as far as I know, 'Hillarycare' was never presented to anyone as anything other than 'guaranteed health care for all'. I don't remember a single detail given about how it would work, who would run it, etc. it never made it as far as 'we have to pass it to know what's in it'.
things have changed since 1992-1994. a larger portion of the population seem willing to allow the federal government to 'solve' certain issues by either increased regulation or by taking entire industries over completely. even more believe that the feds 'ought to do something' about nearly everything. many in my family that used to be against government healthcare in the 90's have changed, and are now for it. even the way we discuss the issue - the 'healthcare system' - implies that it's not an actual industry that has grown into what it is, but something that was constructed by design, which needs to be repaired in order to make it run properly again.
neither party can fix it. in my opinion, they're the ones screwing it up....all of them. people are either too disinterested, too stupid, or both to realize that every single time the feds get involved in anything, it becomes less effecient, more costly, and is soon in need of even more 'fixing'.
if and when Obamacare fizzles out, I have no doubt that republicans will rush in to fix it, and I have absolutely no faith in their ability to do so. as long as people continue to expect help from the feds, it's just going to be more of the same.