What Do Americans Think About Universal Health Care?

Rasmussen Reports released some very interesting poll data about universal health care. Here are some of the key numbers:

51% of American adults initially supported the notion that health care should be made available for free to all Americans
52% believe that approach would decrease the quality of health care in the U.S.
29% thought it would improve the overall quality of care
49% believe it would increase the nation’s overall cost of providing care
22% thought it would result in savings
52% thought that, when taxes were considered, the proposal would end up costing them more than they pay now
28% thought their own costs would go down

Despite these concerns, when asked to consider these impacts, 47% of adults continued to support the concept of providing health care for free to all Americans. However, that support falters when people are asked to support a plan that provides coverage for all but requires everyone with insurance to "change their coverage and join a program administered by the government", with 68% of those who are already insured believing their own health care coverage would get worse.

What does it mean?
It means there's a serious problem in America. People realize that universal health care will increase cost and decrease quality, but they want it anyway. Rasmussen observes that Americans now view health care coverage as a 'right' -- which it most certainly is NOT -- rather than a privilege or necessity. The silver lining is that people aren't likely to support it if they are required to change from a private plan to a government-controlled plan.

It also shows yet another instance of how the Democrat party is the party of entitlement and dependence on the Nanny State, even to the point of the Nanny State forcing people to switch to certain health care coverage:

45% of Democrats favor offering free health care to all even if it required making everyone with insurance to switch, only 35% of Democrats oppose such a plan. However, Republicans oppose it by a 70% to 18% margin. Those not affiliated with either major party are opposed by a 46% to 28% margin.

Communism, anyone? Already got it - it's the modern Democrat party.

There's my two cents.