04-29-2011, 04:01 AM
A telling point from my link (which mentions the Gallup poll, by the way):
The Kaiser poll, which is the latest survey to find most Americans divided on the Medicare revamp, found most respondents don't understand the terms "voucher" or "premium support" that are at the heart of the Republican's plan. The survey also suggested their opinions could be easily swayed.
For example, when the survey told those initially opposed to changing Medicare that a voucher system would help reduce the deficit and let seniors choose plans based on cost and quality, support rose from 46 percent to 54 percent. Conversely, when initial supporters of a voucher system were told changing Medicare would put private insurers in charge of their benefits and cause seniors to pay more or get fewer benefits, preference for keeping Medicare rose from 50 percent to 68 percent.
The Kaiser poll, which is the latest survey to find most Americans divided on the Medicare revamp, found most respondents don't understand the terms "voucher" or "premium support" that are at the heart of the Republican's plan. The survey also suggested their opinions could be easily swayed.
For example, when the survey told those initially opposed to changing Medicare that a voucher system would help reduce the deficit and let seniors choose plans based on cost and quality, support rose from 46 percent to 54 percent. Conversely, when initial supporters of a voucher system were told changing Medicare would put private insurers in charge of their benefits and cause seniors to pay more or get fewer benefits, preference for keeping Medicare rose from 50 percent to 68 percent.