizens

[jrtom]

quoting from an email that I just got from the Democratic National Committee:

Which is why it's time for Republicans to dig deep and identify areas where agreements can be forged on issues like expanding insurance coverage for the millions who lack it and guaranteeing that all consumers have access to care.

My response:

In this context, I am not a "consumer". I am a citizen. We need to stop talking about "consumers" when what we mean is "citizens" (or "residents")--especially when what we're talking about is a social safety net.

I find the creeping tendency to use "consumers" in place of "citizens" or "residents" to be appalling and erosive.

Comments

Consume

[fdmts.livejournal.com]

Similarly, I sort of checked out when I realized that while the talk is about "Health care," the real argument is "how do we sell health insurance to every citizen?"

I would like to be sure that there is health care available for everyone. I think that insurance is a terrible way to do it.

Re: Consume

[jrtom.livejournal.com]

the real argument is "how do we sell health insurance to every citizen?"

I don't think that's how all the legislators, or even all the legislators of either major party, are viewing this.

I think that legislator perspectives include several of the following (sometimes in the same person, probably):

"How do we get universal health care coverage?"
"How do we get enough more health care coverage that it sounds significant?"
"How do we make it possible for more people to get health care coverage without screwing over people that already have it in various ways?"
"How do we reduce health care costs?"
"How do we do something in the health care domain that doesn't involve raising taxes or going more into debt?"
"How do we reform health care without causing the entire health care industry to collapse?"

and so on.


I would like to be sure that there is health care available for everyone. I think that insurance is a terrible way to do it.

I think that it would be worse to have everyone required to pay cash up front. That said, personally I tend to prefer single-payer (maybe with some provision for insurance for extraordinary costs or elective care), and I think that the way that health insurance is done in the US is indeed terrible.

One thing I've wondered recently: is car insurance managed any better--and if so, are there any lessons to be learned there?