Making it clear: Case 6

“But, his youthful fire was all composed of sparks from the grindstone; and as the sparks flew off, went out, and never warmed anything …”
- Charles Dickens, “Our Mutual Friend.”

Since I began this series on healthcare reform, visitors to DemWit have fallen off. Numbers aren’t important to me. On a good day I’m thrilled with 30 or so visitors. Sure makes the research and the writing worthwhile.

So, why do I have my nose to the grindstone on this issue?

In a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll conducted July 24-27 (LINK), 36 percent of Americans thought healthcare reform was “a good idea.”

Now, here’s the interesting part:

“When given several details of the proposal, 56 percent said they favored the plan …”

A 20-percent jump!

All it took was a little information, a few facts!

Then, this from Gallup (LINK) yesterday:

“About as many Americans – 35 percent - say they would tell their member of Congress to vote for a new healthcare reform bill when Congress reconvenes in September as say they would tell their member to vote against such a bill – 36 percent. The rest – 29 pecent - have no opinion either way at this time.”

29 percent have no opinion either way at this time!

And, this morning, this from Gallup (LINK):

“More Americans disapprove (49 percent) than approve (43 percent) of Barack Obama’s handling of healthcare policy, hardly changed from views expressed in mid-July.”

So, do we have our president's back on this or not?

If we truly want healthcare reform in this country, we cannot afford to sit on our butts and do nothing. We have to reach that percentage of Americans who don’t seem to have a clue. Never mind that they don’t know we are working in their behalf.

In an email this morning, a dear friend asked:

“Really, BJ, what does it take to get human beings to exercise actual intelligence?”

I responded: “That, my dear, is the $64,000 question.”

Back to the grindstone.