Not only do we have an entirely different government (via our Constitution and history), the sheer scale of a US health plan makes the comparisons a tad ridiculous. Our population, at ~300 million, is (roughly) 10 times the size of Canada's, and 5 times the UK's.

Even if those systems were working perfectly (and it's clear that they aren't, even in this article) — they would look MUCH different if implemented here.

“Give up on my government health plan? You first, Congressman!”

Better yet…

“How many bureaucrats stand between a congressman and his doctor?”

Honestly, in most cases, I'd hate the idea of more government, but there are some cases in which I think they're perfectly capable of providing a quality plan– if they want to. And the Congressional plan is proof. The fact that other countries can do it is proof. And I think if people try a quality (note: “quality” is not perfect, there is no perfect plan), they'll like it. And I think that's what the private insurers know and want so badly to not happen.

I can just imagine how this opposition argument would go if we were discussing socialized police protection. “They will be thugs, and there will be brutality.” “Your taxes will be higher.” Both true (and rare), but can you imagine if we DIDN'T have them?