AP-GfK Poll: Opposition to health care law eases

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR and JENNIFER AGIESTA

WASHINGTON (AP) - As lawmakers shaken by the shooting of a colleague return to the health care debate, an Associated Press-GfK poll finds raw feelings over President Barack Obama's overhaul have subsided.

Ahead of a vote on repeal in the GOP-led House this week, strong opposition to the law stands at 30 percent, close to the lowest level registered in AP-GfK surveys dating to September 2009.

The nation is divided over the law, but the strength and intensity of the opposition appear diminished. The law expands coverage to more than 30 million uninsured, and would require, for the first time, that most people in the United States carry health insurance.

The poll finds that 40 percent of those surveyed said they support the law, while 41 percent oppose it. Just after the November congressional elections, opposition stood at 47 percent and support was 38 percent.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110116/D9KPLQF80.html

[grahamhgreen]

1. Can we please compromise on this issue and just get rid of the mandate and leave the rest intact?

[SpartanDem]

2. How do you eliminate free riders?

you have to have some way people pay into the system.

[grahamhgreen]

12. If they came into being,

they would be the least of our problems.

The biggest cost factor relating to health care for all in this country are the for-profit insurance agencies that are willing to let people die rather that pay out legitimate claims.

I doubt a few few loaders would crash the system.

If they did, we can institute Medicare for All like the rest of the civilized world.

[Grown2Hate]

3. Keep the mandate, but offer a public option. That'd be ideal (well, aside from single payer)... NT

[Skittles]

7. CORRECT

[grahamhgreen]

13. I could live with that, but it's not a compromise that the Repubs are looking for,

but they hate the mandate.

[still_one]

8. If I drive a car, there is a mandate that I must have car insurance. Mandates are not a precedent,

nor are they unconstitutional. Social Security is one example

The repukes are never called on this, but the fact is what is their alternative? Right now the 30 to 50 million uninsured are treated in the emergency room. Who pays for the treatment? We do, and it is the MOST expensive treatment available, but only deals with crisis management, no preventive care, or medicines for chronic conditions

As much as I dislike the way HCR was done, I do not believe going back to what we had before is the answer

[grahamhgreen]

15. I understand, but since the Repubs want to get rid of the mandate,

A great compromise would be to eliminate it, while retaining the rest of the bill.

The only people that might possibly not benefit would be the blood sucking insurance agencies!

[hadrons]

4. Conservadems really screwed this up ....

If they stopped obstructing for these tangentable changes to be implemented sooner they would have been in better shape in Nov. and would have been given more credit for this uptick.

[still_one]

9. The Democrats are pathetic. As bad as HCR in its current form, it is better than what was. 30 to

50 million people who are uninsured, will be insured, and now instead of being treated in the hyper-expensive emergency room, which we pay for, they can be treated for non-emergencies in a doctor's office, and receive preventive care and medications for chronic conditions. Insurance companies cannot reject people with pre-existing conditions, kids up to 26 can be insured on their parents plan. The donut hole for medications for Medicare has been mostly closed. Insurance companies are required to providing 80% of their premiums to actual medical costs

Would a public option have been better? Of course, but even with a public option, a mandate would have been required, just like medicare

[Qutzupalotl]

5. They suspended the vote on repeal out of respect for the shooting victims,

but the irony of the situation still eludes them.

[BenzoDia]

6. Either hot heads are starting to cool off, or people are beginning to realize that the law

is designed to help everyone, not just those who aren't covered.

[still_one]

10. The problem is the Democrats ran away from it, and would not defend it. As inadequate as HCR is, it

is better than what we had

The media, and noise machines say most of the anger is because of the mandates, however, who do they think pays for the uninsured when they go to the emergency room? Of course it is we the people, and it is at rates that are far more expensive then under HCR

I am disappointed that they did not even fight for a public option, however, that the Democrats as a party are pathetically weak in defending HCR is unforgivable

[BlueIris]

11. Whatever.

I will always remember the healthcare fiasco as the worst failure of leadership I have ever witnessed.

[faz]

14. American people would embrace it more if it had the public option

Shame on Obama who didn't do it.