Thursday, March 18, 2010

We don't want it but legislators do - why?

Poll after poll shows that people, by and large, have made up their minds about current health care reform legislation. In the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, 36 percent said they believed Obama's health-care plan was a good idea while 48 percent called it a bad one, leaving just 15 percent without an opinion. The trend for a year has been that opposition runs in the upper 40%, support runs in the low 40% . If congress voted proportionally the same, no such legislation would pass.

So why is there concern?
Many congressmen will not vote according to their constituent's wishes.

So why won't they?
They have political motives of self interest and/or they believe they know better what's good for Americans.

Isn't that a bit harsh?
Compare the benefits rendered to a one-time congressman, legislated by congress for themselves, to the benefits of a common citizen. Compare the application of health systems, retirement benefits, security and government entitlements.

The American public is divided over this bill -- what's in it, what it will do, whether it's the right thing -- but not at all unclear on how they feel about it.