Who Americans Trust on Health Care Policy

Not much of anyone, it seems:

As Democrats tried to rustle up support for their plan, a new Gallup Poll found that just half of the nation is confident Obama is recommending the right policies for revamping the health care system. Fewer Americans, 37%, had confidence in Democratic lawmakers, and only about a third expressed confidence in Republicans.

For Republicans, this is bad news but not really unexpected; the public hasn't trusted the GOP on health care in recent memory, and the party's strategy was primarily to block the Democrats' plans, not to bolster support for their own. For Obama, this is not exactly terrible news, but it's not good either, as it suggests that the process has resulted in an overall loss of credibility. In its analysis of the poll, Gallup reports that overall "confidence levels are lower than those measured in June, suggesting that the ongoing healthcare reform debate has taken a toll on the credibility of the politicians involved."

Various other looks at health care polling here and here.

Comments

[Michael Ejercito]

I wonder why the proposed reforms for health insurance is not also applied to auto, life, disability, and fire insurance.

[R C Dean]

Familiarity breed contempt.

[dang girl smartin']

Breeds

[MikeP]

As Democrats tried to rustle up support for their plan, a new Gallup Poll found that just half of the nation is confident Obama is recommending the right policies for revamping the health care system. Fewer Americans, 37%, had confidence in Democratic lawmakers, and only about a third expressed confidence in Republicans.

I am curious on what editor's planet a drop of 13% represents "fewer" yet a drop of 4% yields an "only".

[Tulpa]

You're comparing apples and oranges. Fewer is a relative term, while only is an absolute one.

[MikeP]

Exactly.

The Democrats' approval compares favorably with Obama's, garnering a term meaning "relatively close".

But the Republicans' approval apparently can't be compared to the Democrats', requiring an absolute term that connotes falling far short.

The connotations of the following are much more accurate:

As Democrats tried to rustle up support for their plan, a new Gallup Poll found that just half of the nation is confident Obama is recommending the right policies for revamping the health care system. Only 37% of Americans had confidence in Democratic lawmakers, while 5% fewer expressed confidence in Republicans.

But that phrasing doesn't pass subconscious muster.

[Tulpa]

"Fewer" doesn't mean "relatively close", and you're also failing to address the "just" -- a synonym of "only" -- which is used to describe Obama's own approval rating. Seriously, you're making me agree with Tony. Learned helplessness is a bitch.

[MikeP]

I took their "just" to mean "barely", as the number is actually 49%.

[Tony]

You guys could find liberal bias in a punctuation mark.

[AA]

Or an honest evaluation of what is being said.

[!]

Racist!

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

Semicolons are notoriously progressive.

[P Brooks]

suggesting that the ongoing healthcare reform debate has taken a toll on the credibility of the politicians involved."

Wow; these guys get paid for this kind of sophisticated "analysis" don't they?

[Pro Libertate]

Trust the libertarians. Go to Cato's Health Care Reform site.

[Almanian]

Trust no one. But go with the librarians in most cases.

[Pro Libertate]

Fair enough.

[smartass sob]

For Republicans, this is bad news but not really unexpected; the public hasn't trusted the GOP on health care in recent memory

At "37 percent" apparently the public doesn't trust the Democrats either; that's only 4 points more than 33 percent, or "one third."

[Tulpa]

I think the point is, the 37% for the Dems is more alarming than the low percentage for the GOP, because health care is one of the Dems' strengths. It would be like 33% of Americans trusting the GOP on foreign policy.

[Paul]

Or 33% of Americans trusting the GOP to "get tough on crime".

[regnifinger]

4% is usually within the error range of most polls...

[Bruce Wayne]

I TRUST HARVEY DENT.

[Paul]

"confidence levels are lower than those measured in June, suggesting that the ongoing healthcare reform debate has taken a toll on the credibility of the politicians involved."

I daresay it didn't take healthcare to take a toll on the credibility of politicians. No, they've been draining the water out of that pool for decades.

[Tulpa]

Actually, there's a subtle-as-a-2x4-to-the-forehead implication there that it's the debate that caused loss of credibility, not the rottenness of the proposed reform. So if only the Dems had rammed it through earlier, everyone would have been happier.

[live fish in our creeks]

"implication there that it's the debate that caused loss of credibility" More likely the sweetheart deals.

[Tony]

If in June 58% of Americans had confidence in Obama's approach to healthcare (let's call it Obamacare), that means that a healthy mandate for it has the potential for existing.

Nobody should expect the numbers to go up during a year-long clusterfuck. But once it passes there's only one party whose numbers might go up on this issue.

[Tulpa]

But once it passes there's only one party whose numbers might go up on this issue.

I agree! But it probably won't be the party responsible for four years of taxes before the benefits start (unless you're a govt employee or union member).

[Unborn Angel]

I know all too well how much stock liberals put in something that has the potential for existing.

[David E. Gallaher]

I trust my Canadian FB friends.
(Is the world going to hell in a handbasket?)

[I don't trust]

anyone who has Canadian friends;-)

[Jess Sour]

I trust Obama but sadly, he has yet to realize that the ones who actually "make it happen" have all been bought and paid for!

Jess
http://www.total-anonymity.us.tc

[Episiarch]

Oh, Anonymity Bot, a rare miss. Try harder.

[Almanian Bot]

That guy is too much! I mean really! LOL!

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

If you want to stick with the illusion that you are a bot, here's a suggestion: Less words like "sadly", and more "dude" and "LOL".

I'm just sayin'............

[against the grain]

A man giving lessons to a robot on how to be a robot. I like the twist on that sci-fi concept.

[Odon]

So, What do you think the prince and princess are giving away today for a vote?

[sebastianview]

? There seems to be a lost idea in the concept of the American "principle" of government by the people for the people. This "principle of civil right" has been handed over to the corporations and little is left to individuals. The influences of corporations have taken a "hand-off" and are running with "profiting motivation". The power or our "two party system" is no longer separated by ideals and has shifted to far over to sustaining partisan monetary interests. Segments in our economy; banking, investments, drugs, etc. have far too much freedom to influence and operate at will to the point where they have become "Pirates of The Economy" and "Privateers of The United States of America".
The American people/citizens have allowed this degradation and it is now they're right and responsibility to finish this race and support their President in this initiative of our welfare.

[jet]

Keep talking, you have it right.

[Tulpa]

That's one seriously long bullet point.

[rob]

Please don't listen to the white house crap; I though Bush was bad ramming the Iraq war down our throats -- NOW Obama is ramming Healthcare. This is a fee for service broken system he makes worse rather than fixing in incremental, targeted reform.

[jet]

Unfortunately we no longer have the luxury of incremental, targeted reform. Decades of corrupt politicians, increasingly powerful insurance companies and lobbyists, have put America into this sinkhole. When you are in a freefall position, building small incremental steps won't stop you from splatting on the ground. As our legislators have proven time and again, laws are fluid, and you can rest assured, if the Dems manage to push this healthcare reform through, there will be an avalanch of lawsuits filed in every major city across the nation the day after it goes into effect, stalling any and all implementation of the reform. Insurance companies don't like to be held accountable.

[rctl]

"if the Dems manage to push this healthcare reform through, there will be an avalanch of lawsuits filed in every major city across the nation the day after it goes into effect, stalling any and all implementation of the reform. Insurance companies don't like to be held accountable." I don't see this as a loss. The insurances companies will have their asses in court and that may lead to the best outcome.

[Wellescent Health Forums]

For the Democrats to make any headway in confidence regarding health care, people will have to see and like the results of the bill. It does not seem likely that they will be seen positively prior to that with all the ongoing controversy around discussions and negotiations on the bill.

[jet]

The ongoing controversy around the discussions and negotiations are all being staged by and for Republicans. I have been a registered voter for more than 30 years, and only in the past year have I been invited to participate in "townhall" meetings. In fact, only in the last year have I even heard of "townhall" meetings. Is this because I have suddenly become visible to the local politician? Or because the Republicans finally lost the Presidency and are doing everything in their power to reverse that situation? I have seen an awful lot of misinformation being spewed around lately, and most of it is coming from the Republican party. I hate dirty politics.

[Tulpa]

How does inviting you to a town hall meeting help the GOP win the White House?

[Marija]

I belive health care reform will bring great change to our Country,and I have personaly felt, with my individual policy,change our goverment have done (Cobra)for health,end UIA extention coverage for unemploid workers.Our class is the one that feeds our country.You know,if we do'nt work all is at stop.We must be helped first,(our present government knows that). To sumit up if productive labor goes down, none productive labor(regardles of statue)is going with us down.This process of economics is nonediscriminitory,and the rich know this,we are in crises together.Mrs.M.D.C.

[Keep It Real]

After reading everyone's comments, the bottom line here is both parties really need to stop, step back for a moment and really listen to the voices of the American public instead of their own interests. Also, it is important more than ever for the American public to raise their voices well above these politicians to be heard on all issues. With regard to health care reform, frankly this is a bill that is being rammed down our throats whether we the citizen approve of it or not. Government has not really looked at the possible end result that could end up costing each of us more in the end for health care as well as higher taxes which we all know we don't need. Government truly doesn't understand the struggles we are all undergoing because they do not pay into their own health insurance. It they had to go through what we the rest of America deals with on a daily basis, you would certainly see them change their tune mighty fast. How can they pass laws without experiencing it first hand? Experience as you know speaks for itself. On the subject of jobs, corporate America is selling out to countries overseas, which in turn, causes job loss. So many manufacturing companies have done this and we are now suffering for it. What used to be "MADE IN THE USA" is no longer so. It further diminishes the small business industries that proved to provide unique workmenship, this is quickly disappearing. It is time more than ever to take back our manufacturing and give jobs back to our American citizens. And guess what, if this path continues, then you will have even more people out of work and unable to acquire health insurance. Plus, if a person cannot afford to pay for their health insurance because they do not have a job, and this bill mandates that every American MUST have insurance as well as a possible penalty of a fine and/or imprisonment if they do not purchase health insurance, well, most people will probably end up in jail. Now what do you do? Both the Dems and GOP have got to stop playing the political tug of war, hissy fits, name calling, etc. and be real adults, and be real leaders and create a true balance between both jobs that people need FIRST in order to pay for health insurance regardless if they aquire it from already established health insurance companies or the health care reform (which really needs more thought behind it and rewritten). It is about time that the non-sense ends and both parties get their act together.

[John Ward]

This is actually simple. Pass one law that eliminates the insurance companies. Make the medical profession post prices and salaries. Create a cap of out pocket expenditures as a percentage of income. Everyone gets a red/white and blue card That acts as a debit card on healthcare. if you use it great for you, if not you still pay a % of your income into the system. You can never be refused care and go anywhere in the United States be treated. The cost curve is bent by competition and the elimination of the middlemen.
So Simple