--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we were to build a health care system…" description: "\"If we were to build a health care system from scratch, single-payer would be the way to go. But we have a very complex health care system in America.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50b/amy-mcgrath-6116_america_if-we-were-to-build-a-health-care-system_86852.jpg" --- # If we were to build a health care system from scratch… ![“If we were to build a health care system from scratch, single-payer would be the way to go. But we have a very complex health care system in America.” quote by Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50b/amy-mcgrath-6116_america_if-we-were-to-build-a-health-care-system_86852.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50b/amy-mcgrath-6116_america_if-we-were-to-build-a-health-care-system_86852.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50b/amy-mcgrath-6116_america_if-we-were-to-build-a-health-care-system_86852.jpg) > “If we were to build a health care system from scratch, single-payer would be the way to go. But we have a very complex health care system in America.” [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates for a single‑payer system as ideal, yet acknowledges the entrenched complexity of the U.S. healthcare landscape. **In simple terms:** Ideal vs. reality in health policy. Key Takeaway Reform must navigate existing systemic intricacies. Themes healthcare policy complexity reform ideals Mood analytical concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - legislative hearing - public debate - academic symposium Key Concepts single‑payer debate Practical Applications - policy analysis - advocacy campaigns Questions to Reflect On - What barriers prevent ideal models from being adopted? - How can incremental change address systemic complexity? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [Health care system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care-system/) ## Related quotes > [When I talk about democratic socialist, I am talking about Medicare, a single payer health care system for the elderly. And in my view,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/when-i-talk-about-democratic-socialist-i-am-talking-about-medicare-a/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I am not going to make promises I can't keep. I am not going to talk about big ideas like single-payer and then not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-not-going-to-make-promises-i-can-t-keep-i-am-not-going-to-talk/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [ She \[Hillary Clinton\] wants to go to a single-payer plan, which would be a disaster...she wants to go to single-payer, which means the government… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/she-hillary-clinton-wants-to-go-to-a-single-payer-plan-which-would-be/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Single-payer is about making our society a better place. It's about putting people over profits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-pritzker/single-payer-is-about-making-our-society-a-better-place-it-s-about/) [J. B. Pritzker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-pritzker/) > [I happen to be a proponent of a single-payer, universal health care plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-happen-to-be-a-proponent-of-a-single-payer-universal-health-care/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Let's just say I'm a believer in universal, single-payer healthcare insurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bock/let-s-just-say-i-m-a-believer-in-universal-single-payer-healthcare/) [Charles Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bock/) > [As far as single payer, it works in Canada. It works incredibly well in Scotland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-single-payer-it-works-in-canada-it-works-incredibly-well-in/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I'm not a left-wing nut pushing for single-payer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-deaton/i-m-not-a-left-wing-nut-pushing-for-single-payer/) [Angus Deaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-deaton/) > [If there's ever a vote for single-payer, I'm a 'yes.' But there are lots of things we can do in the meantime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schatz/if-there-s-ever-a-vote-for-single-payer-i-m-a-yes-but-there-are-lots/) [Brian Schatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schatz/) > [Single payer means something different to everyone. The way I define it is that health care is a right and not a privilege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shumlin/single-payer-means-something-different-to-everyone-the-way-i-define/) [Peter Shumlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shumlin/) > [I suspect I'm the only politician in America who won an election in this last cycle with TV ads saying I was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shumlin/i-suspect-i-m-the-only-politician-in-america-who-won-an-election-in/) [Peter Shumlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shumlin/) > [I'm not for single payer. But I'm for continuation of the Affordable Care Act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/i-m-not-for-single-payer-but-i-m-for-continuation-of-the-affordable/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [ I think that if you have a single payer system and an opt-out for people who want to pay more \[for better service, etc.\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-think-that-if-you-have-a-single-payer-system-and-an-opt-out-for/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Look at the problem of drug-resistant TB in the world. Look at HIV in the world. What's going to be required for everybody in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-yong-kim/look-at-the-problem-of-drug-resistant-tb-in-the-world-look-at-hiv-in/) [Jim Yong Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-yong-kim/) > [In comparison to the U.S. health care system, the German system is clearly better, because the German health care system works for everyone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lauterbach/in-comparison-to-the-u-s-health-care-system-the-german-system-is/) [Karl Lauterbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lauterbach/) ## More by Amy McGrath > [You can't drain the swamp, as President Trump has touted doing, without getting rid of Mitch McConnell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/you-can-t-drain-the-swamp-as-president-trump-has-touted-doing-without/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [The selflessness and service of the veterans I have met and served with are the living embodiment of what America and American values mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/the-selflessness-and-service-of-the-veterans-i-have-met-and-served/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [I will give everyday Kentuckians a voice in Washington - not just special interests or the wealthiest 1%.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/i-will-give-everyday-kentuckians-a-voice-in-washington-not-just/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [We'd never be talking about Senator McGrath saying anything about state and local governments should be going bankrupt. I'd never even think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/we-d-never-be-talking-about-senator-mcgrath-saying-anything-about/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [Growing up in northern Kentucky, honesty, integrity and character were revered traits, and - with my family - I looked to the greatest generation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/growing-up-in-northern-kentucky-honesty-integrity-and-character-were/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [We deserve better than a win-at-all-costs mentality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/we-deserve-better-than-a-win-at-all-costs-mentality/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [I'm not going to apologize for serving my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/i-m-not-going-to-apologize-for-serving-my-country/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [I'm not somebody who seeks attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/i-m-not-somebody-who-seeks-attention/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [Folks don't always win the first time they run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/folks-don-t-always-win-the-first-time-they-run/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [I left home at 18, but I still voted in Kentucky. Every holiday, I came home to Kentucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/i-left-home-at-18-but-i-still-voted-in-kentucky-every-holiday-i-came/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [With regard to the more moderates, I have spent 20 years as a United States Marine. I'm a little more realistic when it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/with-regard-to-the-more-moderates-i-have-spent-20-years-as-a-united/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [Senator McConnell has always won in the past because he's had a bigger blow horn. He's always had tens of millions of dollars more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/senator-mcconnell-has-always-won-in-the-past-because-he-s-had-a/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [We need a new generation of leaders who can put their country over their political party to do what's right for Kentucky and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/we-need-a-new-generation-of-leaders-who-can-put-their-country-over/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [Part of that problem is women don't run. We don't run for office. It's not that people are overwhelmingly voting against us. We just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/part-of-that-problem-is-women-don-t-run-we-don-t-run-for-office-it-s/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [Trust me, I've been to countries where there's no government. And our government's pretty damned good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/trust-me-i-ve-been-to-countries-where-there-s-no-government-and-our/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) [Explore all 100 Amy McGrath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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