Health care reform gaining popularity

A new AP/GfK poll shows public support for the recently passed health care reform is growing.  While the gap between supporters and those opposed is still fairly small, there's been a significant swing towards support for the bill.

Opposition to the overhaul increased after Congress passed it in March. And last month, supporters were outnumbered 39 percent to 46 percent. But the latest survey found the strongest backing for the health care plan since the AP-GfK poll began asking in September. 

"I thought when people began to realize what was in the health care package that they would see it's a good, solid program and that would dispel some of the misinformation," said Claudia Harris, 72, of Orem, Utah, an English professor at Brigham Young University. Electrical contractor Kerry Eisley of Moscow, Pa., said he thinks people are starting to get nuts-and-bolts information on how the legislation affects them.

"If we can insure more people across the United States and get the cost of health care down, I think that's a better thing," said Eisley, 43, a Republican who supports the health care plan, though not a single GOP lawmaker voted for it. (Link)

The shift was predicted.  And there's a lesson here for additional reforms.  Sadly, it seems the public is vulnerable to mischaracterizations and forms an initial impression that's present throughout the debate.  Over time, those deliberate mischaracterizations are replaced by real information and the public shift occurs. 

It must make things really difficult in the process of legislate reform though.  Imagine having to stand up before a crowd of pissed off, misinformed constituents and have them boorishly sound off about what a piece of crap politician they have representing them. 

Comments

[Connecticut Man1]

Only reason it is not more popular is the mandate without public option. But given the fact that the mandate is kind of illusory and has no real mechanism to enforce it?

They need to enact a public option.

But, more likely, what will happen is that a few states will make the move to state based single payer plans (gotta wait years for it though some states are already working on their plans enactment to coincide with the laws timing for allowing state solutions) and the entire nation's system will change in a domino effect of the real free market of ideas winner takes all scenario like it did in Canada.

[Jay McDonough]

Is that how single payer evolved in Canada?