AMERICANS on health care reform...

[Guest]

Interesting to search out how americans are feeling in the polls about all the healthcare reform being discussed.....

From the NY Times...

"Americans are feeling more doubtful about an overhaul of the health care system than they were in September, according to a new Gallup poll.

The House narrowly approved health care legislation late Saturday night, but the poll, conducted from Thursday through Sunday, asked only about the prospects for a health care overhaul in general.

More than a third (36 percent) of respondents said that new health care legislation would make their own personal situations worse, while 31 percent said it would not make much difference and 26 percent said it would improve their situations.

Respondents were evenly split over whether Congress should approve any health care legislation. Asked whether such legislation would make the nation’s entire system better or worse, 41 percent said better and 40 percent said worse.

Today, 29 percent said they would advise their member of Congress to vote in favor of a new health care bill this year, down from 38 percent in September. While many respondents appeared to be split along party lines, independents are leaning strongly against a new bill

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/poll-americans-divided-on-health-care-overhaul/

From Rasmussen through the Wall St Journal...

[B]"For example, in the newest Gallup survey released on Monday, only 29% say they'd advise their congressman to vote for the health-care bill. This is down from 40% last month. A Rasmussen poll out this week shows that 42% of Americans strongly oppose the bill, while only 25% strongly favor it."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704402404574529583347899774.html

It is just interesting that this bill, WHICH IN MY OPINION DOES NOT ADDRESS THE HIGH COST OF HEALTH CARE, dominates all the activity and news !! I find solace when I read the President's daily schedule and see other things being discussed.

[Guest]

I wonder how it is that these people could have an informed opinion on the health care bill when even the legislators who are debating it in Congress don't know..

I don't doubt for a moment that people *believe* it'll get worse.

[Guest]

when Bill Clinton urges the lawmakers to compromise on anything and eliminate what ever it takes from the bill to get it passed....don't worry about the content just get any legislation passed that can be referred to as "health care reform"? Shallow performance being encouraged.....how impressive is that?

Does ANYONE with a beating heart in their chest REALLY believe that ANY of the representatives in Washington have ANYTHING in mind other than party agenda (that would mean either party for those who speed read and miss it).

btk

[Guest]

I wonder how it is that these people could have an informed opinion on the health care bill when even the legislators who are debating it in Congress don't know..

I don't doubt for a moment that people *believe* it'll get worse.


I suppose the same way the last adminstration had all that knowledge that with revisionist history has become fact...same way I suppose !

AND YOU ARE CORRECT...those debating it donthave a clue and those who voted in the house did nothave a clue yet voted along party lines. Tells you a lot !

[Guest]

Whether you support the proposed healthcare reforms or not their are several things that are clear:

1. Any of the healthcare plans under consideration will require new taxes starting in 2010, but will not provide coverage to a single additional person until 2013.
2. All of the bills will require large new federal agencies to administer them.
3. By the administration's most recent statements, there will be a large upfront cost and potential savings will not be realized until 2023 at the earliest.
4. We will have created a huge new entitlement program that can never be cancelled and will extend its reach as surely as Medicare has. Medicare Part D seems like a wonderful idea until you realize that all the costs are being put on our children and grandchildren.

Do we need to jump into this financial abyss at a time when we are seeing record unemployment, foreclosures and the states going bankrupt?

[Guest]

Makes you wonder how Switzerland managed to pull it off in 1994.

[Guest]

And Great Britain in 1947...
So you want to continue no coverage for 27-47 million and to allow insurance companies to dump people for pre-existing conditions?
You support this?
Why are you afraid to have more people have the same health insurance protection that most of us have? Who does that benefit?

[Guest]

Which is it 27 or 47 million.
This kind of crazy data does not support any change.
Would you make a decision on such lousy data?

[Guest]

Depends on how you're counting them.

Some "polls" ask if you were uninsured for so much as a DAY in the previous year (I got asked by one of those polls). Now, if you're changing jobs, you're almost guaranteed to be uncovered for a day and that poll would 'tag' you.

Other polls are more strict - as in are you uncovered RIGHT NOW.

I've been uninsured for MANY brief periods - the latest coming from my divorce being finalized before taking my current job. I was uninsured for a few weeks between the time I was covered under my now-ex-wife's health insurance (used to be she was covered under mine but when I had to go to contract work and she was at the Post Office, that changed) and the time that my current employer picked me up.