THE US REPORT

Analysis by Kay B. Day

Despite having absolute control of two branches of the federal government, Democrats have not been able to push the federal healthcare takeover through Congress. That may change this week, depending on threats, promises and cajoling by Dem leaders who want something done at any cost. But a poll released on Monday by Independent Women’s Voice found what the activist organization calls “astonishing intensity and sharp opposition to reform.” The poll was conducted by the Polling Company.

The US Report, in the interest of ethics in reporting, does not refer to Democrat plans for healthcare as ‘reform.’ We prefer the accurate term: government takeover.

In an editorial about healthcare at The Wall Street Journal, IWV CEO Heather Higgins and The Polling Company CEO Kellyanne Conway said the national polls Dem leaders cite as showing support for their plans relate to support for “individual provisions of the bill…”

And the two offer a warning to ‘vulnerable politicians’ about political fallout. “Responses to questions about individual benefits, particularly when removed from a cost context, are different from those on the whole bill.”

The poll found 7 in 10 respondents “would vote against a House member who votes for the Senate healthcare bill with its special interest provisions.”

The poll also found respondents had a dim view of the reconciliation process receiving so much media attention. Democrats may believe problems will be fixed if the Senate bill is passed, but voters don’t. The poll found, “Sixty-three percent (50% strongly) think reconciliation is at best a political promise and their congressman shouldn’t vote for the Senate bill if he doesn’t agree with it as written.”

A number of Democrat operatives made the Sunday talk show circuit in hopes of drumming up support with the public for a bill few Democrats have even read.

Many political analysts have questioned the constitutionality of a mandate for health insurance, with  Internal Revenue Service powers broadened so the mandate can be enforced. Hispanic advocacy groups don’t like the prohibition for those in the country illegally, although the same people receive automatic care on demand in US hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Most lawmakers have not considered the impact of government healthcare on delivery of services, but most Main Streeters realize that a new entitlement program will cost the middle class and erase any so-called benefits the government has promised.

Government intrusion into mortgage lending, car manufacturing and the energy sector has driven consumer costs up and created serious economic challenges for the US. Should the government succeed in taking over healthcare, most of us believe the middle class will pony up to cover the costs and the quality of care will certainly decline for everyone except the truly wealthy.