Dear Senate Finance Committee: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
 

Okay, so the most recent news is that they are rejecting a public option for healthcare in the finance committee, and now they're rejecting an amendment Orrin Hatch proposed that makes sure no government money is going towards abortions. I really can't figure out what's going on in their heads. They're far right enough to reject a public option to compete against private insurance companies, but far left enough to be OK with paying for abortions with taxpayer money. The big question mark for me is Olympia Snowe. It seems to me that she has no other interest but doing what is best for the health care companies, instead of the taxpayers or the voting public. What do y'all think?

Re: Dear Senate Finance Committee: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
 

My guess is that this is not really about ideological conservatism, even though that 'pool' of people is being exploited to drum up opposition to healthcare reform.

What if it's being fuelled by something else?

Millions spent blocking health reforms

Six lobbyists for every member of US Congress as healthcare industry heaps cash on politicians.

America's healthcare industry has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to block the introduction of public medical insurance and stall other reforms promised by Barack Obama. The campaign against the president has been waged in part through substantial donations to key politicians. (more...)

As with so much public opinion (from the dangers of signing up to international systems of justice, to perceptions of South American 'rogue' leaders like Chavez), the political and economic interests of the American establishment are probably more significant in shaping mainstream US opinion than many like to admit. (Ditto other western democracies like the UK)

We're looking for a correlation between opponents of 'socialism' and opponents of abortion - when we should really be looking at the correlation between uneducated conservatism, and the ease with which they can be manipulated and frightened into their beliefs, on all manner of issues.