Can you hear me now?

I seriously doubt anyone in the congress or the white house is listening

Now that the Senate Finance Committee has passed its version of health care reform, 42% of voters nationwide favor the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s down two points from a week ago and down four from the week before.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% are opposed to the plan.

The numbers have been remarkably stable throughout the debate. With the exception of bounces following presidential television appearances, support for the plan has stayed in a very narrow range from 41% to 46%. Currently, 24% Strongly Favor the legislative effort and 42% are Strongly Opposed. 

While voters are skeptical of the plan working its way through Congress, 54% say that major changes are needed in the health care system. Sixty-one percent (61%) say it’s important for Congress to pass some reform.

What needs to be done is to get the states out of the middle of this mess so that insurance companies can all compete in all the markets. That creates a bigger risk pool and drives down costs. In my state of Maine the field of companies allowed by the State to offer health care is 3; the result is high costs and no competition. As a result Maine residents suffer.

The more the Government has involved itself in medicine and education, beginning back in the 1960's the more it costs and the more dysfunctional it has all become. Less Government regulation and oversight and increased competition is the key to a cheaper, high quality health care system.