The Southern Governors Association got together over the weekend
to
talk mostly about climate and energy, but they also dedicated
a little time to discuss health care and invited pollster Frank
Luntz to
explain the pulse of the nation. He debunked any notion that
"astroturfing" is behind the anger-filled townhalls. From The
Virginian-Pilot:
"The public is mad," [Luntz] said. "It's not fake....
People spit on me when I do focus groups, and it's not because
they don't like me. They're really angry."
Ironically, he said, a majority of those polled say they
are satisfied with their own health care. He suggested that the
public anger springs from a more generalized dissatisfaction
with the way things are going in America - with the sputtering
economy at the top of the list.
"Only 34 percent of Americans believe their kids will be
better off than them," he said. "If you want to understand what
this economy has done, this is what it has done to
people...."
"Nobody trusts government," he said. "More people believe
in the existence of UFOs than believe that Social Security will
still exist when they retire.... More people would rather be
mugged than audited by the IRS. And 5 percent say there's no
difference."
Yet there's a contradictory sentiment:
"The public has come to the belief that everyone has the
right to health care, no matter what their physical condition
and no matter what their income," he said.
"Make no mistake," he said. "And as I say this I look you
straight in the eye. The American people want you to fix health
care.
"They want you to fix it - and not break what isn't
broken."
Sounds like all Americans, and not just politicians, want
everything paid for with "other peoples' money."
topics:
Health Care
