by Deb Cupples | The Hill tells us that a group of so-called "Blue Dog Democrats" in Congress feel they've been lied to by pro-public-insurance-option Dems during the health-care reform debate. I could not discern from the article precisely how they were deceived. Maybe I read it too quickly.
Ironically, Blue Dog congressional districts tend to be on the poor side -- meaning that Blue Dog congressmen's constituents tend to need more affordable health care.
Rasmussen claims that only 44% of some people surveyed via telephone now support health-care reform -- down from 46% two weeks ago, down from 50% in late June. Frankly, I don't understand how public opinion could turn so drastically on an issue as basic as health care.
Then again, maybe it hasn't turned. Rasmussen is, after all, just one pollster. Yesterday, The Hill reported that only one major pollster came up with results indicating that a majority opposed reforms: Rasmussen. The Hill also reports that Rasmussen had to "misstate facts" to generate the negative results.
Polling by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (released in July) indicates that "between 68 percent and 88 percent of Americans either strongly or somewhat support health reform ideas such as national health plans, a public plan option...."
A Quinnipiac poll (released July 1) indicates that 69% of those surveyed think there should be a government-run health insurance option -- and 53% think it's the government's responsibility to ensure that Americans have decent health care coverage.
Even July 22-23 poll by Opinion Dynamics Corp. (reported on industry-friendly Fox) found not a majority but only 48% of the 900 people surveyed oppose a public option.
Mark Mellman at The Hill has an interesting take:
"Sometimes Washington reveals just how detached it is by transforming an issue that is settled in the public mind into a matter of great controversy and contention. Ask anyone here to list the polarizing issues in the healthcare debate and the “public option” will shoot to the top....
"Despite the sturm und drang among politicians, a public plan generates barely a ripple of controversy among voters. In the last two months, no fewer than eight polls have found strong majorities favoring a public plan. When different pollsters, using different methods and different wording, all converge on the same answer, you can bet the public really does support a public option."
So, what's going on here? I'm not sure. But I do know that the medical-industrial complex has major money to devote to shaping or spinning public opinion.
Two weeks ago, for example, the Washington Post reported that members of the medical-industrial complex (e.g., insurance companies, drug companies, and hospitals) hired 350+ ex-congressmen and staffers to lobby current politicians -- likely against the public insurance option -- at a cost of $1.4 million a day.
And of course, major medical companies spend millions on national ad campaigns. Those media outlets that benefit from medical-industry advertising dollars don't need to be told that a public health-insurance option might reduce future ad revenues.
More than 47 million Americans lack insurance coverage. Many of us with health care coverage pay high premiums and face questionable claim denials. It has been that way for years.
Meanwhile, a recent report states:
"Profits at 10 of the country’s largest publicly-traded health insurance companies
rose 428 percent from 2000 to 2007, from $2.4 billion to $12.9 billion, according to U.S.
Securities and exchange Commission filings.
"In 2007 alone the chief executive officers at these companies collected combined total
compensation
of $118.6 million—an average of $11.9 million each. That is 468 times
more than the $25,434 an average American worker made that year." (HCAN report)
That doesn't include the profits and executive compensation packages going to hospitals, drug companies, and other medical-related companies.
The upshot: every dollar that goes toward medical companies' profits or into executives' personal pockets is one less dollar to pay for our actual health care. Period.
I can think of better ways to spend my money, can't you ?
Check out the Center for American Progress for projections about the incredible growth of health care costs over the next 10 years.
Memeorandum has commentary.
Other Buck Naked Politics Posts:
* Private Insurers Milking Medicare
* Insurance Companies Get Away with Overbilling Medicare
* Contractor Fraud: Driving up Healthcare Costs?
* Smoke & Mirrors: Health Industry Pledges to "Stem" Cost Increases?
* Death by Hospital (infection)
*
* Cash-Conscious Doctors Against Single-Payer Health Coverage
* Drug Companies Scammed Taxpayers, Cancer Patients, Others
* Executive Pay: Real Bonuses based on Fake Profits
LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY. (Thomas Paine)
We have the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed world. Conservative estimates are that over 120,000 of you dies each year in America from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don’t die from. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Insured and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. This is what being 37th in quality of healthcare means.
I know that many of you are angry and frustrated that REPUBLICANS! In congress are dragging their feet and trying to block TRUE healthcare reform. What republicans want is just a taxpayer bailout of the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry, and the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry. An insurance bailout is all you really get without a robust government-run public option available on day one.
These industries have been slaughtering you and your loved ones like cattle for decades for profit. Including members of congress and their families. These REPUBLICANS are FOOLS!
Republicans and their traitorous allies have been trying to make it look like it's President Obama's fault for the delays, and foot dragging. But I think you all know better than that. President Obama inherited one of the worst government catastrophes in American history from these REPUBLICANS! And President Obama has done a brilliant job of turning things around, and working his heart out for all of us.
But Republicans think you are just a bunch of stupid, idiot, cash cows with short memories. Just like they did under the Bush administration when they helped Bush and Cheney rape America and the rest of the World.
But you don't have to put up with that. And this is what you can do. The Republicans below will be up for reelection on November 2, 2010. Just a little over 13 months from now. And many of you will be able to vote early. So pick some names and tell their voters that their representatives (by name) are obstructing TRUE healthcare reform. And are sellouts to the insurance and medical lobbyist.
Ask them to contact their representatives and tell them that they are going to work to throw them out of office on November 2, 2010, if not before by impeachment, or recall elections. Doing this will give you something more to do to make things better in America. And it will help you feel better too.
There are many resources on the internet that can help you find people to call and contact. For example, many social networking sites can be searched by state, city, or University. Be inventive and creative. I can think of many ways to do this. But be nice. These are your neighbors. And most will want to help.
I know there are a few democrats that have been trying to obstruct TRUE healthcare reform too. But the main problem is the Bush Republicans. Removing them is the best thing tactically to do. On the other hand. If you can easily replace a democrat obstructionist with a supportive democrat, DO IT!
You have been AMAZING!!! my people. Don't loose heart. You knew it wasn't going to be easy saving the World. :-)
God Bless You
jacksmith — Working Class
Republican Senators up for re-election in 2010.
* Richard Shelby of Alabama
* Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
* John McCain of Arizona
* Mel Martinez of Florida
* Johnny Isakson of Georgia
* Mike Crapo of Idaho
* Chuck Grassley of Iowa
* Sam Brownback of Kansas
* Jim Bunning of Kentucky
* David Vitter of Louisiana
* Kit Bond of Missouri
* Judd Gregg of New Hampshire
* Richard Burr of North Carolina
* George Voinovich of Ohio
* Tom Coburn of Oklahoma
* Jim DeMint of South Carolina
* John Thune of South Dakota
* Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas
* Bob Bennett of Utah
Posted by: jacksmith | July 25, 2009 at 01:57 PM