 It is always difficult to get a handle on underlying sentiment since The Press has an economic interest in making issues appear like "a horse race." Concerning the nation's approval/disapproval of Obamacare, everyone "knows" that Obamacare is disliked by a significantly higher percentage of citizens than the percent that approves. Flying under radar (mostly) is the percentage of citizens who have an unfavorable view of Obamacare because it doesn't go far enough. 8% of Americans belong to this latter category. If we make the reasonable assumption that people who want Obamacare to "go farther" would prefer Obamacare in an either/or choice between Obamacare and Repeal, then the percentage of Americans who approve Obamacare (to the alternative) is 43% to the 33% who clearly disapprove and would prefer repeal over enactment. By this measure, a decisive plurality of 30.3% prefers Obamacare to the status quo ante. Seldom in American politics do we witness pluralities this large on any issue. Factor in humankind's initial reluctance to approve "the unknown" and Obamacare is poised to be an overwhelmingly popular program. *** Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll. June 4-9, 201 |
"As you may know, a health reform bill was signed into law in 2010. Given what you know about the health reform law, do you have a generally favorable or generally unfavorable opinion of it?"If unfavorable: "Would you say your unfavorable view is more because the health reform law goes too far or doesn't go far enough in changing health insurance and the health care system?"
Favorable: 35%
Unfavorable: Goes too far - 33%
Unfavorable: Doesn't go far enough - 8%
Unfavorable: Unsure/Refused 2%
Unsure/Refused: 23%
June 4-9, 2013
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Yesterday, House Republicans - determined to put their political energy to productive use - undertook their fortieth (40th) vote to repeal Obamacare.
In the lower right-hand corner, the fellow says:
"We started by reversing our position on business being hurt by uncertainty."
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