Dan Thompson of Canton, Mich., speaks out against health care reform and yells at others during Congressman John D. Dingell's town hall meeting in Romulus, Mich. Thursday. Dingell is the author of the H.R. 3200 health insurance reform legislation.
(Kimberly P. Mitchell/Detroit Free Press/AP)Photos (1 of 1)
Do Americans agree with town hall protesters on healthcare?
Polls show Americans continue to support important elements of health reform but are increasingly nervous about the costs of any new legislation.
By Peter Grier | Staff writer/ August 7, 2009 edition
Washington
The biggest obstacle to passage of the healthcare reform plans now moving through Congress may not be the placard-waving protesters who are disrupting some lawmakers’ town hall meetings. Instead, it could be public opinion writ large – which appears to be soft on health reform efforts, and getting softer.
Americans do support critical elements of the plans, according to national polls. In that sense, they differ with most involved in the town hall protests.
But the general public is increasingly concerned about the possible costs of new health legislation. This may be particularly true of independent voters. In a recent Quinnipiac University survey, a whopping 77 percent of independents said they did not believe President Obama would be able to keep his promise that health insurance reform would not add to the deficit.
“These are the voters who broke strongly for the president last November and who were in his corner during the first months of his administration,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute in a statement. “But on these key healthcare questions they are siding with critics who question whether healthcare reform is worth the projected cost.”
For the Obama administration and its Democratic legislative allies, one big concern is that as the health effort reaches a defining point, polls show that voter doubts on the subject may be growing.
A recent Wall Street Journal/NBC survey found that 42 percent of respondents thought Mr. Obama’s health plan to be a bad idea, while 36 percent considered it a positive move. Earlier this summer, that same poll found voters evenly split on that question.
Quinnipiac’s poll, released Aug. 5, found that 52 percent of respondents disapproved of Obama’s handling of the healthcare issue, while 39 percent approved. That marked a reversal of fortune from the organization’s July 1 poll, which found Obama’s rating on the question to be 46 percent approval and 42 percent disapproval.
The good news for the White House is that polls show support for specific elements of its health insurance reform effort – including some of the most controversial ones.
For instance, Americans favor the establishment of a public health insurance plan to compete with private insurance providers, according to many polls. Majorities favor government subsidies to help lower-income Americans buy insurance.
But Americans appear unconvinced by White House assertions that health legislation now under consideration would cut the nation’s health spending. A recent Gallup survey found a plurality of 45 percent of respondents believed that a new health reform law would increase US health costs, while only 30 percent said it would decrease them.
Plus, many voters do not appear to believe that the US healthcare system has major problems. Only 20 percent said healthcare is “in a state of crisis,” according to the Gallup survey.
A recent Gallup analysis of numerous polls on healthcare concludes that US views on healthcare reform remain in “a state of flux,” perhaps mirroring congressional debate on a contentious issue.
“Two keys for the average American appear to be cost and urgency,” says the Gallup study. “The data suggest a continuing need to convince Americans of the return on investment of any proposed major investment in healthcare reform.”
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Comments
2. Alan | 08.07.09
How about a story on where these meeting disruptors are coming from. Apparently they are turning out not to be who they say they are.
3. TB | 08.07.09
The only part of health care that is broken, is the greed of providers, and the working man paying for illegals, the lazy and lawsuits.
The government running health care won’t fix anything, it will just be anyother cost injected to the already expensive system.
Remove free care for illegals, remove multi-generational welfare recipients, remove the insane amounts of lawsuits, and the system is fixed. Inject government agencies into the the mix and it is safe to say they system will slow down and incure more costs.
4. Vickie | 08.07.09
There is a Pulitzer Prize website oddly enough called truth-o-meter. Check it out. Anyone who shouts down someone speaking at one of the town meetings should be hauled out and jailed. If they rob others who want to ask questions and hear the answer. Haul them out and jail them.
5. e page | 08.07.09
I am opposed to the health plan. It will cost too much. I am writing to my congress men and beg them to veto this plan. I wish I could do more.
6. Peter Cotehele | 08.07.09
I am a hard working American. My wife and I both work 40 hours each a week and we still have trouble with the cost of health care. If I lost my job we would lose our health care. Why should hard working Americans have to chose between food on the table and a roof over are heads or health care.
I glad Obama wants to help the little man. Its about time the government does something for us.
7. Mars Burnside | 08.07.09
Like most people I don’t have the resources to analyze the details of all health care issues. What I see is that here we are, the richest nation the world has ever known. How can it be that we can’t afford health care for our people? If businesses can’t afford to cover their people, how are the people who work several part-time minimum wage jobs supposed to pay for health care? How are people who get laid off and are having trouble making house payments and buying groceries supposed to pay for health care? If our political leaders can’t resolve this problem then I think we need new political leaders.
8. basementfrog | 08.07.09
This isn’t about free speech. Take it to the streets and do what you want, but if your simply coming into a meeting to disrupt it… stay out so the person how is there to inform those interest in the topic can speak freely.
If you want to rant and scream, do it elsewhere.
And look at this pathetic loser you have photoed, that man hasn’t had a job since he graduated from elementry school.
The lobbyists hire these clowns to disrupt legitmate meetings.
How about hiring every atheist to go into churches to scream down the ministers? Is that free speech?
9. rodney shipley | 08.07.09
These people are fools. They pick up garbage info and rant about what is going to happen. Lets hope people will start to actually talk facts.
10. EddieG3 | 08.07.09
I need healthcare and cannot afford it. Medicare and Medicaid are funded by China and other countries. Our healthcare system is broken. If I have to pay more taxes, I don’t mind if everybody can get healthcare. USA is behind the times in taking care of people. President Obama is trying to fix it. I’m sick of the lies and accusations of the haters, the teabaggers, Repubs and just angry folk. America is so divided that it would take a homeland war or national disaster to unite us. Our division and constant whining and complaining weakens us as a country and diminishes our image in the world. Grow up!
11. longwalksinparis.blogspot.com | 08.07.09
Some kind of healthcare reform will be passed this year. Why should conservatives succeed here when they have yet to derail any of Obama’s major initiatives? Now that the economy is turning up it becomes even more certain.
12. lc | 08.07.09
Liberals invented this style of protest in the 60’s and 70’s with the anti-vietnam protests. Liberals even used this tactic many times during the Bush administration. Anyone remember the Columbia University protest where conservative speakers were prevented from speaking when liberal activists stormed the stage screaming horrible names and punching people in the face?? Now this same tactic is peacefully used against liberals and suddenly its a “mob”. Hypocrisy at its finest. It’s a free speech issue. Anyone can protest as long as it’s peaceful. The dems really need to stop crying foul whenever someone disagrees with them.
13. Henry D’Silva, MD | 08.07.09
With healthcare costs projected to rise at 2 to 3 times the rate of inflation we will definitely find such cost unaffordable even if we do not yet feel the onus today.
Most developed countries cover all citizens with quality care at 50 to 60% of US costs and show better outcomes. The excellent care at Mayo and Cleveland Clinics show this can be done in the US.
However, the very profitable medical technology and pharmaceutical industries, providers such as hospitals and physicians and health insurers fight efforts to control costs which will limit their own profits. Moreover they conduct massive campaigns to fight reform so they can continue to profit. Part of their campaign is the misinformation that is spread about the need for reform such as it is not necessary.
Government does not have to take over healthcare. It does need to regulate cost and ensure high quality with reform that rewards quality and penalizes quantity, minimizes errors and uses cost efficiency instead of rewarding waste. All of these can and should be done.
The public and politicians are largely misinformed about healthcare. I know because as a physician, I was also misinformed until I began to study the issue 5 years ago. We all need to be better educated in why US healthcare is on the wrong track heading for much bigger trouble which can derail our economy or make many pleasures of life we now enjoy as unaffordable.
We will then find the right solution to resolve this very serious issue.
14. Thetus | 08.07.09
While I generally have a distaste for the techniques used by the “Teabagger” Protesters, I generally agree with the sentiment. I wonder (privately), “How much of a stooge does the government think I am?” Anyone who has been through freshmen Economics knows the arguments coming out of Congress and the Whitehouse are not remotely possible…. expand coverage by 20% of the insured base, increase access/quality, all the while “saving money” by reducing inefficiency. Yeah… like private business (MD’s, Hospitals, Clinics) are just awash in waste…
We need Insurance Reform, not a complete remake of the *delivery* of health care.
15. GJL | 08.08.09
This makes me so sad. I don’t think Americans understand how health insurance reform will affect jobs. When foreign companies come to this hemisphere, they look to build plants where costs are fewer. So they build in Canada, where they don’t have to pay health insurance. Canadians benefit from national health care. A report by Canadian Institute for Health Information proves that so called “waiting times” are times waiting for nonessential, nonemergency care, such as mole removal. Americans wait just as long, but they wait because they fear the costs are exhorbitant. Canadians do not have that fear.
16. Don Myers | 08.08.09
I’m very concerned about polls showing what Americans want… I’m not interested in your polls. I know that American’s want an affordable and adequate healthcare plan. Insurance Companies want us to think that a government run or managed system wouldn’t be adequate. If you continue to think that fair coverage means that the insurance industry should have an equal say I won’t be reading CSM any more.
17. cornelis m. keur | 08.08.09
people should realize that we are already paying for health care. the issue for a revision in how we pay is will it be a more efficient, fair distribution of costs? if insured clients are paying higher insurance fees/copays in order to pay higher hospitalization costs which include the cost of treating people who don’t pay their bills, etc.
18. Debt Settlement Program | 08.08.09
charming post. upright one decimal where I bicker with it. I am emailing you in detail.
19. John | 08.08.09
To increase any health care plan, we first need enough doctors, and we don’t have enough now. A public option would be a negative incentive, as it has been in other nations. Please don’t destroy with bureaucratic excess.
20. Ray Salemi | 08.08.09
I think this article was misnamed. Do I agree with the Town Hall Protesters? No. Of course not, I think shouting down your representative is disrespectful of the person speaking and the process of debate. I believe that the protesters represent what is worst in American Politics, a sort of Jerry Springer/sports-fan approach to complex issues. Conservatives still don’t seem to have the capacity for constructive debate.
But, do I have concerns about the health care bill? Of course, it affects a huge piece of our economy, and I worry about whether we are letting the camel’s nose under the tent in terms of government intervention in health care.
That said, there must be a better way of providing universal health care then our current system of letting people get so sick that they wind up in the emergency room.
My concerns don’t mean that I agree with the protesters. These issues cannot be addressed by mindless shouting.
21. Jo Taylor | 08.08.09
Although I do think we need a public option, I think it matters less who funds care than that provider incentives change. The VA team approach seems to work - the VA has a high patient satisfaction rate and far lower costs than most providers. But, unfortunately, it seems that what ought to be a true, deep, informed debate has been hijacked once again by thinly-disguised vested interests.
24. R JEAN VALLIERES | 08.08.09
Most educated and better informed middle class Americans see no clear and credible plan we can support or argue against. Our fundamental trust in both the House and Senate has quite simply died. The media has contributed heto the disturbing state we find ourselves in by shappy reporting - targeted more to headlines then content. Essentially what we face is: no clear understanding of the components of the healthcare legislation; no trust in Congress; and little faith in the quality of media reporting. There you have it. This is not rocket science.
25. doyle shaw | 08.08.09
I WILL AGREE WITH ANYTHING THAT THE WHITE HOUSE, CONGRESS AND THE SENATE VOTE
FOR THEMSELVES. THAT WILL STOP THE WHOLE ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM PASSING ANYTHING BAD FOR THE REST OF US………..THANK YOU………..
26. Looker | 08.08.09
This is a prime example of propaganda pounded on the masses in an effort to make you think everyome wants the Government to call the shots on your life. Standing on a big soap-box spewing the talking points. The only soap-box available to the common man is his presence at a town hall meeting — and at that point the Government shouts you down in forums like this — and in the state-run media.
27. Pat C | 08.08.09
The cost of healthcare would decrease significantly if people moved away from the meat centered Standard American Diet (SAD) and towards a diet mostly focused on legumes, vegetables, and fruit. This way, people would be able to naturally lower their cholesterol and the general health of the public would improve and health costs would be lowered. This is a very simple and very economical way to lower the cost of healthcare in America.
But people would probably riot at such a suggestion. They would rather not give up the diet that is contributing to their triple by-pass surgery. They would get riled up the way they always do at the idea of change and say that no liberal health nut is going to tell them how to eat. So there is a staggering price we will all pay in paying healthcare bills. The debate will continue and it will never be resolved until everyone commits to a responsible and healthy diet.
28. Susan Tapert | 08.08.09
use of the word “crisis” in the survey probably led to the low endorsement of that item. a word like “problem” should probably have been used instead.
29. Camilla Davidovitch | 08.08.09
“Public” Insurance? Seems to me that Insurance itself is a large part of the problem. Most self-employed folks, like me, simply can’t afford it. I’m a 51 year old woman in good health, but with no insurance. And, the devastated economy that the last administration left us has wiped out my savings and all but shut down my industry. (Real Estate). So, should something catastrophic happen to me (God Forbid) … cancer, heart attack, broken bones that require surgery, even, how much is my treatment going to cost the American public? I certainly can’t pay for it, and have nothing of value to seize to pay for it. Those who say National Health Care is too expensive just don’t get it.
30. Hans Collins | 08.08.09
Whatever health care reform is passed by Congress, it should be focused on fixing specifically those areas of the current system that are not working - it should not be a major overhaul. Improvements should be made through the private sector and avoid adding to the bureaucratic government run programs. It must be helpful to U. S. citizens and not be dictatorial or intrusive. I expect it to include tort reform and to exclude abortion on demand and exclude illegal aliens.
Since all U. S. citizens will be affected, any legislation passed by Congress must apply to all citizens including the President, all elected officials and all government employees. If our representatives and their families are not willing to be covered by the plan, I don’t want it for me and my family either.
For Congress to pass any legislation from which they are exempted, is absolutely statist and elitist.
31. DK | 08.08.09
All policies carry some costs. At the same time every policy is aiming to achieve certain goals. In business world decisions are made based on return on investment. However, in this government business “return” has not been clearly defined. For politicians, their return is to stay in the office, for the people, the return is to have an affordable and adequate health insurance, for the country the return is a debt free future for the next generations. Now, the system is so complex and no one can fully see the real “business plan” for the country. The only thing we know is that everyone presents his side of the picture of the problem to serve their own agenda. Now, let’s see who is right and who is wrong. Should we trust the head of the states? Does he see the real picture? Should we trust the parties politicians? Are they trustworthy? Should we trust the people, do they know what they don’t know? However, in this case either indecision or wrong decision both hurts.
32. rachel | 08.08.09
While there are some reforms that should be made in the way insurers do business, this Obama-Pelosi healthcare plan is NOT the answer. That will make a flawed system 100 time worse. We will wind up with higher taxes (much higher) and deficit our great grandchildren will inherit…and worst of all, it will lead to inferior rationed care. NO THANKS.
I’m with the angry mob. Just say NO.
33. RICK OREILLY | 08.08.09
Shame on this administration for not taking seriously the people who oppose this plan. They will not bully the Great Americans in this Country…….By the way Obama, and all the Senators and Congressmen. You will have a better chance of passing this plan if you promise YOU will be covered under the same plan YOU say is so great for our Country. If it is good enough for us, it is good enough for YOU.
35. Lucy | 08.08.09
Yes, I’m for the people. Lets be heard. I love living in a country where we can voice our opinions. But, good ol’ America is definitely going through CHANGE and it’s NOT for the best of ALL Americans. In America one must agree with Obama’s plans for change or else you’ll be labeled a Tim McVey and or even worse. Sort of feels like we are turning into a bunch of commies. It’s so sad.
36. Randy | 08.09.09
I see that Sarah Palin today noted that a public run healthcare system would fail the Downs Syndrome children. I live in British Columbia Canada where we have a state run system. I worked for many years with an American woman who had to move here because the American health care system was failing her Downs Syndrome child. I asked her why she didn’t live in America, her response: “because I would be in the poorhouse and Canada has far superior care for my child”
37. and? | 08.09.09
We do not publish any comments because all the submitted comments suggest that we are the State Run Media in charge of propaganda for the Obama administration. Why not just remove the comment option like the other communist publications?
38. richard anderson | 08.09.09
How can there be change in health care when the big insurance companys have the republican congress on their pay roll?
39. richard guertin | 08.09.09
A clear and detailed account of just what the reform bill contains is necessary, but the public does not know because the Congress or Obama does not know. This is a sorry and dangerous state of affairs.
40. justme | 08.09.09
I`d have to say yes , most people in this country aren`t foaming at the mouth liberals who will go with anything that gives the govt. more power over the lives of the citizens !
41. Knothead | 08.09.09
Of all the talk about what this is going to cost health care organizations and the government how come nothing is said about the cost it is going to cost the average working american if Obama decides to raise taxes to pay for this. I dont think I should have to pay for people that dont want to work to go get health care. With this bill is health care going to plumet?
42. Robert | 08.09.09
Too many unknown fishhooks stuffed in this package to come back and hook us later. Why the hurry?
43. Sam Scrutchins | 08.09.09
No health care system reform should occur until tort reform does. Physicians should not be let off the hook entirely and clearly should be held accountable for gross negligence, but the laws need to be modified to recognize that physicians are human and make mistakes like all people do. This would do a lot to lower health care costs in the long run.
44. Mike | 08.09.09
Most Americans have private health insurance and are generally happy with their coverage. I am worried that if the Govt. takes over it will be like most Govt. programs: plagued with cost overruns, inefficiency, poor care, and poor oversight. This is because Civil servants, as well meaning as they may be, know that no matter how poorly they or their organization functions they will still have a job. At least private insurance companies must go to some measures to run efficiently to stay in business. How will the Govt. efficiently manage to fund care for 300 million Americans when it can barely provide for Veterans and Seniors. I don’t think they can, and I believe that most Americans are realizing that with this poor track record, what we will see is more of the same.
45. CJ Foley | 08.09.09
At the root, we fear the Obamaites thrust toward taking our freedoms away. Everything the foaming-at-the-mouth democrats, our new caliphs, do is focussed on centralizing power in their offices. They are very polished equivocators, so shouting them down does not impede communication, since they have made up their minds to pursue personal power and wealth as a basic philosophy
46. Dustin | 08.10.09
I’m getting increasingly irritated with the Media’s exceptionally biased approach to reporting on politics. Do Americans agree with Protesters?
The Protesters ARE Americans. But, as usual, the media reports them as some separate foreign group beamed in by aliens to disrupt the civilized order of Democrat Domination of all…
I think some Democrat voters are starting to wake up. “Oh ****, what did we do!?!?” Some of the most vocal ‘protesters’ are the ones who realize they’ve been had.
Bush was a RINO, ‘hope and change’ is just more of the exact same thing he was already doing!! Out of the frying pan and into the fire!
47. jamaal ali | 08.10.09
Obama’s health care will double bankcraft the economy, American listen and check out the British, Canadian system, it is the same direction Obama wants our health care system is going. While they the British and Canadian are puking on it, why are we insisting to have it. Common sense please!!!
48. Harry Kuheim | 08.10.09
Every logical person knows another giant Federal bureaucracy tapping the wealthy and the working to pay someone else’s medical expenses will fail.
49. R.E.Driscoll | 08.10.09
Billing and overcharge are the only problems I have had with my health insurance. The other 90-95% of the system is very good. H.R. 3200 would add to the stupendous deficit, be a poor return on investment, and open the door to untold corruption—in my opinion. All in all, if it passes, I will be concerned about inflation and bankruptcy—making the United States a second or third rate nation.
50. Nikola | 08.10.09
Anybody who’s worried about the cost should therefore support taxing Goldman Sach’s “bonuses” at 100%.
51. David P | 08.10.09
The analysis of these polls is lacking. For example, the statment:
“Only 20 percent said healthcare is ‘in a state of crisis,’ according to the Gallup survey.” Only means that the rest of us arent freaking out about it, although many acknoledge it is a major problem.
Also, “77 percent of independents said they did not believe President Obama would be able to keep his promise that health insurance reform would not add to the deficit.” Does not mean that they do not support it — they just think it will cost us money. And many of those believe this money is worth it (as opposed to the throwing money into the wind, with the stimulus, or at rich bankers).
Also “52 percent of respondents disapproved of Obama’s handling of the healthcare issue”. Many of those are people who would prefer a single-payer system, not the crazy idiots to the right who think this is an affront to capitalism.
52. Carol | 08.10.09
Why are they so afraid to let their congressmen speak. people who are at these townhall meetings to get information are being scared away by these borderline violent “protesters”. If they would wait to find out exactly what the bill is going to be that would be the prudent thing to do.
53. murph | 08.10.09
Why wont obama or the dems discuss controling the lawyers and setting caps on the lawsuits. This will decrease the insurance premiums that doctors pay reducing the overall cost of insurance. It is either they contribute to much money to their campaigns or they make money themselves chasing ambulances.
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1. kschluter | 08.07.09
This isn’t about Free Speech, it’s about the medias ability to inform or un-inform the public.
The single payer plan would help all Americans period!
What bothers me is that many legislators and media is so willing to take money from Big Healthcare.
This isn’t about politics, this isn’t about Republican vs Democrat, this is about big healthcare’s control
of our society and government.
I’ve traveled and lived all over the world, and our healthcare system is the worst. Don’t tell me that Americas
healthcare is the best, it isn’t.
There are millions of hard working Americans who deserve better……
Open your eyes…
We’ve spent trillions on war and only a few “very rich” people benefit…..
We’ve lost our sons and daughters in battle only to find out that we were misinformed. That they died for “OIL”
Now those same rich oil men are telling us that healthcare will cost too much…..because they and big healthcare are making billions on average working people.
This is a war for all Americans, a war to let big business know the American people have had enough!
After Healthcare, let’s go after the media since it’s their responsibility to present objective information, not lies and personal bias…
Kschluter