Poll: U.S. Split On Socialized Medicine

(WebMD)  A new poll shows that U.S. voters are divided on the issue of socialized medicine, which is a single-payer, government-run health care system.

The poll comes from the Harvard School of Public Health and Harris Interactive. More than 2,000 people took part in the poll, conducted by phone in January and February.

First, people were asked how well they understood the term "socialized medicine."

About two-thirds - 67% - said they understand the term "very well" or "somewhat well." Thirty percent said they don't understand the term very well or at all. The rest said they didn't know or didn't answer that question.

What Is Socialized Medicine?

People also had different expectations of socialized medicine.

Participants who said they understood socialized medicine "very well," "somewhat well," or "not very well" listened to three statements and noted those they thought applied to socialized medicine.

The poll shows that 79% thought that in a socialized medicine system, the government makes sure everyone has health insurance, 73% thought the government would pay most of the cost of health insurance, and 32% said they think it means that the government tells doctors what to do.

Better or Worse?

Next, people who claimed to understand socialized medicine "very well," "somewhat well," or "not very well" were asked if they thought socialized medicine would make the U.S. health care system better or worse.

The results: 45% said they thought it would improve health care, 39% said they thought it would worsen health care, 4% said they thought it wouldn't make much difference, and 12% didn't know or didn't answer.

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Candidates' Health Care Proposals
WebMD Details The Health Care Proposals Of The Presidential Candidates

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But those figures take on another dimension when politics comes into play.Partisan SplitAmong Democrats, 70% said they thought socialized medicine would improve U.S. health care. And 70% of Republicans said they thought it would worsen health care.As for independents, 43% said they thought socialized medicine would improve U.S. health care, 38% said it would worsen health care, 5% said it wouldn't make much difference, and 14% didn't know or didn't answer. Lastly, participants heard a list of presidential candidates' names and indicated whether they thought that person, if elected, would propose socialized medicine. They didn't have to pick just one candidate.Hillary Clinton led the list of candidates that participants expected to propose socialized medicine as president; 69% said they thought she would do so. Next came Barack Obama (57%), Mike Huckabee (19%), and John McCain (15%).John McCain topped the list of candidates that participants didn't expect to propose socialized medicine; 62% said they didn't expect such a proposal from McCain, followed Mike Huckabee (52%), Barack Obama (26%), and Hillary Clinton (21%).None of those candidates has proposed socialized medicine programs as part of their campaign platform.(Find out where the presidential candidates stand on health care. Visit WebMD's Health Matters in the 2008 Election. And read what experts think about the U.S. health care system on WebMD's blog by opinion and thought leaders.)
By Miranda Hitti
Reviewed by Louise Chang
© 2008 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved

[erasmus6]

Now I will say again that Canada is not perfect. Our healthcare is not perfect. But at least we all have healthcare and it is affordable. I am quite sure that there are cases of people of having to wait but overall I don''t think that most do. I don''t know of anybody that has had to. And I look at it this way, basically things work very well here and if we have a few flaws then it is something we will have to work on to make it better. BUT RIGHT NOW WE ALL HAVE HEALTHCARE. That is something isn''t it?

[erasmus6]

"University in England ranks the U.S. a distant 23rd, well behind Canada and Costa Rica. But you''''ll be pleased to know we beat Iraq and Pakistan."

Oops, sorry. You probably don''t know what this is about. I got this from another article that was about what place is happier.

[erasmus6]

Easy there alanrobisch2, lets not pi**away what little friends this country%u2019s got%u2026 posted by borris

Hahaha, that''s funny.

alan, I hope you don''t think that I hate the U.S. I know that some people think that I do but I don''t. I am a very blunt person. I believe in saying what I think even if people don''t want to here it. And I wouldn''t waste my time trying to get through to you what I honestly believe to be a better way if I hated the U.S. and didn''t care.

I am only one person, and what is one person going to do, right? I know that I am not going to change a lot of minds on the subject but I am a person that has to at least try.

[erasmus6]

"i think you said our whole country is dysfunctional."
posted by alan

Yes,I did.

"If that isn''''t an insult I haven''''t heard one."

I wasn''t trying to insult you, I was just stating what I see.and

"...in every comparison with the canada we come out second"

Hmmm, well.... what can I say? I am quite sure that there must be something that you come in first with, just let me think about it for awhile.:)
Just joking.

[erasmus6]

You%u2019re better off talking to the wall, they%u2019re too dense to comprehend what you%u2019re trying to convey%u2026
posted by borris007

Actually I think some just don''t want to get what I am saying. Some people don''t like change, it scares them. They would rather stay with what they are used to even though it doesn''t work, rather than have to make changes.

[erasmus6]

"Erasmus6, don%u2019t bother, some of the miserable folks are just toying with you. Feel a little sorry for some of them ganging up on you%u2026" posted by borris007

That''s okay, I can take it. I realize that some people don''t like hearing the truth. Plus it is a normal reaction for people to go on the defensive when you say something against them.

[erasmus6]

"Please cut the corruption part." posted by alan

Come on now, you know that you have major corruption in your country. I am not saying we don''t have any but yours is major. At least that is what I hear from a lot of posters on this website.

[erasmus6]

"University in England ranks the U.S. a distant 23rd, well behind Canada and Costa Rica. But you''ll be pleased to know we beat Iraq and Pakistan."

See kids, I told you Canada was a happier!

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by alanrobisch2

And I will just add that it is interesting that you condemn Erasmus when in reality you and certain others have this fine habit of coming on here and posting all kinds of lying propaganda against Canada. When your stood up to, you think "What audacity?" The audacity is yours. I am glad we have first hand true account of a system that is working and not the fable mythological monster you and McCain love so well.

[borris007-2009]

Easy there alanrobisch2, lets not pi**away what little friends this country%u2019s got%u2026Outside of Albania, and one Frenchman called Sarkozy, Canada still remains our friend%u2026 try not to squander this with you%u2019re antagonism