Going into the health care summit, polling shows that the nation is very divided on most questions related to reform. But they hate the bills the Democrats have created.
One thing that is interesting (PDF) is that 38% of respondents oppose preventing health insurance companies from dropping coverage for people who become seriously ill and 42% oppose preventing health insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. I am really struggling to explain how that could be the case. When it comes to creating a public health insurance option administered by the federal government that would compete with plans offered by private companies, the people support it 51%-48%.
I admit that these issues are complicated. But I find it alarming that nearly half of America thinks it’s cool to take people’s money for health insurance and then to renege on paying their bills when they get sick. I don’t understand how that could be. But the one thing I think I do understand is that right-wing media penetration not only dwarfs the left, but it dwarfs common sense. We have around 40% of the electorate that is actually rooting for corporate America to beat the little guy. Unbelievable.
