If 54% of Americans don't believe or don't know that Medicare is a government program...

[KansDem]

Do you think the government should stay out of
Medicare? If yes, press 1. If no, press 2. If
you’re not sure, press 3.

Yes ................................................................. 39%
No ................................................................... 46%
Not Sure............................................................ 15%

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_National_819513.pdf">Public Policy Polling

...then just who or what do they believe administers and pays for Medicare?

[phantom power]

1. I'd love to know that too, even though the answers...

would probably crush the tiny egg of hope I keep inside.

[izquierdista]

2. Where are exploding phones when you need them?

[WyLoochka]

3. Then their "opinions" on

what to do about the health care crisis should be ignored by Congress.

Ignorance is not a good foundation for making good policy decisions.

[KansDem]

4. I agree...

But we've got a whole lot of ignorance out here in voterland...

[xultar]

5. BUHWAWAWA. Someone needs to make a shirt that says Medicare is Gov Health care.

And wear it where the blue hairs congregate.

[sandnsea]

9. Every town in America has a senior center

Maybe Health Care For America Now should start picketing in front of them.

[xultar]

14. That is a good idea. I'd love to go and put fliers on their cars.

[Jennicut]

6. It magically falls out of the sky and somehow just exists.

Sigh. Truly utter stupidity.

[cbdo2007]

7. Next question: Do you think the government should stay out of National Defense?

Wonder what their response would be there...

[Cleita]

8. Or should the government stay out of building roads. n/t

[Kansas Wyatt]

10. For Christ's Sake...

That explains how how the country got so screwed up by corrupt politicians.

Over half the population is completely stupid.

[Speck Tater]

11. Americans are deeply stupid! nt

[Octafish]

12. Better living through Television.

Read somewhere that one-half of all Americans get their information from the tee vee. It may be worse.

Also read somewhere that one-half of all Americans do not read books. It may be worse.

[KansDem]

21. Nielsen Reports Television Tuning Remains at Record Levels

Digital Video Recorders Grow in Popularity
Contacts
Gary Holmes at The Nielsen Company: [phone]

New York, October 17, 2007 - The Nielsen Company reported today that television tuning during the 2006-2007 television year (September 18, 2006 to September 23, 2007) remained at the record levels set the previous year. Viewing nearly reached the record levels of a year ago, and the number of homes with Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) more than doubled.

According to Nielsen:

The total average time a household had a TV set tuned during the 2006-2007 television year was 8 hours and 14 minutes per day, the same amount of time as during the 2005-2006 season (September 19, 2005 to September 17, 2006) and a record high. (See Table 1.)

--more--
Nielsen (cached)

[billyclem]

13. Well, it's specific taxes and general fund...

We all here at DU know that it is government administered; but, the funding is a mix.

Part A, inpatient care; funded by a payroll tax of 1.45% and an employer match of 1.45%.

Part B, outpatient care; doctor visits and such not including prescriptions. Funded by the beneficiaries through monthly deduction from SS payment of $96 if income <85,000. Covers about 25%, the other 75% is covered by the general fund. This payment is going up which is why many seniors are complaining that the no COLA will be loss of income.

I am three years from being eligible for SS so I have become more knowledgeable about the programs. :smoke:

[KansDem]

16. Welcome to DU, billyclem!

Doing your homework? ;)

...and welcome soon to Medicare! :hi:

[Maru Kitteh]

15. And they were ALL at the townhall I went to yesterday. n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

17. And 6% don't think Hawaii is a part of the USA!!

[KansDem]

23. Make that 10% if you add the "not sures"

One out of every 10 Americans either believe that Hawaii isn't--or are not sure it is--a state...

And last Friday, Hawaii celebrated its 50th year of statehood!

[RaleighNCDUer]

18. That's a bad poll -

There's no "WTF?" option.

[GodlyDemocrat]

19. They believe, and rightfully so perhaps, they pay into Medicare

This does not discount the fact that Medicare is government administered.

The President needs to use the pully pulpit of the Presidency to hammer the need for health reform home.

[Fearless]

20. I hate people. I mean I really really hate people.

:banghead:

[WinkyDink]

28. This has been my mantra for decades (at least since the Reagan Era).

[BooBluePotion]

22. Part of the blame goes to Hate Radio which

Paints the government as incompetent for every new major program that surfaces to help Americans under a Democratic Administration. I know that DUers have noticed the barbaric hoards of freepers spreading disinformation on popular websites and their lies spread like wildfire. Combating these parasitic liars takes up valuable time that could be spent explaining FREE healthcare for the middle class. But again just take a look at the death panel deflection to see how crippling one freeper can make a positive history making plan. I guess some people love to frolic in bullshit :(

[dysfunctional press]

24. the question being asked doesn't say that at all...

people can be completely aware that medicare is a government program, but like it just the way it is- so in terms of the current debate, they want government to leave it alone/"stay out of it".

[KansDem]

25. The government created Medicare...

How would anyone expect it "to stay out of it?" It doesn't make sense.

Sorry, I don't read it the way you do...

[dysfunctional press]

26. that's two different issues.

if they want to know if people realize that medicare is a government program, the question should be asked in a straight-forward way- "Is medicare a government program?" might do the trick.

it's COMPLETELY logical for someone to be aware of medicare being a govt. program, but wanting the government to leave medicare alone in terms of the current healthcare debate. if you can't see that side of the argument, you really need to work on expanding your mental abilities, or lack thereof...:shrug:

[KansDem]

33. No, I read it correctly

It asked rather cleverly if the government should stay out of Medicare. Obviously, 54% said either "no" or "I don't know."

You inferred the phrase to read, "Should government leave Medicare alone in terms of the current healthcare debate." Far cry from "should government stay out of Medicare."

Don't forget, this is from the same crowd in which 1 in 10 Americans either don't believe or don't know that Hawaii is a state...

[dysfunctional press]

34. i stand by my previous answer.

if you can't see that side of the argument, you need to work on developing some depth of understanding.

[KansDem]

35. You need to understand...

...that we're dealing with a whole bunch of ignorance here.

If 10% of those polled either don't know or are not sure that Hawaii is a state, then serious doubt arises whether the 54% that either don't know or are not sure that Medicare is a government-run program are savvy to how the question was worded.

Do you think the government should stay out of
Medicare? If yes, press 1. If no, press 2. If
you’re not sure, press 3.

It means what it says, not:

Do you think the government it its efforts to reform health care should stay out of
Medicare as a part of that reform effort? If yes, press 1. If no, press 2. If
you’re not sure, press 3.

Mentally adding or subtracting verbiage to or from any printed statement sure helps to make that statement read the way you want it to.

Oh, and permit me to say: "Hawaii is a state," in case you weren't sure what the question, Do you consider Hawaii to be part of the United States?, really meant...

[WinkyDink]

30. Being fully aware of nuance, I can see your point. But the simpler possibility is: WE ARE IGNORANT.

[dysfunctional press]

31. then why wasn't the question asked in a straightforward manner...?

"is medicare a government program?"

because then the results would be more realistic, and the people who produced the poll wouldn't be able to roll their eyes and call people ignorant.

[DailyGrind51]

27. 54% of Americans are idiots!

[Princess Turandot]

29. It's possible that some of the responders were confusing providing the care, which Medicare

does not do, with paying for the care. It's an ambiguous question. It doesn't appear that they actually asked them if the government funded Medicare. People will also say that the government should 'leave social security alone.'

[old mark]

32. ...this means people are even more stupid than

I always thought....I didn't think it was possible, but they have amazed me!!!


mark