Democrats are cutting their own political throats with the new health care law. We were told -- and I admittedly believed -- that once people saw what the law did -- support for it would increase. Well...the opposite is true. Now, poll after poll shows something like 60% or more of Americans want to repeal the law altogether. And that number goes above 70% for 18-29 year olds -- the Most Democratic demographic!
The reason the law is so unpopular, apparently, is largely due to its failure to create a public health insurance plan for people to choose.
Two thirds of all Americans recently polled by the Indiana University Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research wanted a Public Option included in the plan. 71% of young adults wanted it. Even 67% of self-described Republicans favored a Public Health plan.
The young adults wanted both the current law repealed and also a Public Option. Which means their opposition to the current law is dictated by their opposition to the individual mandate to purchase health insurance -- and not from a public spending perspective.
It is also likely to depress their turnout in the upcoming election, and sour them on the Democratic party.
The solution is obvious. The Democrats should push hard to add a Public Option to the new health care law before the election. Even if they fail to get it passed, they can at least say they tried and use it as a political wedge issue against the Republicans.
If they dont -- they are going to get destroyed unless the economy really picks up by November.