On health care, it’s not who or what you ask, but how you ask
Image by Tony the Misfit via Flickr
So why am I not surprised at the differing responses to differently-worded questions in a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll plumbing popular opinion on a public option for health insurance?
Quick precis: When people were asked how important it is to have a choice of both a public plan and a private plan, 72% said very important. But when asked if they would favor or oppose creating a public health care plan that would compete directly with private health insurance, only 48% were in favor.
Truthfully, I don’t understand why the skew wasn’t the other way around — I’d think that the word “compete” would conjure up an image of lower prices and better products, and that 98% at least would be in favor.
But that’s besides the point. What teenager doesn’t know that “May i go to Tommy’s party?” could easily elicit a no — but that “Daddy, I’m going to Tommy’s party, so can i borrow the car?” is likely to elicit a no to the car, but not to the event. Of course wording means everything.
And truth? I don’t particularly care what the public opinion is on this one, anyway. From what I see, public opinion has been totally corrupted by death panel scares, by brouhahas over doctors making more than 75 cents an hour, by mean-spiritied outcries over treating illegals. There is no excuse for anyone in the USA getting sick, getting sicker, or remaining sick because of lack of insurance — we are better than that, and we are richer than that. I’d like to see all of these polls include an open ended question: If you are against a public option, what would you substitute to guarantee timely, effective, affordable care for everyone?
The definition of democracy in this country has never been majority rule. We would never have gotten civil rights legislation, we would not have equal pay rules or anti-age-discrimination rules, we probably wouldn’t have Medicaid or any sort of safety net at all.
Some things have to be done because they are right, whether the majority likes it or not. So sure, play with the wording on public opinion polls, skew it so you get the response you want — but Congress, White House, all of you, DON’T let it influence what you do. We need affordable and rational health care for everyone.
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Claudia,
You make an important point. Politicians can quibble over the details, but the question ultimately comes down to doing the right thing. I’m with you.
As they used to say in the old Bartles and James commercials, thank you for your support!
In response to another comment. See in context »excellent, claud!! here, here!!!
Now THAT kind of comment I welcome hugely. Thanx!
In response to another comment. See in context »Lets democratically elect stupidity. Lets democratically elect faith-over-facts rhmes. Lets democratically elect wolves in sheep’s clothing {yeah, all we need is a few million and a good strategy team, who knows what conversation to push on the kitchen table ..Karl Rove – anyone? or is Sarah Palin – that witch? } no?
i forgot what i was going to write.. because its that – reverse – aha- moment -> sort of like -> you thought of giving examples, and what not but then so many came up .. that you feel like pulling your hair..
Yes sir/madam: we democratically elected Bush – that guy who people would have beer with -> by the way how many did – i mean have beer with him ? with dubya?
we democratically elected Hamas in the Middle East and
yes, the rest of the world, democratically believes and calls – soccer – football.:)
democracy requires rational thought, right data – it somehow smells transparency – thats a big and a difficult word .. and yes it requires experts – those who can crunch allthe data and the numbers, put them in those simplistic models-> give it to the marketers -> viola -> you’ve got a bumper sticker..
some of them go like this ->
Obama = commi = left lune = strategic opportunity to spin it.. in a geography where the scenery is right…
sometimes the rhs { right hand side} just becomes -BAD – without explanation and if you want explanation – say something – anything – like ” he’s been pallig with the terrorists
”
or ” he is anti-christ” – no of course not you dont have to explain – partly because to explain anti X – you have to kexplain X – in this case X = JC and thats anti JC to do that..
and oh.. did you know…………….
yeah.. thats how we decide..
thats the public debate – on things – that apparently are boring ? – never mind, its about our life..
i wonder sometimes if this is really right?
am i alone?
i mean, this , has to be debated? – that we need an honest debate?- that
?
has ? to be debated?
wow.. Only in America
regards
Olga Shulman Lednichenko
ps: IN Short I agree with you and yes you have the chutzpah – to write this – and in the way you wrote and i must say – i am proud and wowed – you challenged a cornerstone of the 20th century .. -> democracy + actions + question mark on some… !!
i thought if america had a holy cow, it would named with a D