I think the Republicans' position on health care is far, far extremist right. Their position is not everyone deserves it. It differs from previous Republicans who supported universal health care, but did so differently than the Democrats would have done it. In the 70s, the Democrats were for single-payer like they have in Canada, but Richard Nixon wanted a combination of a public insurance system coexisting with private insurance companies. It was sensible and would have worked. It was more progressive than the Obama plan that did pass. Nixon wasn't a liberal. He was the arch conservative foe of the left of that era. Now we've gone so far right, even Nixon looks like a liberal. I don't think it's certain Republicans who have gone extreme. I think it's the entire party, as they were opposed to universal health insurance in any way, shape, or form, even a plan that uses no socialism. The entire spectrum has shifted far to the right. The Democrats are the right and the Republicans are the far right, with the only liberal being Dennis Kucinich and the only socialist Bernie Sanders. If you took someone from the conservative party in Canada or England and plopped them into our system, he or she would be considered liberal.
I want the health insurance system that Nixon was for. I don't think that makes me a far leftist. I think that's centrist or slightly right of center, at least it would be measured by our 70s political spectrum. I object to the country moving far, far to the extremist right. I think the climate is as dangerous as that of Germany following World War I.
