government

Could an Economic Downturn Be the Ticket to Health Care Reform?

Jenny Choi — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:25:53 -0500

An analysis in the Los Angeles Times today posits what could prove to be a tipping point for the health care crisis: the current economic slump. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) announced his proposal last week for a universal health care package, and Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), a long-time proponent of expanded coverage, says he plans to advance his own universal health care plan next week. But how can we possibly be talking about expanding coverage at the same time that the government has a ballooning deficit?

Health care costs in the current economic climate have no doubt placed an enormous added strain on the uninsured and the newly unemployed, not to mention employers, health care providers and the government. But many believe that health care and the economy are inextricably linked -- that, in essence, health care is an economic problem. Last week, the New America Foundation released a report, "The Cost of Doing Nothing," which argues that waiting to reform the system, while costs continue to skyrocket, comes with a price. By their calculations, the "economic cost of failure," the billions of dollars in lost productivity for those without coverage, is actually less cost-effective than covering every American.

Americans, on the whole, agree that our current health care system has major flaws and is in need of change, but the degree of reform is less unanimous. Public support for a universal health care plan varies based on survey question wording. Two-thirds believe it is the federal government's responsibility to ensure that all American have health coverage, but they are less galvanized about requiring it by law. Still, the consensus is that lowering the cost of health care and extending it to more people are the most important issues for the president and Congress to deal with.

More on public attitudes about various health care issues can be found in our red flags section, and be sure to visit the health care guide in our Citizen's Survival Kit for the bigger picture: key facts and statistics, plus a discussion guide that offers three approaches to the problem, with pros, cons and specific strategies for each.

Majorities say the government should step in to address the problems facing financial institutions, but are divided...

Allison Rizzolo — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:33:32 -0500

Pell Grants in Trouble, While Panel Proposes Possible Remedies

Jenny Choi — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:06:45 -0400

As if the continuous news coverage of our very troubled economy weren't enough, now it appears our federal financial aid system is seeing some of the action, too. A panel of education professionals and policy experts called Rethinking Student Aid recently released a report offering several remedies to the red tape-laden financial aid system and application process. Among their proposals is linking Pell Grant caps to the Consumer Price Index, a common measure of inflation; an article today in the New York Times points out that college tuition these days is indeed rising faster than inflation. Another recommendation is the implementation of savings accounts for low-income children at the age of 12, well before they are college-bound. The federally financed program would accumulate interest each year and could only be drawn for college-related expenses.

But, to put it bluntly, a new Congress and president aren't likely to adopt any proposal that would up the cost of student financing, even if only slightly. Recently reported estimates from the Department of Education indicate Pell Grants are facing a $6 billion shortfall next year, mostly as a result of a weakened economy and an increase in "nontraditional" students returning to school. In fact, government officials said they saw one of the largest ever jumps in student grant applications last year. And unfortunately, for lawmakers, this will mean appropriating the $6 billion to fill the existing gaps, or cutting back on the amount in grants given. But how viable could the former option possibly be, considering the recent projections of our ballooning deficit?

When the public is faced with such tradeoffs between paying down the deficit and paying more in taxes to fund certain programs, education is the area where Americans seem most willing to pay. Our own study on the problems of soaring costs in higher education, Squeeze Play, found that three-quarters of Americans think that making more grants and tax breaks available to students should be a "very high" priority. While more people than ever have come to value the importance of higher education, fears about affordability and access leave many parents and students deeply troubled. More than half say college prices are rising faster than other expenses, and 62 percent say many qualified students do not have the opportunity for a college education.

Americans say about half of every tax dollar is wasted by the federal government

Nora Benavidez — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:11:37 -0400

More than half of Americans say allowing gay marriages would degrade the institution of marriage, but just as many say...

Jenny Choi — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:03:12 -0400

Survey responses on the size of government vary depending on how the question is worded

Nora Benavidez — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:04:00 -0400

State-by-state health insurance coverage rates

Nora Benavidez — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:36:38 -0400

Elusive Consensus

Jenny Choi — Wed, 21 May 2008 11:44:54 -0400

Although majorities say the Social Security program is in trouble, few can agree on proposed ideas for changing it. About half of Americans say the government needs to make changes to the system sooner than later, but other legislative issues such as Iraq and terrorism rank even higher.

Lack of Realism?

Jenny Choi — Wed, 21 May 2008 11:41:21 -0400

Many experts would argue that the public's views on Social Security are unrealistic. While Social Security is the main source of income for seniors today, majorities of non-retired Americans believe they will rely mostly on their own savings and Social Security will be a minor source of income. Younger Americans are notably less likely to be concerned about their retirement finances; yet they are more likely to say Social Security will no longer be available to them by the time they retire. While about six in 10 Americans say the government doesn't spend enough on Social Security, just as many mistakenly believe the government spends more on foreign aid than Social Security. (See Medicare Red Flags for related findings and Federal Budget fact files on federal spending.) Similarly, four in 10 Americans say they believe the federal budget deficit wouldn't increase if workers are allowed to invest a portion of their Social Security taxes and a plurality of Americans also believe allowing people to invest some of their Social Security contributions can be made with little additional new spending by government.

Who Decides?

Jenny Choi — Wed, 21 May 2008 11:40:46 -0400

Many Americans have faced end-of-life issues, with about one-third saying they've had to decide whether to keep a loved one alive using extraordinary means. Majorities say a person's spouse should be the one to decide the fate of a comatose-like patient who has no written directive of their wishes, although some are not sure. The public seems certain, though, that end-of-life decisions should be left to the individual. Large majorities say the government should not get involved. And two-thirds say they're concerned that Congress' involvement in the Terri Schiavo case set a precedent for government intervention in the future. While most people say they personally would not want to be kept alive in a "persistent vegetative" state, far fewer would be willing to end life support for their spouse or child. More than one-third of Americans say they have a living will or a health care proxy expressing their medical wishes if they are unable to do so. Of those who don't, nearly seven in 10 say the Terri Schiavo case made them think about drafting one.

No Consensus on Stock Plans

Jenny Choi — Wed, 21 May 2008 11:37:46 -0400

Public opinion on proposals to allow individuals to invest some of their Social Security contributions is uncertain and unsettled. Fewer than half of Americans say they've heard a lot about this idea and support wavers when questions are rephrased or include new aspects of the issue - usually a signal that people either do not understand a proposal or have not thought carefully about its implications. Some poll questions find majorities support a stock-market option. But support declines when questions refer to possible risks, such as the unpredictability of the stock market, reduced benefits and the possibility of the government borrowing trillions to set up the program. Similarly, the number of Americans who say they would personally invest some of their Social Security tax contributions declines when the question refers to the risk of lower benefits. And a survey of investors finds their support for the proposal has significantly declined since 2000. If the proposal were to become law, four in 10 Americans seem to believe it would have no effect on them.

The "Deserving Poor" vs. "Welfare Recipients"

Jenny Choi — Wed, 21 May 2008 11:06:40 -0400

Opinion researchers have long observed that survey questions asking about "the poor" elicit far more positive attitudes than those asking about "welfare." For example, while majorities want the problems of the poor to be a priority for Congress, people are also divided on whether “welfare recipients” really need the help. In survey results, the poor are characterized as people who work hard, but just can’t earn enough money to support their families, and Americans show broad support for a number of proposals to help them make ends meet. By contrast, Public Agenda’s research has suggested that for most Americans, the term “welfare” seems to evoke a vision of a failed and fundamentally flawed government system reviled both by those on welfare and the general public. Perhaps surprisingly, just half of Americans say they know about the 1996 welfare reform, but among those who do, the vast majority say it works well because of the work requirement.

Legal vs. Illegal Immigration

Jenny Choi — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:45:11 -0400

In surveys, the public consistently makes a sharp distinction between legal and illegal immigrants. In general, the public looks more favorably on immigrants perceived as "playing by the rules." Illegal immigrants are viewed with much less sympathy. Half of those surveyed by Public Agenda say giving the government the power to detain legal immigrants indefinitely in the war on terrorism "goes too far," but six in 10 say illegal immigrants who are detained "don't deserve such protections because they are here illegally." What's more, six in 10 also say illegal immigrants should be deported immediately after being caught, without recourse to the courts. The distinction is strong enough that caution should be taken in reporting survey questions that do not distinguish between legal and illegal immigration or those that combine these elements.

Paying the Bill

Jenny Choi — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:31:16 -0400

When it comes to paying for college, the public sends distinctly mixed signals about how serious the problem is and frankly admits its own lack of knowledge. Half of parents say they're "very concerned" about saving enough to send their child to college, and majorities of Americans say government needs to do more to make college more affordable. Yet a majority also says that "almost anyone who needs financial help to go to college can get loans or financial aid" and that if "someone really wants to go to college, they can find a way to pay for it. Surveys also show that while majorities say in general they know "a lot" or "a good amount" about what it costs to go to college, Americans are unsure of what college actually costs when given specific estimates.

Universal Care

Jenny Choi — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:16:25 -0400

The public clearly favors expanding health care to cover more Americans, but support for a universal health care system varies depending on survey question wording -- an indication that the public is still working through their thinking on this issue. Even though health care is sure to be a focal point in the 2008 presidential elections, the public has yet to come to terms with the various approaches and tradeoffs involved in reform. For example, Americans say they are in favor of a host of proposals to expand coverage, particularly tax credits for employers. But when faced with the possibility of having to pay more in insurance premiums or taxes, responses can change depending on how the question is worded and what tradeoffs are cited. Relatively few say they expect their own health to improve under a universal system, and half say the quality of their care would remain the same. And while most say it is the federal government's responsibility to guarantee health insurance for all Americans, they are divided on whether it should be required by law.

Disapproval vs. Punishment

Jenny Choi — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:56:37 -0400

On some questions of personal conduct, such as abortion and adultery, surveys show that significant numbers of Americans want these actions to be illegal. However, that doesn't necessarily mean the public wants people to be arrested. These Americans may be willing to tolerate these activities as unfortunate facts of life, but they also fear that making something "legal" sends a message that it is also acceptable. For this group, making something "illegal" sends a strong statement of social disapproval. Those who want homosexuality to be "illegal" follow precisely this pattern. As one survey shows, roughly a third of Americans say homosexuality should be illegal, but most of these people change their minds when asked whether consenting adults engaging in homosexual activities in private should be prosecuted for a crime. [The U.S. Supreme Court struck down laws against sodomy in 2003.] Although the numbers fluctuate, people are currently less likely to say homosexual relations should be illegal. It is also significant that most people, despite public controversy, don’t seem to want strong government action. Strong majorities say gay marriage should not be an important issue in the 2004 elections. And more than half of Americans say allowing gay marriage would demean the institution of marriage, but just as many say the government should not promote traditional marriages. See also our Red Flags on Abortion

Mixed Signals on Government Spending

Jenny Choi — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:40:43 -0400

People seem conflicted or inconsistent in their thinking about how much the federal government should take on. Most people say they want a smaller government with fewer services, but they also support increasing spending on certain things such as fighting terrorism.

Waste, Fraud and Abuse?

Jenny Choi — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:36:50 -0400

Accountability in government spending is a major concern for the public, with the average American saying about half of every tax dollar is wasted by the federal government. Yet while most say earmarks are unacceptable, half don't know whether their own representative sponsors them and many don't want to eliminate them completely.

Little Knowledge about No Child Left Behind.

Jenny Choi — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:09:49 -0400

While most Americans have heard of the No Child Left Behind Act, nearly seven in 10 say they don’t know enough to form an opinion. A double-digit "don’t know" response is considered by survey researchers to be a classic warning sign that an issue may not be well understood and public attitudes may not be stable. Even so, a majority of Americans say the law will improve education. Furthermore, three-quarters of voters say schools will need more money to implement the act and that the federal government should be responsible for providing additional funding. Since very few of the general public has firsthand experience with how the required measures would actually work in the nation’s schools, poll results on this topic should be reported with caution. On the other hand, there are the nation’s school leaders - superintendents and principals - who are largely responsible for implementing NCLB. In our research study, Rolling Up Their Sleeves, we found majorities of superintendents and principals say the law needs some fine tuning before it can work. (For more information about the specifics of the No Child Left Behind Act visit the U.S. Department of Education official NCLB site. Also, you can read our report Where We Are Now: 12 Things You Need to Know about Public Opinion and Public Schools.)

Mixed Feelings

Jenny Choi — Tue, 20 May 2008 11:44:47 -0400

Survey questions about the legality of abortion often
draw different responses depending on how questions are worded. This is
generally a sign of conflicted feelings on the part of the public. The
abortion issue features a number of conflicted and seemingly
inconsistent findings. For example, large majorities favor laws to
restrict abortions, but nearly two-thirds say the government should not
interfere with a woman's access to abortion. And, while most Americans
are opposed to overturning the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade
decision legalizing abortion during the first three months of
pregnancy, many are unsure whether the decision goes too far in making
abortion legal.