OPINION:
Fully 66 percent of Americans in a survey conducted by Pew Research Center say it’s the job of government to make sure everybody has health care coverage. Only 33 percent say nope — it’s not a government role.
Another way to read these numbers: 66 percent of Americans have jumped into bed with socialists.
What a tragedy.
America was founded on an idea — a spirit — a concept that said all are created equal; all are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that these rights included life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Added to that was the notion that since these rights were granted by God, and were granted to each and every American citizen, that governments were implemented simply to secure these rights — to serve the citizens by protecting their God-given rights and liberties. From those ideals came the limits on government — as well as the responsibilities on citizens.
Health care is not mentioned in the Constitution.
But politicians, as politicians who seek power and control and an expansion of government always do, have turned to the general welfare clause, that is, Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, to justify their otherwise unconstitutional wandering into health care. They say that in order to be happy, citizens must be healthy. They call health a human right — a God-given right — and then twist that idea to require taxpayers to assume responsibility for providing that right.
It’s worked.
It’s a persuasive line of logic that’s worked.
“About two-thirds of U.S. adults say government should make sure all Americans have health care,” Pew wrote, in the December 2025 summary of their study.
Sixty-six percent of Americans have bought the lie.
If it’s the role of the federal government to ensure everyone has heath care, based on the belief that health care is a human right, then wouldn’t it be the role of the federal government to make sure everyone has food? And housing? And help raising children? And whatever else comes along the powers-who-be decide is a human right rather than a responsibility; rather than a responsibility with the burden of responsibility residing with the individual?
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani would say yes — that housing and food and child care are all human rights, and it’s the role of the collective to provide. That’s the warmth of collectivism he talks about, versus the chill of individualism.
But nothing’s free in life.
Freedom itself isn’t free — it demands individuals take care of themselves and provide for themselves.
Sadly, 66 percent of American adults have forgotten that, just as they’ve forgotten about all the blood that was shed by patriots who believed in self-governance and who wanted to give their children and their children’s children a chance to live with these same cherished self-governing principles.
Of the 66 percent who want government-provided health care: “Thirty-five percent of all adults favor a single national health insurance system run by the government,” Pew found.
Of the 66 percent who believe government’s role is to provide health care: “Thirty-one percent say insurance should continue to be provided through a mix of private companies and government programs,” Pew found.
Fully 90 percent of these socialized-medicine supporters are Democrats and Democratic-leaners, Pew found. Compare that to 41 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaners.
But in America, it should be zero percent, no matter the political party.
If Americans want to help out with health care, let them dip into their own pockets and give to the needy directly. That would be the American, free market, freedom-loving way.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter and podcast by clicking HERE. Her latest book, “God-Given Or Bust: Defeating Marxism and Saving America With Biblical Truths,” is available by clicking HERE.
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