AT LEAST CONGRESS KNOWS BETTER -- SO FAR

But surveys have to be taken with a grain of salt. I am sure I could produce a survey that gave opposite results if I tried. And this "Institute" is plainly biased to the Left.


"Rising health care costs and shrinking coverage have prompted a significant majority of Americans to support government regulation -- or even universal health care, according to a survey released yesterday. Two-thirds of those surveyed said they supported a health care "guarantee," similar to the Canadian or British systems, according to the survey, which was issued by Results for America, a division of the Civil Society Institute, a Newtown, Mass.-based think tank.

Additionally, 78 percent of Americans advocate government regulation of health care, similar to utilities such as gas and water, the survey found. "What this survey shows is a nation in the grips of a health care crisis," said Civil Society Institute president Pam Solo. "Americans are now prepared to embrace some tough ideas.".....

The Civil Society Institute says it is a nonprofit, independent organization that attempts to focus on social issues such as health care, education and the environment. Solo, is a social activist and grassroots advocate who has focused on issues such as national health care, stem cell research and global warming.....

The survey's results, particularly on the rising cost of health care, have been echoed by other experts and research groups. The Kaiser Family Foundation just announced its findings that health care premiums rose by double digits for the fourth year in a row in 2004. "Health insurance is becoming increasingly unaffordable in our country, especially for small employers," said Kaiser president Drew Altman at a Washington, D.C., news conference last week. "We unfortunately should expect the ranks of the uninsured to continue to pick up."...."

Note: "Other experts" only seem to have echoed them on rising costs -- which is no news anyway

More here.