Thanks for the compliment, and I'll take a longer read through your post for us to discuss. But to react to your first two paragraphs, reading poll results is as much art as science, so each of us can find different facts out there to support our reasoning. Below are some I just found. (One of them is quite old, but I believe that a more recent poll would should similar results.) Looking at the polls further, I still read this situation as similar to how I think people see education -- country in crisis, but I'm doing OK, thanks; and I think the country's ambivalence towards NCLB and federal involvement in local education would be reflected in a wellspring of opposition to any specific plan that would involve lack of personal choice due to more federal involvement in health care.But I was very surprised in the last three polls below by the extent to which people expressed support in general for more radical health care solutions. (In the 2nd to last poll in particular, I'd be interested to hear the results if the question was phrased in terms of "increased taxes" instead of "increased spending".) More to follow, but these provide some interesting food for thought.
28% Support Democrat strongly 11 Support Democrat, not so strongly 14 Support Republican, not so strongly 43 Support Republican strongly 2 Neither (Vol.) * Both (Vol.) 2 Don't know/Refused [Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R073] Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut.
24% Support Democrat strongly 13 Support Democrat, not so strongly 17 Support Republican, not so strongly 43 Support Republican strongly 2 Neither (Vol.) * Both (Vol.) 1 Don't know/Refused [Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R074] Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut.
19% Very satisfied 30 Somewhat satisfied 21 Somewhat dissatisfied 28 Very dissatisfied 2 Don't know/Refused [Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R048] Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut.
48% Very satisfied 33 Somewhat satisfied 9 Somewhat dissatisfied 9 Very dissatisfied 1 Don't know/Refused [Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R049] Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut. "Overall, how confident are you that your health insurance for next year will meet the healthcare needs of you and your family?"Base: Will have employer-sponsored health insurance next year
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding. Next, thinking about the campaign for the presidential election in 2008, which one of the following health care issues would you most like to hear the presidential candidates talk about and focus on in any health reform plan they may develop?...Expanding health insurance coverage for the uninsured, reducing health care costs, improving the Medicare prescription drug benefit for seniors, improving the quality of care and reducing medical errors, reducing spending on government health programs like Medicare and Medicaid Subpopulation/Note: Asked of Form 1 half sample |
32% Expanding health insurance coverage for the uninsured 31 Reducing health care costs 13 Improving the Medicare prescription drug benefit for seniors 11 Improving the quality of care and reducing medical errors 7 Reducing spending on government health programs like Medicare and Medicaid 2 None of these (Vol.) 1 Other issue (Vol.) 3 Don't know/Refused
| Survey by Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Methodology: Conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International, May 31-June 5, 2007 and based on telephone interviews with a national adult sample of 1,203. [USPSRA.062007HTP.R03] Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut. |
| (Now I'm going to read you some pairs of statements about health care reform for the country. After I read each pair, please tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own view, even if neither is exactly right.)...First statement: The best way to lower health care costs is through government intervention. Second statement: The best way to lower health care costs is through more choices and competition....(If First/Second statement, ask:) Do you feel that way strongly or not so strongly? Subpopulation/Note: Asked of Form A half sample |
27% First statement strongly
9 First statement not so strongly
13 Second statement not so strongly
45 Second statement strongly
1 Both (Vol.)
1 Neither (Vol.)
3 Don't know/Refused
| (Now I'm going to read you some pairs of statements about health care reform for the country. After I read each pair, please tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own view, even if neither is exactly right.)...First statement: Now is the time to establish a Canadian-style national health care system that provides affordable health care for all Americans. Second statement: We can improve our health care system through incremental steps without taking radical measures that will result in a government takeover....(If First/Second statement, ask:) Do you feel that way strongly or not so strongly? Subpopulation/Note: Asked of Form A half sample |
40% First statement strongly
13 First statement not so strongly
14 Second statement not so strongly
29 Second statement strongly
1 Neither (Vol.)
3 Don't know/Refused
[Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R066]
Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut.
| All Health-Related Questions from this Survey |
Democracy Corps Poll [May, 2007] Survey by Democracy Corps. Methodology: Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, May 29-May 31, 2007 and based on telephone interviews with a national likely voters sample of 1,000. Likely voters are registered voters who voted in the 2004 election/weren't registered/ineligible/too young to vote and said they are probably or almost certain to vote in the 2008 election.
| (Now, I'd like to rate your feelings toward some people and organizations, with one hundred meaning a very warm, favorable feeling, zero meaning a very cold, unfavorable feeling, and fifty meaning not particularly warm or cold. You can use any number from zero to one hundred, the higher the number the more favorable your feelings are toward that person or organization. If you have no opinion or never heard of that person or organization, please say so.)...Single-payer health care system...Give...single-payer health care system a rating, with 100 meaning a very warm, favorable feeling, zero meaning a very cold, unfavorable feeling, and 50 meaning not particularly warm or cold. (If Don't know, ask;) Would you say you are unable to give an opinion of...single-payer health care system, or have you never heard of...single-payer health care system? Subpopulation/Note: Asked of Form A half sample Mean = 45.1 |
16% Warm 51-100
24 Cool 0-49
25 Not particularly warm or cold 50
35 Never heard of/Don't know/Refused
[Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R030]
Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut.
| (Now, I'd like to rate your feelings toward some people and organizations, with one hundred meaning a very warm, favorable feeling, zero meaning a very cold, unfavorable feeling and fifty meaning not particularly warm or cold. You can use any number from zero to one hundred, the higher the number the more favorable your feelings are toward that person or organization. If you have no opinion or never heard of that person or organization, please say so.)...Canadian-style health care system...Give...Canadian-style health care system a rating, with 100 meaning a very warm, favorable feeling, zero meaning a very cold, unfavorable feeling, and 50 meaning not particularly warm or cold. (If Don't know, ask;) Would you say you are unable to give an opinion of...Canadian-style health care system, or have you never heard of...Canadian-style health care system? Subpopulation/Note: Asked of Form B half sample Mean = 48.9 |
34% Warm 51-100
32 Cool 0-49
14 Not particularly warm or cold 50
20 Never heard of/Don't know/Refused
[Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R031]
Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut.
| Thinking about the country as a whole, would you say you are satisfied or dissatisfied with the quality of health care in this country? (If Satisfied/Dissatisfied, ask:) (Is that very or somewhat?) Subpopulation/Note: Asked of Form C half sample |
19% Very satisfied
30 Somewhat satisfied
21 Somewhat dissatisfied
28 Very dissatisfied
2 Don't know/Refused
[Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R048]
Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut.
| Thinking about your own situation and your own family, would you say you are satisfied or dissatisfied with the quality of health care you receive? (If Satisfied/Dissatisfied, ask:) (Is that very or somewhat?) Subpopulation/Note: Asked of Form C half sample |
48% Very satisfied
33 Somewhat satisfied
9 Somewhat dissatisfied
9 Very dissatisfied
1 Don't know/Refused
[Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R049]
Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut.
| Thinking about the country as a whole, would you say you are satisfied or dissatisfied with the cost of health care in this country? (If Satisfied/Dissatisfied, ask:) (Is that very or somewhat?) Subpopulation/Note: Asked of Form D half sample |
5% Very satisfied
18 Somewhat satisfied
32 Somewhat dissatisfied
42 Very dissatisfied
3 Don't know/Refused
[Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R050]
Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut.
| Thinking about your own situation and your own family, would you say you are satisfied or dissatisfied with the cost of health care? (If Satisfied/Dissatisfied, ask:) (Is that very or somewhat?) Subpopulation/Note: Asked of Form D half sample |
18% Very satisfied
25 Somewhat satisfied
24 Somewhat dissatisfied
32 Very dissatisfied
1 Don't know/Refused
[Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R051]
Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut.
| Which of the following do you agree with most?...One: On the whole, the health care system in America works pretty well but some changes are necessary. Two: There are good things about the health system in America, but some major changes are needed. Three: America's health care system is so inadequate and has so many problems that we need to completely rebuild it. Subpopulation/Note: * = less than .5%. |
20% One: On the whole, the health care system
in America works pretty well but some changes
are necessary
55 Two: There are good things about the health
system in America, but some major changes are
needed
24 Three: American's health care system is so
inadequate and has so many problems that we
need to completely rebuild it
* Other (Vol.)
1 None (Vol.)
* Don't know
[Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R052]
Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut.
| Now I'm going to read you some pairs of statements about your own health care priorities. After I read each pair, please tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own view, even if neither is exactly right....First statement: Lowering health care costs is the more important thing to me. Second statement: Improving quality is the more important thing to me....(If First/Second statement, ask:) Do you feel that way strongly or not so strongly? Subpopulation/Note: Asked of Form C half sample |
32% First statement strongly
9 First statement not so strongly
14 Second statement not so strongly
38 Second statement strongly
4 Both (Vol.)
1 Neither (Vol.)
1 Don't know/Refused
[Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R054]
Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut.
2
| (Now I'm going to read you some pairs of statements about health care reform for the country. After I read each pair, please tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own view, even if neither is exactly right.)...First statement: Now is the time to establish a Canadian-style national health care system that provides affordable health care for all Americans. Second statement: We can improve our health care system through incremental steps without taking radical measures that will result in a government takeover....(If First/Second statement, ask:) Do you feel that way strongly or not so strongly? Subpopulation/Note: Asked of Form A half sample |
40% First statement strongly
13 First statement not so strongly
14 Second statement not so strongly
29 Second statement strongly
1 Neither (Vol.)
3 Don't know/Refused
[Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R066]
Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut.
| (Now I'm going to read you some pairs of statements about health care reform for the country. After I read each pair, please tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own view, even if neither is exactly right.)...First statement: Now is the time for single payer health insurance that is funded and administered by the US (United States government. This Canadian-style system would guarantee affordable health care coverage for all Americans and reduce costs by streamlining the administration of health care. Second statement: We need to make changes to our health care system, but we cannot put it in the hands of the government. While health care accounts for 15 percent of our economy, a government takeover is a radical move that will reduce quality of care and eliminate a patient's choice of doctor....(If First/Second statement, ask:) Do you feel that way strongly or not so strongly? Subpopulation/Note: Asked of Form B half sample |
29% First statement strongly
17 First statement not so strongly
14 Second statement not so strongly
35 Second statement strongly
2 Neither (Vol.)
3 Don't know/Refused
[Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R067]
Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut.
| Would you favor or oppose a proposal that provided every American with health insurance, even if it meant your taxes or health care premiums would increase as a result? (If Favor/Oppose, ask:) Do you feel that way strongly or only somewhat? Subpopulation/Note: Asked of Form A half sample |
27% Strongly favor
27 Somewhat favor
16 Somewhat oppose
27 Strongly oppose
4 Don't know/Refused
[Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R068]
Data provided b
| Let me tell you about a proposal to reform the health care system in this country. This plan would use what some people call a single-payer health care plan. Under this plan, you still would be able to see your own doctor, just like under Medicare, but the federal government would pay the health care costs for all Americans. This would require a significant tax increase, but all of your current health care costs and insurance premiums would be covered by the government. Having heard this, do you favor or oppose this proposal? (If Favor/Oppose, ask:) Do you feel that way strongly or only somewhat? Subpopulation/Note: Asked of Form D half sample |
25% Strongly favor
29 Somewhat favor
12 Somewhat oppose
29 Strongly oppose
5 Don't know/Refused
[Question ID: USGREEN.07DCJUL.R072]
Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut.
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