Political Hotsheet 
Health care reform has been a priority for President Obama, who promised to make significant changes to the country's health care system while campaigning for the presidency. It is also a high priority for Americans; in a CBS News/New York Times Poll conducted in April 2009, it was cited as the most important domestic issue facing the country other than the economy.
Most Americans think health care needs no less than a major overhaul. A late April CBS News/New York Times Poll found 49% of the public saying it had some good elements but needed fundamental changes, and another 38% felt there is so much wrong with it that it needs to be completely rebuilt. Just 12% thought it works pretty well and only minor changes are necessary. Americans have expressed similar views since the early 1990s, when the question was first asked by the CBS News Poll.
U.S. HEALTHCARE SYSTEM NEEDS:
(CBS News/New York Times Poll, April 2009)
12% Minor changes
49% Fundamental changes
38% Rebuilding
Criticism of the current health care system is non-partisan, shared by Republicans, Democrats and independents alike.
The lack of universal health care is considered the more serious problem. When asked to choose between lowering the cost of health care and providing heath insurance to those without it, an early April 2009 CBS News/New York Times Poll found 54% chose providing insurance to all as the more serious problem, and 40% chose keeping costs down. Perhaps because of the recession, the latter had increased since 2007, from 31%. Nearly six in 10 Americans were very concerned about future health care costs they might face.
U.S. health care priorities are viewed through a partisan lens; 57% of Republicans chose keeping costs down, and 69% of Democrats opted for providing insurance to those who don't have it.
One of the more interesting findings in polling on health care is the gap between Americans' assessments of the country's health care system and their own health care. A CNN/Opinion Research Poll conducted in March 2009 found 52% of Americans saying they were satisfied with their own health care costs, including insurance premiums and other expenses. But when asked about health care costs in this country more generally, just 23% were satisfied. That gap in evaluations has occurred in many polls conducted on the subject over the years.
A CBS News/New York Times Poll conducted in 2007 found a similar trend in evaluations of health care cost and quality. Just 38% were very or somewhat satisfied with the quality of health care in this country, but twice as many, 77%, were similarly satisfied with the quality of their own care. The data showed an even larger gap in assessments of the cost of health care (and the percentages were much lower); just 14% were satisfied with the cost of health care in the U.S., while 43% were satisfied with their own costs.
SATISFACTION WITH QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE IN U.S.
(CBS News/New York Times Poll, February 2007)
11% Very satisfied
27% Somewhat satisfied
29% Somewhat dissatisfied
28% Very dissatisfied
5% Don't know/No answer
SATISFACTION WITH OWN QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE
(CBS News/New York Times Poll, February 2007)
41% Very satisfied
36% Somewhat satisfied
8% Somewhat dissatisfied
12% Very dissatisfied
3% Don't know/No answer
SATISFACTION WITH COST OF HEALTH CARE IN U.S.
(CBS News/New York Times Poll, February 2007)
3% Very satisfied
11% Somewhat satisfied
22% Somewhat dissatisfied
59% Very dissatisfied
5% Don't know/No answer
SATISFACTION WITH OWN COST OF HEALTH CARE
(CBS News/New York Times Poll, February 2007)
20% Very satisfied
23% Somewhat satisfied
19% Somewhat dissatisfied
33% Very dissatisfied
5% Don't know/No answer
Americans have some doubts about the President's ability to enact change on this issue. While an April 2009 CBS News/New York Times Poll found two thirds of the public saying it was likely President Obama would be able to bring about significant health care reform in his first term, just 16% thought it very likely. (This April poll was conducted before President Obama met with business leaders from the health care industry earlier this week and announced they would work to significantly lower health care costs.)
Few Americans expect change to come quickly to the health care system. Earlier this year, a CBS News/New York Times Poll asked the public how long they thought it would take the Obama Administration to make real progress on providing affordable health care to all Americans. 35% thought it would take a year or two, another 20% said four years, 18% thought it would take more than four years, and 22% thought he won't be able to.
Sarah Dutton is the CBS News director of surveys. Poll Positions is weekly Hotsheet feature on polling trends from the CBS News Survey and Polling Unit. Click here for more posts from the series. © 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Americans Want Health Care Overhaul
(CBS)
Most Americans think health care needs no less than a major overhaul. A late April CBS News/New York Times Poll found 49% of the public saying it had some good elements but needed fundamental changes, and another 38% felt there is so much wrong with it that it needs to be completely rebuilt. Just 12% thought it works pretty well and only minor changes are necessary. Americans have expressed similar views since the early 1990s, when the question was first asked by the CBS News Poll.
U.S. HEALTHCARE SYSTEM NEEDS:
(CBS News/New York Times Poll, April 2009)
12% Minor changes
49% Fundamental changes
38% Rebuilding
Criticism of the current health care system is non-partisan, shared by Republicans, Democrats and independents alike.
The lack of universal health care is considered the more serious problem. When asked to choose between lowering the cost of health care and providing heath insurance to those without it, an early April 2009 CBS News/New York Times Poll found 54% chose providing insurance to all as the more serious problem, and 40% chose keeping costs down. Perhaps because of the recession, the latter had increased since 2007, from 31%. Nearly six in 10 Americans were very concerned about future health care costs they might face.
(CBS)
U.S. health care priorities are viewed through a partisan lens; 57% of Republicans chose keeping costs down, and 69% of Democrats opted for providing insurance to those who don't have it.
One of the more interesting findings in polling on health care is the gap between Americans' assessments of the country's health care system and their own health care. A CNN/Opinion Research Poll conducted in March 2009 found 52% of Americans saying they were satisfied with their own health care costs, including insurance premiums and other expenses. But when asked about health care costs in this country more generally, just 23% were satisfied. That gap in evaluations has occurred in many polls conducted on the subject over the years.
A CBS News/New York Times Poll conducted in 2007 found a similar trend in evaluations of health care cost and quality. Just 38% were very or somewhat satisfied with the quality of health care in this country, but twice as many, 77%, were similarly satisfied with the quality of their own care. The data showed an even larger gap in assessments of the cost of health care (and the percentages were much lower); just 14% were satisfied with the cost of health care in the U.S., while 43% were satisfied with their own costs.
SATISFACTION WITH QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE IN U.S.
(CBS News/New York Times Poll, February 2007)
11% Very satisfied
27% Somewhat satisfied
29% Somewhat dissatisfied
28% Very dissatisfied
5% Don't know/No answer
SATISFACTION WITH OWN QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE
(CBS News/New York Times Poll, February 2007)
41% Very satisfied
36% Somewhat satisfied
8% Somewhat dissatisfied
12% Very dissatisfied
3% Don't know/No answer
SATISFACTION WITH COST OF HEALTH CARE IN U.S.
(CBS News/New York Times Poll, February 2007)
3% Very satisfied
11% Somewhat satisfied
22% Somewhat dissatisfied
59% Very dissatisfied
5% Don't know/No answer
SATISFACTION WITH OWN COST OF HEALTH CARE
(CBS News/New York Times Poll, February 2007)
20% Very satisfied
23% Somewhat satisfied
19% Somewhat dissatisfied
33% Very dissatisfied
5% Don't know/No answer
Americans have some doubts about the President's ability to enact change on this issue. While an April 2009 CBS News/New York Times Poll found two thirds of the public saying it was likely President Obama would be able to bring about significant health care reform in his first term, just 16% thought it very likely. (This April poll was conducted before President Obama met with business leaders from the health care industry earlier this week and announced they would work to significantly lower health care costs.)
Few Americans expect change to come quickly to the health care system. Earlier this year, a CBS News/New York Times Poll asked the public how long they thought it would take the Obama Administration to make real progress on providing affordable health care to all Americans. 35% thought it would take a year or two, another 20% said four years, 18% thought it would take more than four years, and 22% thought he won't be able to.
Sarah Dutton is the CBS News director of surveys. Poll Positions is weekly Hotsheet feature on polling trends from the CBS News Survey and Polling Unit. Click here for more posts from the series.
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It's misleading language. when you overhaul an engine it remains the same engine. Worn parts are REPLACED with identical part.
This is a confiscation! Redesign.
"What WORKS" for a person needing medical attention is one thing.
"What WORKS for the Government is another--and what "works" for Government is "WE CONTROL IT!"
If it don't work for people it works for government to tell people--"this is the best you can get!" (so shut up!).
MURPHY, AUDIE L.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company B 1 5th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Holtzwihr France, 26 January 1945. Entered service at: Dallas, Tex. Birth: Hunt County, near Kingston, Tex. G.O. No.. 65, 9 August 1945. Citation 2d Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by 6 tanks and waves of infantry. 2d Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to prepared positions in a woods, while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone. Behind him, to his right, 1 of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. 2d Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2d Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machinegun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from 3 sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate 2d Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down by his fire. He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50. 2d Lt. Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction, and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy's objective.
every body else says its ok, then it must be ok!
Posted by whosaid1
There is nothing wrong with it if your communist!
Posted by erasmus111
It's STILL the greatest country in the world....it's biggest problem now is a large group of its citizens....have to tell everyone "how bad the country is"....thinking they can get credit for "fixing" it............yeah....it's almost that simple....
The terms "welfare," "food stamps," and "reparations" are all code words for "undeserving black people."
Really .....! So Ms Harris-Lacewell, KNOWS that every person who use "those" three terms are racist....Just what we need another liberal to tell us what "we really said"
Your chances of being killed at the hands of a terrorist, on the other hand, are comparatively remote. Some estimates show the odds at one in 9.3 million.
Do ANYTHING to prevent terrorism, do NOTHING for health care - BRILLANT!
You sheep spook so easily,
GLOBAL PANDEMIC!!
Maybe that will help?
Here's a good example - read carefully and you will realize that Rush is very concerned about his Wealth and knows just the right button to push with the wing-nuts, race:
The objective is unemployment. The objective is more food stamp benefits. The objective is more unemployment benefits. The objective is an expanding welfare state. And the objective is to take the nation's wealth and return it to the nation's 'rightful owners.' Think reparation. Think forced reparations here if you want to understand what is actually going on.
Limbaugh has in fact pitched this line frequently already, minus the "reparations" line:
So I think we've got a guy -- I think the best way to understand Obama -- and I can't say this enough -- he really believes it his job to return the nation's wealth to its rightful -- quote unquote, rightful owners. And that means he believes the people who have wealth have stolen it, from those who have no wealth. It's been unfair achieved and accrued. And it's his job to take it and redistribute it. And that's what he means by sacrifice. When he talks about sacrifice, he's talking about raising your taxes, taking your assets, and giving them to other people who he thinks you stole them from, who are thus more deserving.
Maddow quotes the response from Melissa Harris-Lacewell, a poli-sci professor from Princeton:
The terms "welfare," "food stamps," and "reparations" are all code words for "undeserving black people." ... Limbaugh is attempting to use the politics of racial fear to appeal to the lowest common denominator of racial anxiety in this country. ... Clearly, Rush is not saying anything that even vaguely, substantively true. He is simply screaming, "There is a black man in the White House! Be very afraid!"