CBS News Survey Poll: Two-Thirds Confused by Health Reform

[Emit]

Source: CBS

(CBS) Most Americans find the health care reforms being discussed in Congress confusing and say President Obama has not clearly explained his plans to overhaul the system, according to a CBS News poll released Tuesday.

Two in three Americans call the health care reforms being debated by lawmakers confusing; only 31 percent said they have a clear understanding of the proposed changes. Sixty-seven percent of those questioned said the reform ideas were confusing.

This evaluation cuts across party lines, with majorities of both Republicans (69 percent) and Democrats (58 percent) saying the current proposals are confusing.

Most Americans (60 percent) say the President has not clearly explained his health care reform plans. While slightly more than half of Democrats think Mr. Obama has clearly explained his plans, majorities of Republicans and independent voters say he has not.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/09/01/opinion/polls/main5278663.shtml

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Gee, CBS, I wonder why? I mean, M$M works so hard to keep the electorate adequately informed.

[Gman]

1. This poll is a direct reflection on the poor job the MSM has done

covering the biggest domestic issue in 40 years.

[marshall]

7. Leave that to CSPAN

The MSM's only priority is ratings.

[Blue_Tires]

45. and ad revenues...

[No Elephants]

64. CSPAN? Run by Comcast et al? I'll stick with PBS.

[byebyegop]

11. cosign. n/t

[WriteDown]

21. Not the MSM, these people....

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-august-11-2009/reform-madness

[No Elephants]

63. Please see Reply ##s 55 and 60.

[Occulus]

70. It also reflects the success of Republican astroturfers in spreading misinformation.

Is it all a conspiracy? Who in the blue fuck could possibly think otherwise at this point? The Republicans are hell-bent on confusing the issue as often and as much as possible, to the point they're constantly risking absurdity,

The Republicans don't want an honest debate, they want to kill the idea entirely. The reason, I think, is that if any substantive change happens that's good for the American people, the Republicans will be out for a generation.

Republicans: a waste of 206 perfectly good human bones.

[Skittles]

2. big surprise

considering the circus acts the Democrats are performing

[goclark]

3. I agree, it needs ABC and 123 language

and until that happens - it is confusing.

I taught K,1,2 for many years.

Because of all the conflicting information by the teabuggers etc., that's even more reason to " Make it plain and keep it simple!"

[Xipe Totec]

4. Nailhead, meet hammer

It is the job of the media to inform the public.

If the public is confused, guess who fucked up?

[No Elephants]

50. It is the job of lawmakers, too, especially with today's lazy and biased media.

Please see also Reply ##s 55 and 60.

[Xipe Totec]

72. I read them. So what?

As long as you have a corrupt media controlled by corporate interests, you can't get the message through.

[napi21]

5. The problam is that people keep asking for specifics when there

isn't a bill YET!!!!!!

I can't fault the people. The media keep asking "the guy on the street" what do you think, do you understand the HC bill. I only wish some idiot would ask ME!!!!!

[Igel]

9. That's not really relevant.

They are confused about *his* plan. He doesn't propose bills.

Your answer is in response to, What is Congress' plan?

So, are you clear about Obama's plan? If so, tell me: How will the 'exchange' be set up? Will there be one? If so, what is required for a plan to be included in the exchange? What's the cut-off for any additional surcharge on insurance benefits?

The correct answer is that Obama hasn't enunciated a plan. He has proposed bits and pieces of a plan; he's proposed general goals; he's said some stuff about budget savings and expenses. But to call that a "plan" is being charitable. A plan is something you implement as is. You can't implement what Obama's said, not without filling in lots of details and making some pretty large-scale decisions.

Part of the problem is temporal overlap and the sausage-machine that is Congress, producing legislative sausage. When you speak about "the bill", which bill? House, Senate? Which committee's? At which stage? The final one? But numerous reports dealt with interim proposals, and disposing of them from your "current file" is tough unless you're paying very close attention. Then there's the old-age health counselling, in one version but not in another. Does it matter that a lot of people want it restored in conference committee? Is it still an issue, however bogus? If so, that adds to distrust; if not, people should stop saying it might recur.


In adversarial politics, charity is reserved nearly entirely for your own side. Hence dems are happier--less confused, more trusting--with his "plan" than are repubs, mostly because they trust the man. Distrust the man, and the task becomes harder.

[napi21]

13. The President has been deliberately vague so the plan is NOT HIS!

I think everyone could answer the questions in the broad few items the President WOULD LIKE to see in the plan, but the plan, and ultimately the final bill, will be decided in Congress! You're playing word games.

[No Elephants]

52. Presidents propose bills all the time, whether openly or behind the scenes.

[No Elephants]

51. Ding, ding, ding.

[OHdem10]

6. It also reflects the effectiveness of the GOP in murking up the Issue

and the ineffectiveness of the Democrats in refuting and
clarifying the issue.

[FrenchieCat]

10. You must mean the effectiveness in the Media talking the GOP talking points,

and making sure to hand them the mike anytime they ask for it, no?

[No Elephants]

56. Please see Reply ##s 55 and 60.

[No Elephants]

53. Ding, ding, ding.

[Uncle Joe]

8. The is a direct reflection of the corporate media's piss poor, shallow, conflicted of interest,

corrupted and incompetent coverage of this critical issue, so go fuck your selves corporate media, after all you've already done it to the American People.

[WriteDown]

22. Not exactly...

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-august-11-2009/reform-madness

[Uncle Joe]

29. In spite of the occasional oasis in the desert, the corporate media is still a desert.

They're a malfunctioning institution; that has done far more to confuse and obfuscate the issue rather than enlighten the American People.

It's not difficult, just tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, they don't even have to make it humorous.

Did you ever think of how dysfunctional or corrupted that institution must be in order for a comedian to be the most trusted of the lot!?

[WriteDown]

30. The media may be dysfunctional...

but there is not much that can be done when congressmen and women look and sound like this.

[Uncle Joe]

32. That same dysfunctional media; which is supposed to serve as witness to the American People

enabled many of those same political "leaders" in office to power, not because those are the best representatives; taking their oath of office to the American People seriously, but because they support in one form or another the concept of corporate supremacy.

[WriteDown]

33. Most politicians are either rich lawyers or from a dynasty. nt

[Uncle Joe]

34. As for lawyers, considering that politicians legislate law, I don't have anything against a

political leader knowing the law, to me that's a plus, for that matter understanding the Constitution should be a requirement for the job.

But if those rich lawyers or dynasty candidates were corrupt or incompetent for the job; having those facts, I don't believe in general the American People would put them in power.

However when our so called fourth estate guardian watchdogs for democracy denigrate the American Peoples' deliberations regarding the most powerful job in the land to the point of "Who would you rather have a beer with?" etc. we end up with corrupt, incompetents like Bush.

[WriteDown]

35. Fatcat lawyers with money have the means to get elected...

Unfortunately, not many common people do.

[Uncle Joe]

36. And why do you need money to get elected?

The means is the corporate media; ads and commercials, money is just the medium.

Joe the Plumber was "common people" but I damn sure wouldn't want him as a Congressman, so being a common person isn't in and of itself a virtue; in regards to competent political representation or leadership.

I would much rather have someone; who understood the law and Constitution committed to actually representing the best interests of the American People, because it would take someone with that kind of knowledge to fight against the powerful corporate supremacist forces; intent on indenturing the people to subliminal servitude.

The corporate media; do not have the American Peoples' best interests at heart, commercial buying corporations are their clients, the People; are only customers or consumers to be sold a product, candidate or down the river.

[WriteDown]

38. Corporate lawyers....

are just as bad as corporate media and corporate lawyers is what we have running Congress. (apologies to several of my friends who are corporate lawyers out of UNC).

[Uncle Joe]

39. The keyword in your post was

corporate and the corporate media put them there, whether they were a lawyer or not makes no difference to the corporate media, their allegiance is what matters.

Without the corporate media obfuscating the issues, and requiring vast sums of money for commercials, the playing field would be more level.

[WriteDown]

41. I just realized....

I own an LLC! I've been corrupted! :rofl:

[Uncle Joe]

43. Realization is the first step to rehabilitation.

:)

But seriously being incorporated isn't the issue; believing in corporate supremacy over the people or corporate person-hood is, that is the root of the corruption.

Is money the same as free speech to you? If it is you might be a corporate supremacist.

Do you believe corporations should be allowed to sponsor political candidates without restriction? If you do, you might be a corporate supremacist.

Do you believe corporations should be given the same rights as persons in affect creating super citizens? If you do, you might be a corporate supremacist.

[WriteDown]

44. I believe...

money makes the world go round. Always has, and always will. :)

[Uncle Joe]

47. Then putting

the "common people" in to the Congress won't change a thing, because they would be just as tempted to bribery as anyone else.

Changing the campaign financing laws, and the corporate media's obligations regarding informing the American People as to the truth will have more affect, if these changes need to come from the grass/net roots, so be it.

[WriteDown]

48. You may be right....

I don't believe it will ever change because greed is a constant factor.

[Uncle Joe]

49. I agree that greed will be a constant challenge,

maybe one day humanity or society will evolve past the point of idolizng what greed brings, but I don't believe you or I will live to see that day.

[Blue_Tires]

46. +1

[No Elephants]

55. You are going to blame it ALL on the media? It's not as though

Senators, members of the House, and Obama and his peeps have no way of reaching the public, is it?

Please also see Reply # 60.

[Uncle Joe]

67. Yes I'm going to blame it ALL on the corporate media.

Senators, members of the House and Obama's voices pale in comparison to that of the corporate media as an institution in regards to the power of message or propaganda ability.

If the American People; are confused about the pro and cons of Universal Single Payer Coverage, a Public Option or the current dysfunctional for profit "health" care system it's primarily because the corporate media want them to be.

If the people are worried about fantasy concerns ie; government run "death panels," while being ignorant of the fact that our current for profit "health" insurance system operates with the same affect as "death panels" it's because the corporate media hasn't educated or enlightened them.

If the American People have knee jerk reactions to the word "socialism" or are too clueless to know Medicare is government run, it's because the corporate media doesn't want them to know.

For many people; the corporate media serves as their continuing education long after they've finished school and in that regard, the corporate media has failed miserably. The current corporate media system is nothing but a dysfunctional propaganda institution working on behalf of the corporations that purchase their ads and commercials.

[onehandle]

12. Fuck the Faux watching idiots. Democrats, pass it and make it law.

I'm tired of stupid, lazy people setting the course.

The smart people are in charge.

Shove change down their throat like medicine.

[WriteDown]

23. Like these smart people?

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-august-11-2009/reform-madness

watch the whole thing

[No Elephants]

57. Smart people who let stupid, lazy people rule them ain't that smart, IMO.

[bluestateguy]

14. It's time for an Oval Office address

in prime time, with charts and graphs.

[WriteDown]

24. Sounds a little Ross Perotish nt.

[bluestateguy]

28. Perot's infomercials were very widely watched and well-received

it was later in the campaign when Perot when kind of wacko with the conspiracy theories and baggage from his past that did him in.

[No Elephants]

58. And the problem with that is? He made an amazing showing for a third party candidate, especially

within our system, which is very skewed toward the two major parties.

[customerserviceguy]

15. During the Congressional recess

the opposition has managed to define healthcare reform, and the pro-reform forces have not had a solid, single, united proposal to defend. That may well have been crippling.

[No Elephants]

59. They can recover, if they get it in gear.

[BootinUp]

16. Obama has been relatively vague

compared to what some Democrats would wish to see, its part of his political strategy. Of course no political strategy is perfect as far as I can tell.

[2Design]

17. confused = cannot read - the whitehouse site and many others

explain this very well -

[Triana]

18. Yea? Maybe because the lame$tream media won't report the facts about it...

...only town hall astroturf mobs.

Idiots.

[WriteDown]

25. They should use these facts.....

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-august-11-2009/reform-madness

[Triana]

26. Yes. The facts are out there. The White House has an awesome section about it all...

...but it's willfully ignored by the lame$tream media, wingnuts and their astroturf - in favor of the hype.

They want Obama to fail on this - bottom line - so that he'll be a one-term wonder - and guaranteed Dems WILL lose seats in 2010 over this - that is the GOOP's objective - and if the entire country goes without decent health care (20,000+ people die each year for lack of it or from inadequate coverage/care - old stat so it's probably worse now) - they don't care! They're all about themselves and their own power and money and that's all.

[WriteDown]

27. Did you even watch the video?

:shrug:

[No Elephants]

60. Please see Reply # 55. The media stinks. We all know that. All the more reason not to

abdicate and rely on them.

Neither the Republicans nor the corporate media have any interest whatever im making health care reform clear or appealing. Duh. That means it falls on its proponents to make it clear and appealing. They have failed.

This is like blaming cheney for not not making the positions of the ACLU seem clear and compelling.

[samsingh]

68. Liberals should buy a media outlet and mandate it to be objective

[tinrobot]

19. Lack of a clear plan and lack of leadership.

Americans want health care, but the confusing message is not helping.

Obama needs to get out in front and present a clear, simple plan that everyone can understand.

[Odin2005]

20. That's because you MSM bastards have mucked everything up!

:grr:

[No Elephants]

61. Please see Reply ##s 55 and 60.

[dpbrown]

31. Universal, Single-Payer Health Care Now!

People don't understand how good for small businesses a national health care plan with single payer would be. This, Mr. President, would unleash that creative potential you seem to enjoy giving lip service to.

[samsingh]

37. the right-wing media is doing its job

[No Elephants]

62. Exactly. Very predictably, too. Please see Reply # 60.

[LeftHander]

40. I CALL FUD on the GOP!!....nt

[Overseas]

42. Why? Because Dems took the best option-- Medicare for All who choose it

off the table.

Just imagine how much less confusing it would have been if we'd had 20 top Democrats all saying--

Here's the public option to beat-- Medicare for All who choose it.

Medicare is a mixture of public and private elements. Medical services privately delivered, between you and your doctor. Payments and cost controls publicly administered, accountable to all. Much lower overhead and high patient satisfaction.

We're standing for Medicare for All who want it as the public option.

We'll be introducing industry-wide regulations to help private insurers compete. Then they can explain to their shareholders why they have to do the ethical thing and cover everyone without bankrupting them.

We've handled each prior attempt at reform by making things easier for insurance companies. They had over ten years since last defeating health insurance reform to show us how they could do better and here we are-- millions more uninsured, millions more bankrupt, premium costs soaring, profits soaring. This time we need to take a new approach-- focusing on the 47,000,000 of our fellow citizens who are uninsured. In these times of economic upheaval, the public needs a definite bailout and providing them with health security would be a big help.

The private insurers are run by brilliant CEOs who were worth annual salaries of around $10 million, so those fantastic executives will come up with ways to offer insurance services in the future. They have millions to spend from the profits they've reaped over the past ten years to tide them over as they readjust. Just look at the millions they've poured into the right wing PR firms hired to gin up the storming of town halls. They could redeploy those funds.

[Doctor_J]

54. My guess is that the 31 % who AREN'T confused are the Limbeciles

Death panels. Mass graves for old people. Free, on-demand, late-term abortions. They are absolutely certain these things are all true.

[No Elephants]

66. Ding, ding, ding. (An unusual 3 winner thread.)

[No Elephants]

65. Part of the confusion is that there is no one bill yet. Part of it is the fault of

the DNC, Obama and his peeps, the Democratic Senators and the Democratic members of the House.(Please see Reply ##s 55 and 60.

The big issue here is single payer v. public option v. private sector only. The first is Medicare for all. And if you REALLY cannot pay the affordable premium, you will get a subsidy.

The second is like state universities versus private universities. (Thank you, Senator Schumer.) Yo pays yo money and yo takes yo choice. And if you REALLY cannot pay the affordable premium of the public option, you will get a subsidy.

The third choice is a BIG payday for medical insurance companies, as tax money will pay profitably private companies to insure the tens of millions of people who are not insured or who are underinsured. This is clearly the most expensive and least desirable choice.

In all cases, though, I HOPE, leaving people uninsured bc of a pre-existing condition shall be no more. And your ability to get health insurance will no longer be tied to your employer.

See, now, was that so damn hard?

Thing is, they are all hiding until they see what they can get the votes for. Once that happens, they'll do their best to sell it, no matter how crappy it is.

[Dr Fate]

69. Much, much, MUCH less than the amount of people who were "confused" about Saddam's WMDs.

"Confused" voters is not an acceptable excuse for failing to do the right thing.

Pass it and then see how confused they are.

[treestar]

71. They haven't taken the time to listen to Pres. Obama

I'm confused too, but at least I'll take responsibility for it. Have these people ever heard of reading? All they have to do is look at whitehouse.gov.

[No Elephants]

73. The Republican wingnuts may be wrong, but they are not confused. Is that because they all went to

the same website?

The Republicans are much, much more effective at outreach and marketing than are Dems. Part of it is that they have the infrastructure of both churches and the NRA to work though, as well as all their think tanks. Not to mention Fox and talk radio. But, those things are not accidents. They've spent forty years putting those things in place, while Dems slept. We need to play catch up. They also know how to get their message into one or two sentences. Few Democrats have that gift. (Think Dummya vs. Kerry.)

[treestar]

74. So true, and unfortunately, since these are complex questions

It is always going to be harder for the Democrats. Simple minded right wing philosophies are much easier to put in sound bite form.