First, a lot of people don’t understand the bills in Congress very well, given that many think that its provisions would begin soon (within 1 year). Second, support for the public option erodes rapidly if people think that the government plan would have an unfair advantage. On the other hand, those that oppose it change their minds in large numbers if told that the public option would only kick in if not enough people that currently can’t afford insurance are able to with reform that doesn’t include a public option.

So I’ll answer the rhetorical question, “Why are we [still] talking about this?” It is because basic polling doesn’t get into enough detail to show what people really think, nor have enough people made up their minds to have arrived at any kind of solid majority. Another interesting chart (I looked at the ‘chartpack’ from the link I made above.) was that over 50% of people responded that media coverage of the health care debate focused on politics and controversies more than on the actual effects of the proposals. (35% felt coverage was balanced between the two, 8% thought it focused on effects.)

That will have to do for now, time to get to work.

Exactly

We know Greg’s answer. I think that many congresspersons would be fearful if the poll result on this question exceeded 20% Of course, many others would be fearful if the opposite question polled over 20%.

Currently, I think the moderate democrats have the most to fear and will probably block or gut the Public Option and bring Greg’s wrath upon them.

So why are we talking about this? I ask rhetorically?

Don’t ask me, I’m Dutch. We have “socialized medicine” and on the whole we like it (despite the fact that in the Netherlands compulsory health insurance was actually introduced by the Nazis, and we pretty much used their system up until the healthcare reforms of 2006).

Currently my best guess it that you’re still talking about it because most Americans are crazy. Although it’s also possible that it has something to do with people falling for free-market propaganda. Which might be the same thing, really.

Deen: Well, any polled question will exhibit this sort of behavior. Note the difference in working.

“Do you support the [insert buzzword for political hot button issue here]”

Answer: “DITTO (where “DITTO” is whatever somebody told you tho think)”

“Do you want to deny other people of some choice they want that you can then ignore, and don’t forget they may decide they don’t like you if you do”

Answer: “Uh. Ok, whatever”

The point is, no matter how many times and in how many ways you ask this question, some kind of majority says they want a public option.

So why are we talking about this? I ask rhetorically?

Seventy-three percent of those just polled by NBC/WSJ answer in agreement with this statement:

“Is it important to give people a choice of a public option.”

The fact that in the same poll, 48% are “for” a public option and 42% are “against” a public option is a testament to…something. But maybe we won’t go there right now.

I imagine that could simply mean that about 25% of the population want people to have the choice for a public option, but won’t make use of it themselves. Or 25% didn’t understand the questions. Or a bit of both.