Health Care Poll: Elderly vs. Youth

This has got to be the most impressive statistic so far in the 2009 health care offensive. According to a recently released Rasmussen Poll, which reveals a faltering support for health care reform in America, the youth of America are at odds with the elderly on the subject.

But not how you would think.

Someone once summarized for me how young people view themselves in a maxim also known as “The Three I’s”: Immortal, Indestructible, and Infertile.

So you would think that a comparison of public opinion on health care reform, younger people in polled in the recently released Rasmussen poll would be largely negative, as they are a sub population that is uniquely not really in need of health care plans, and the elderly, those over 65, would be largely for reform, mainly because they are recipients, and apparently satisfied recipients, of government run health care programs called Medicare and Medicaid, would be largely for health care reform.

Rasmussen reports that the opposite is the case:

From Rasmussen Reports:

“Sixty-seven percent (67%) of those under 30 favor the plan while 56% of those over 65 are opposed. Among senior citizens, 46% are strongly opposed.”

This jives, however, with what we are starting to see coming out of the town hall meetings. That seniors who are enrolled in the Medicare and Medicaid programs are amazingly unaware that these are government-sponsored health care programs.

Socialism.

As is Social Security.

This also jives with what I know about what young people think about health care. That it is something that will not be available to them as they get older unless something gets fixed.

I am starting, however, to doubt whether we can pull this one off, especially with the much-needed public option. Barack Obama has not been holding congress to any kind of standard. In the 60's Lyndon Johnson simply bullied his Medicare package through congress. If reform is to happen, Obama must step up and deliver more than just well-crafted speeches.

He must wield, in the language of role-playing games, a sword of power.

Otherwise, I think that the maxim that followed me through Grad School will most certainly define the day:

“Treachery and old age will always triumph over youth and skill.”