How does that compare to the US, if we count the average that a citizen there also pays for healthcare and other things provided by the tax funds for Europe? Also, the figure seems high. IIRC, only 6 countries in Europe on average fall into that category.
My wife is from Europe, and whenever I speak with my in-laws there, they express satisfaction with higher taxes because they receive government-funded healthcare, education, childcare, and even free public transportation in some cities.
Democratic politicians who support universal health care often do not fully inform the public about the associated costs of providing free health care, education, or child care. This may be because most Americans, regardless of political affiliation, are unwilling to accept higher taxes.
The European model may be seen as effective by some, but many Americans prefer not to pay higher taxes. Unless the majority of Americans change their perspective, universal healthcare policies are unlikely to move beyond theoretical discussions. A viable solution would need to gain support from both liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans. Otherwise, the topic of universal healthcare may remain a subject of debate for decades without significant progress.
There is a reason why the Obama administration, when introducing the ACA, did not pursue universal health care or a single-payer system as many liberals advocated. The administration recognized that there was insufficient political support for universal healthcare, so it adopted a model based on more conservative ideas from figures such as Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. Even with this approach, the legislation did not receive any votes from conservative lawmakers.
A prevailing challenge in contemporary American politics is the reluctance of both sides to compromise and the tendency to impose their agendas on one another. While approximately 40% of Americans may support universal healthcare, an equal proportion opposes it; neither group is likely to relent in their convictions. It is essential that we find ways to coexist and develop solutions that garner broad consensus. The answer may not be universal healthcare , nor can we simply maintain the status quo. Persistently advocating for only one perspective is unlikely to yield meaningful progress. Instead, seeking common ground to achieve legislation acceptable to all Americans offers a more constructive path forward.