Maggie's Farm

Big headline in this morning’s San Diego newspaper: “Californians largely favor health care fixes.”

The [Field Poll] survey of registered voters in California found that a huge majority favors President Barack Obama's proposal to allow people to choose between a government-sponsored health plan and private insurance.

 

The poll also showed considerable bipartisan agreement among voters about various health care proposals, but sharp disagreement between Democrats and Republicans about how to pay for them.

 

 

 

Basically, looking at the actual poll tabulations, about 90% of those polled having health insurance, there’s generally broad agreement among Democrats and Independents on nice sounding goals (“Given the serious economic problems facing the country, which of the following two statements comes closest to your own views regarding what should be done about health care reform?” It is more important than ever: Democrats 85%, Independents 69%, Republicans 39%) but an lesser willingness to personally pay more for them, preferring that someone else does (“Having a new value added tax which is like a national sales tax” Favor strongly or somewhat: Democrats 53%, Independents 39%, Republicans 25%; Compare to “Limit the tax deductions available to families making more than $250,000 a year” Favor strongly or somewhat: Democrats 69%, Independents 60%, Republicans 42%).

When it has come, however, to actual votes, even the liberal California state legislature has shied away from imposing government-dictated health care schemes.  As the “progressive” New America Foundation said of the lesson from the rejected 2007 scheme for California, “the issues of affordability for families and sustainability for taxpayers must be satisfactorily addressed.”  An understatement.  As a Kaiser Foundation 2009 poll sums up: “A slim majority of Democrats (53%) are willing to pay more for providing coverage, while 38% of independents and 29% of Republicans say the same.” Other polls indicate that even among those willing to pay more, the amount is nominal. For example, among the uninsured, those of small income (under $20,000/year) are willing to pay $100 per month and those earning much more ($80,000) $200, versus actual comprehensive insurance costs of about $400 for individuals and over $1,000 for families.

The overall California results and the split between Democrats, Independents and Republicans is more marked than elsewhere, but indicative of splits elsewhere.  California is a heavily Democrat state, with the proportion of registered Democrats and Democrat leaning Independents increasing significantly between 2004 and 2008.  The Field Poll is of those registered to vote, not of those who do vote.  Even though registered voters are whiter, earn more and are older than the population, those moved to vote are even more so.

Take note Congress.

Pro-government-dictated health care pup Ezra Klein points out that, according to a cited study, only about 10% of early deaths from disease are due to “shortfalls in medical care,” versus from “behavioral patterns, 40 percent” or “genetic predispositions, about 30 percent.”   Klein asks, then, “If medical care has such a minor impact on a person's longevity, why are we spending so much time and energy reforming the industry?”  Klein says it’s because the focus is on the profits, jobs and government-largesse at stake for the interests involved.  I would add, it’s because of the power that can be garnered by Washington over our lives and pockets, and the contributions that can be garnered by politicians.

Take note taxpayers.  Take note citizens.  Take note those in real health care need.  It’s not about you.

BTW: According to the latest New York Times poll, only 7% see health care problems as the nation’s top priority, versus 38% the economy and 19% jobs.  That’s why the Times reports, “fewer than half [44%] of Americans saying they approve of how he has handled health care and the effort to save General Motors and Chrysler [41%].”  56% say the government is doing too much that is better left to individuals and business.  60% say Obama hasn’t a clear plan to deal with the budget deficit.  They’re wrong.  Obama clearly aims to deepen the deficit.