One of the most difficult things to do in creating an accurate poll is to ask the right questions and have the right categories for a response. This is an example of a very bad set of categories.

The responses are set at the two polar opposites, i.e., either socialized medicine, or to do nothing. There are many options in between. For instance reform could mean allowing insurance companies to sell policies across state lines hence creating more competition and lower costs. It could also mean tort reform, i.e. capping some of the ludicrous awards given in court cases that have literally driven doctors out of some fields of medicine. President Obama has ignored both of those highly significant aspects of reform.

I would support both of the reforms I mentioned, but government intrusion into the health care system is what has driven up prices to begin with. We don't need them screwing the system up anymore.

I stand corrected, the middle category could embrace the remainder, but the categories still leave me cold. Doing good polls is very difficult.

I think a simple Yes , No , Maybe poll would. have worked better

Thanks for the feedback.

@ John, I'll try to clarify options better from here on out.

@ SH: The reason why a "Yes, No, Maybe" poll isn't good on this issue is I think there's general agreement that the health care system has its flaws, but not everyone (including me) thinks a government operated plan is the best. As John commented, tort reform and other cost-cutting measures can be looked at rather than a complete government overhaul of the system.

Writing a good poll is very, very difficult particularly on an issue as complex as health care. Reform can mean anything from getting the government completely out of health care to socializing it depending on your perspective. Then there's the issue of value laden terminology. Polls that ask about increasing welfare get very negative responses while those that ask about increased aid to the needy tend to yield positive results.

Quite frankly, after giving it more thought, Nick's poll is probably about as good as you could do without going into greater detail.

At the time I posted

No: The health care system is perfectly fine 17%

Yes: We need it, but I don't support any plan on the table right now 53%

= 70%

These two show why the President is having such a problem with this.

Yes, but in fairness, what he's offering isn't a single payer system (yet) although some argue it is a huge step in that direction. There's debate if even a public option will make it through, although here again, the President is pushing very hard behind the scenes to get one.