https://pnhp.org/a-brief-history-universal-health-care-effor...
There have been meaningful efforts that keep reverting to insurance schemes since the late 1800s, with the first real legislative passage in 1915.
Universal healthcare has actually been pretty popular and enjoyed broad support. Most people are acutely aware of health care and the lack of it. In fact it typically ranks near the top in the concerns for most Americans:
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/06/21/inflation-he...
The issue is more the business lobby against expansion of health care and the insurance lobby against expansion of universal solutions like single payer and Medicare / VA expansion to everyone. In fact the concerns aren’t false - insurance and the billing industry are huge employers of relatively low skilled but well paid workers.
I agree with what you said.
Changes to this state of affairs will only come from us.
Otherwise, they have position and are fat 'n happy.
This means we need to speak in more basic terms. Expensive terms.
Anyway, people will try this, others will get hurt or killed, and I along with others will get our "I told you so" moment, which will get added to the "when the fuck do we make health care a priority" advocacy library and the fight goes on.
Fact is, far too many people ignore health care.
When that changes, we will see progress.