65% of Americans favor universal health coverage

[katinmn]

even if it means raising taxes. So what are we waiting for?

Excellent chart from the Pew Research Center:
http://typology.people-press.org/data/index.php?QuestionID=26

The Political Typology is a longstanding effort to sort voters into homogeneous groups based on their values, political beliefs and party affiliation. The current report is based on a two-part survey of 2,000 Americans interviewed in December 2004, most of whom were recontacted to follow up on current political issues in March 2005. The new analysis divides the American public into nine distinct groups, each with their own unique outlook on politics and the issues of the day. This is the fourth Political Typology study, following previous studies in 1987, 1994 and 1999.

The only group not more in favor of universal health coverage:
WHO THEY ARE: Predominantly white (91%), male (76%) and financially well-off (62% have household incomes of at least $50,000, compared with 40% nationwide). Nearly half (46%) have a college degree, and 77% are married. Nearly a quarter (23%) are themselves military veterans. Only 10% are under age 30.

LIFESTYLE NOTES: 59% have a gun in the home; 53% trade stocks and bonds, and 30% are small business owners ­ all of which are the highest percentages among typology groups. 48% attend church weekly; 36% attend bible study or prayer group meetings.

2004 ELECTION: Bush 92%, Kerry 1%. Bush's most reliable supporters (just 4% of Enterprisers did not vote)

MEDIA USE: Enterprisers follow news about government and politics more closely than any other group, and exhibit the most knowledge about world affairs. The Fox News Channel is their primary source of news (46% cite it as a main source) followed by newspapers (42%) radio (31%) and the internet (26%).

[Benhurst]

1. As if it matters what they want. Where do they think they are

living, in the Free World?

BushAmerica is the World's Only Superpower. No universal health care for its serfs, only more and more sophisticated death toys for its bloated military.

[rodeodance]

3. those in power really do NOT care what happens to the people.

So what are we waiting for?

[Zuni]

7. this is among the most callous administrations in history

in my lifetime there has never been an administration so unconcerned about the general welfare of the public. Many here might LBJ over Vietnam, but by the standards of the day he was incredibly progressive in many areas---he started us on the road to a national healthcare system. If only we had followed up on his legacy

[katinmn]

5. It's one segment of society that skews much of the policy-making

They are not that powerful that we can't drown them out. And they're stupid. They get their news from Fox!

[rodeodance]

36. stupid but stubborn--makes it difficult to drown them out--not that it can

not happen.....but......

[izzie]

2. Oh it is going to come. Like it or not.

Just sit and wait.

[Zuni]

4. funny. 35% is roughly the percentage that are hard republican

approx 1/3 are pukes, 1/3 are dems and 1/3 independant or swing

[rodeodance]

8. white, well -off males do NOT want it--(same people who are in power)

It will not happen.


....The only group not more in favor of universal health coverage:
WHO THEY ARE: Predominantly white (91%), male (76%) and financially well-off (62% have household incomes of at least $50,000, compared with 40% nationwide). Nearly half (46%) have a college degree, and 77% are married. Nearly a quarter (23%) are themselves military veterans. Only 10% are under age 30.

[rodeodance]

10. nominated

[katinmn]

14. thanks! Need two more!

[Telly Savalas]

27. It will certainly never happen if people who advocate it say...

it won't happen.

It most likely won't appear in the next decade, but if dedicated believers keep trying to get the truth out, eventually the nation will come around. That's what's happened in almost every other industrialized nation.

I find the unbridled pessimism here to be amazing. If someone really believes we are powerless to change the world, then why post here? To try to rub the negativity in the faces of those of us who think we can make a difference? What a morbid hobby. Why not take up stamp collecting or masturbating or something instead?

[Virginian]

41. My over 50 brother was paying $1500. a month for health insurance.

He was against universal health care. I started, but didn't finish a discussion on it with him. I left it for him to finish figuring out. It works better if he draws his own conclusions. He was mixing up the part of his health records would be in a central database and insurers could refuse to cover him. He's a smart boy, he would eventually figure out the part about "universal."

I don't know if he ever finished thinking it all the way through before being declared "disabled" and therefore eligible for his veterans medical benefits.

I'm afraid to get into it too deeply with him. He has a bad ticker and I don't want to cause him another heart attack.

[katinmn]

9. that "hard Republican" voice is drowning out everyone else

We need to practice some of their tactics on them -- discredit them, hold them up for public shame, show how their values are not our values.

[Zuni]

17. because they are a bunch of loudmouthed pricks

who coordinate with people like Rush and Sean Hannity to drown out sensible moderates and progressive speakers.

We need to play hardball. Until 2004, the Dems played softball while the Republicans were playing prison rules. And look...since the Dems have actually started growing balls, Bush approval rating has taken a beating. In 2002, do you think Kerry would get more than 48% of the vote, with non-verifiable voting and the whole Ken Blackwell "lets put voting machines out in the rural areas so people in cities have to wait 8 hrs to vote" style schemes?

[katinmn]

19. I agree. We need a swat team that focuses solely on this loud-mouthed

bunch of a-holes.

[rodeodance]

25. their loud voices take over the airwaves-can hardly get a word in!!

[Vinca]

6. You'd think a politician would take the leap of faith that this is true

and base an entire presidential campaign on it. People don't care about 99% of what goes on in the world, but they do know the implications of a giant medical bill wiping out everything you've worked for all your life.

[rodeodance]

11. you got it (health care was only a ripple in the last election).

[Zuni]

13. no, I think healthcare saved kerry's campaign after Shitboat and

the flip flopping allegations over Iraq. When he outlined a much more sensible healthcare reform in the debates, I think it brought him back into the race

[Zuni]

12. exactly

Kerry got a lot of votes just because he advocated making medical insurance and prescription drugs cheaper and more accessible. The only people who fear that are hard core republicans

[rodeodance]

16. 90% of liberals want it--their characterists are interesting.(17% of popu)

LIBERALS


PAST TYPOLOGY COUNTERPART: Liberal Democrats/Seculars/60's Democrats


from the chart above:

17% OF GENERAL POPULATION

19% OF REGISTERED VOTERS

PARTY ID: 59% Democrat; 40% Independent/No Preference, 1% Republican (92% Dem/Lean Dem)

BASIC DESCRIPTION: This group has nearly doubled in proportion since 1999. Liberal Democrats now comprise the largest share of Democrats. They are the most opposed to an assertive foreign policy, the most secular, and take the most liberal views on social issues such as homosexuality, abortion, and censorship. They differ from other Democratic groups in that they are strongly pro-environment and pro-immigration.

DEFINING VALUES: Strongest preference for diplomacy over use of military force. Pro-choice, supportive of gay marriage and strongly favor environmental protection. Low participation in religious activities. Most sympathetic of any group to immigrants as well as labor unions, and most opposed to the anti-terrorism Patriot Act.
......

[rodeodance]

23. OK--!! the liberals get their news form the Internet

from the graph:
.....MEDIA USE: Liberals are second only to Enterprisers in following news about government and public affairs most of the time (60%). Liberals' use of the internet to get news is the highest among all groups (37%).......

[NewJeffCT]

30. I don't think it would work

While 65% may favor it, you have to siphon off a small percent for those single-issue voters who, while they want universal health care, it is not their top priority over: gay marriage, gun control, abortion, etc.

I have a casual friend that has health problems & is in his mid 30s. He is dramatically overweight (400+ pounds) and has been in dead end jobs his whole life. I think he works as an overnight monitor for a home security system company - meaning, if an automatic alarm goes off in their office, he is the one that calls the cops. But, he will never vote for a Democrat because he's afraid they might take away his guns. You can't reason with him about it. He may be pro-choice & favor universal health care, but his guns are his life.

[blondeatlast]

35. The Dems have never, and probably will never, get single issue voters.

We shouldn't even break a sweat to try.

[Jo March]

15. Hi, Kat! Have you sent this to Bouncy?

I think this would go well with what Bouncy is trying to do re: march on DC for health care.

[katinmn]

18. Yeah, thought about that. :-)

What is going on with the march? Are there any recent threads?

[Jo March]

29. I haven't seen any but here is Bouncy's email

[e-mail]

That website is not up but the email works.

[rodeodance]

20. oh--yes, I recall that post--the one about organizing a march in Sept-

anyone know what is going on with this idea?

[Nite Owl]

21. Nearly a quarter

(23%) are themselves military veterans

So does this group think that they are going to be covered so the hell with anyone else? Typical repuke I got mine and who cares about anyone else. And isn't this kind of a low percentage too to have done their military service. I mean being such reliable * supporters and all you would think they would be willing to go fight the wars that they back. :shrug:

[rodeodance]

24. Bush supporters not willing to go to war themselves--just like to remind

others of their patriotic duty!!

.....I mean being such reliable * supporters and all you would think they would be willing to go fight the wars that they back. .......

[Just Me]

22. You know, this really doesn't surprise me at all.

If we set aside all the right-wing corporacratic rhetoric that social programs are evil, it is natural for Americans to feel that health care should be available to all of us.

[newportdadde]

26. Too bad 100% of insurance companies are against it.

This administration and for the most part Congress don't care what people want. Example: Social Security.. nobody wants this privatized yet they just keep humping that leg and will not give up on it.

[Jamison]

28. Definition of the group against this...

The only group not more in favor of universal health coverage:
WHO THEY ARE: Predominantly white (91%), male (76%) and financially well-off (62% have household incomes of at least $50,000, compared with 40% nationwide). Nearly half (46%) have a college degree, and 77% are married. Nearly a quarter (23%) are themselves military veterans. Only 10% are under age 30.

Def. - RAVING FREEPERS.

[katinmn]

39. If you take the freepers out of the equation,

support for universal health care is closer to 80 percent.

So let's take them out. They're selfish assholes with a skewed world view. Let's "err on the side of life" as the chimperor says.

[gollygee]

31. It is absolutely crazy that we tie medical care to employment

that doesn't help either people needing medical care or employers. It's too much of a financial burden on employers.

AND we end up paying one place or another. Either our employers pay part and we pay part, or we pay through taxes. It isn't free regardless of where the money comes from.

[tanyev]

33. Yeah, look at how GM and Ford are whining that

it is employee health care that is the root of their problems. We should adopt universal health care to help our corporations!

[rodeodance]

34. Historically, employers wanted to keep their employees healthy-early

1900's--so Metropolitian Life Insurance Company paid Visiting Nurses to make home visits to educated them (something like 5 cents a visit) about healthy habits. Capitialism drove the market.

[blondeatlast]

37. This is the fact we need to drive home, especially to small and medium

sized businesses.

Huge coroporations have an enormous advantage in attracting top talent because they are in a far better position to offer coverage (GM/Ford/UAL, etc. are still the exceptions).

A concerted effort to "sell" the idea to small/medium sized businesses as a competitive tool would be very effective in turning the tide and getting the politicians to talk about it, IMHO.

[katinmn]

48. tethering people to jobs because of health care is another form of

control.

How many people wouldn't try something new, or work for something that specifically benefits society, if they didn't have to serve a corporate master in order to get health care for themselves and their families???

[blondeatlast]

32. Citizens want it, the rich, esp. the corporations, don't, although even

that is slowly starting to change.

There was a great article in the November or December "The Nation" on how smaller corps and businesses are starting to see the advantages of a single-payer plan.

Health insurance is tremendously costly for business, but they can't get quality employees if they don't offer it.

The tide is turning, and I suspect this will be a major issue in '08.

[rodeodance]

38. would like it be a major issue in '06 --medicaid cuts, housing cuts, you

name it--most 'social' programs are being cut-not to mention Soc Sec. which is on the chopping block. And any reform to Medicare-went to fatten the pharmceutical companies pockets.

[elehhhhna]

40. Every business, from Mom&Pops to GE, would benefit dramatically

from a Single Payer System.

It would also solve a tremendous amount of age & sex discrimination in the workplace.

[morgan2]

42. I really think the only way things are gonna change

is if some charasmatic progressive joins the Republican party semiundercover, wins a large position of power that republicans generally dont win then moves up the ranks. Once the person is established, as say a governor of a state, they may be able to get a lot done there. The person would have to walk a very fine line on the way to the top though, giving just enough to the right groups to make it happen. Hey is that what arnold and maria shriver are doing? Ha! ok I made myself laugh typing thats sad. Anyway the main point is, no matter what a Democrat proposes people associated with the Republican party will be against it for the most part. Maybe someone coming at things from a different angle will have a better chance. Take over their party.

[katinmn]

43. I think all options should be put on the table

what we've done so far hasn't worked.

[lavenderdiva]

44. Boy, this demographic mentioned in the article you referenced...

sounds just like my in-laws... They are Repubs, and fit every category mentioned to a 'T'. I once had this conversation with my MIL, stating that I was in favor of Universal Health Care. She was definitely against it saying, "if Universal Health Care was adopted, we would have to wait longer for our Doctors' appointments...". Never mind the fact that her son and I can't afford any sort of healthcare or dentalcare, and haven't been to any doctors in over 3 years! It just doesn't occur to her that we will be waiting forever to see a doctor, because we just don't have the money for insurance of any sort. Its maddening...

BTW, I nominated this thread. Very important, IMO.

[Lights_Out]

45. Be Careful

I would like to stress that we shouldn't always trust "primary sources" such as polls, regardless of their reliability. Having said that, the religious right also happens to include die-hard McCarthyists. They are afraid of the slightest bit of socialism, and they seek to destroy it. But how can they do that when the ENTIRETY of western Europe has some form of universal health care and are openly socialist about it? I'm speaking mostly of Great Britain and France, because those are the countries that I know the best.

[newyawker99]

46. Hi Lights_Out!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[katinmn]

47. come into the light, Lights_Out

nothing to fear.

and welcome to DU, too.