Thursday, October 7, 2010

POLL: Dislike of healthcare law crosses party lines, 1 in 4 Dems want repeal - TheHill.com (But Doesn't Ask Why)

Here is yet another example of the media showing THAT the health care law is unpopular but fails to look at WHY this is the case.

POLL: Dislike of healthcare law crosses party lines, 1 in 4 Dems want repeal - TheHill.com

How the question is worded has a big influence on the results of the poll. Here is one of the few polls which asks better questions.

AP Poll: Many think health overhaul should do more

This poll indicates that those who wanted the bill to do more (about 20 million will still be left uninsured), sooner (the bill won't take full effect until 2014) outnumber those who want it repealed by 2-1. Before the law was passed several polls were published showing that support for single payer and the robust public option was popular but the drug, insurance, and hospital industries hated it.

CBS News/New York Times Survey Shows Most Americans Approve Of Government Intervention In Health Care Coverage

Tom Daschle has admitted that the Obama administration was too eager to please these industries but then backtracked his statement.

Daschle: Public Option ‘Taken Off The Table’ In July (2009) Due To ‘Understanding People Had With Hospitals'

This is one of the factors in the "enthusiasm gap" that the democrats are experiencing now this election cycle. Obama & co. just tell the rank & file to buck up and go to the polls anyway. It has taken 45 years since Medicare and Medicaid has passed for any kind of health care reform to pass. How much longer will it take for real reform to happen?

Another AP poll shows those who want bill expanded at least equal to those who want it repealed with gender gaps in both parties.

AP-GfK Poll: Americans split on health care repeal

A new study released in the journal Health Affairs shows that the US has slipped from 24th in the world in life expectancy to 49th since 1999 even after controlling for things like smoking, diet and other lifestyle factors. Those who want the bill and any other move toward universal sane coverage repealed will not want to hear believe this. You can read the original article at:

What Changes In Survival Rates Tell Us About US Health Care

Yet another poll comes out showing the same thing (those who want the law improved or kept are 51% while those who want it weakened or repealed are 44% of the population) as above only this time the lamestream and the Democrats are media is starting to notice. Here is the link to the original article.

New poll undercuts GOP claims of a midterm mandate

Ezra Klein of the Washington Post has a column on how at least some Democrats are retaking the offensive on health care. Better late than never.

Three ways Democrats are going back on the offense over health-care reform

Even in the Pennsylvania Senate Race, where free market radical Pat Toomey(R) defeated Joe Sestak(D) 51%-49%, the exit poll showed the same pattern 52%-45% but Sestak hardly mentioned it and those who wanted it expanded were more likely to stay home. Those who wanted it kept the same broke 30% for Toomey. D'Oh. If they hadn't been so timid in the first place they would be in a better bargaining position now. You can see the breakdown in the Senate race in the related post below.

**Update**

A Federal Judge in Virginia has struck down part of the Obama Health Care Law. He sided with the Virginia Attorney General on the Constitutionality of the part requiring all Americans to purchase health insurance. Polls show that this is the least popular part of the bill. This case will be headed to the US Supreme Court. The link is below. The public option would make the bill more popular but single payer would be the most constitutional as Medicare is.