|
|
(HealthNewsDigest.com) – New York, NY – The continuing debate in the Senate on health care reform, and the sound and fury on the TV networks, talk radio and the blogosphere have left public opinion almost exactly where it was in October and November. The public is still split, with almost identical numbers of adults supporting “President Obama’s proposals for health care reform.”
This is one of the results of The Harris Poll® of 2,276 adults surveyed online between December 7 and 14, 2009 by Harris Interactive®.
Some of the key findings include:
· With 43% supporting and 45% opposing, the country is deeply split on “President Obama’s proposals for health care reform” (we use these words even though the president is not an author of any specific proposal).
· The public was also equally split in October (45%-45%) and November (40% to 41%).
· Democrats and Republicans remain highly polarized. Independents are marginally more opposed (48%) than supportive (44%) of the president on health care reform.
· Large numbers of people continue to believe in the criticisms of “the president’s proposals”:
– 68% of adults believe they would result in higher taxes;
– 62% believe they would result in a “government-run” health care system (not everyone thinks that would be bad);
– 53% believe they would reduce people’s choices;
– 52% believe they would “not be good for people like me”;
– 48% believe they would “hurt Medicare.”
· The public is also divided, 43% to 41%, on whether “the system we have now is better than what the president is proposing.”
· While the public remains split on whether President Obama’s proposals are good (48%) or bad (52%), a 57% to 43% majority thinks that the proposals of the Democrats are bad.
· A larger 65% to 35% majority thinks that the proposals of the Republicans in Congress are bad.
Different questions about reform get different answers
It should be noted that the polls tend to show substantial support for health care reform in principle, but less support for “President Obama’s proposals” for reform (with the public still divided). As this survey also shows, a clear majority of the public oppose the “plans proposed by the Democrats in Congress” and an even larger, almost two-to-one, majority oppose the “plans proposed by the Republicans in Congress.”
So what?
It would seem that arguments of those supporting and opposing the president’s efforts to achieve health care reform are canceling each other out, or are equally effective.
Given the reservations many people have about the “president’s proposals,” it is noteworthy that support has not declined recently – perhaps because of the unpopularity and lack of credibility of Republicans on this issue.
Methodology
This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States December 7 and 14, 2009 among 2,276 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words “margin of error” as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
Full data and tables can be found here: http://news.harrisinteractive.com/profiles/investor/ResLibraryView.asp?ResLibraryID=35135&GoTopage=1&Category=1777&BzID=1963&t=11
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of Harris Interactive.
The Harris Poll® #144, December 21, 2009
By Humphrey Taylor, Chairman, The Harris Poll, Harris Interactive
About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is one of the world’s leading custom market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package goods. Serving clients in over 215 countries through our North American, European, and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help us – and our clients – stay ahead of what’s next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.
Subscribe to our FREE Ezine and be eligible for Health News, discounted products/services and coupons related to your Health. We publish 24/7.
HealthNewsDigest.com
We videotape Press Conferences, produce SMT’s, VNR’s, B-rolls, PSA’s, – all with distribution: HealthyTelevisionProductions