Friday, September 18, 2009

Looks like the propaganda's not working


I've noted with some scepticism the claims by the American Medical Association and other professional medical bodies (not to mention propaganda shills for the Left) that most doctors support the health care reforms desired by the present Administration.

A recent survey of individual doctors, carried out by Investors Business Daily, tells a rather different tale.

Two of every three practicing physicians oppose the medical overhaul plan under consideration in Washington, and hundreds of thousands would think about shutting down their practices or retiring early if it were adopted, a new IBD/TIPP Poll has found.

The poll contradicts the claims of not only the White House, but also doctors' own lobby — the powerful American Medical Association — both of which suggest the medical profession is behind the proposed overhaul.

It also calls into question whether an overhaul is even doable; 72% of the doctors polled disagree with the administration's claim that the government can cover 47 million more people with better-quality care at lower cost.

The IBD/TIPP Poll was conducted by mail the past two weeks, with 1,376 practicing physicians chosen randomly throughout the country taking part. Responses are still coming in, and doctors' positions on related topics — including the impact of an overhaul on senior care, medical school applications and drug development — will be covered later in this series.




Major findings included:

• Two-thirds, or 65%, of doctors say they oppose the proposed government expansion plan. This contradicts the administration's claims that doctors are part of an "unprecedented coalition" supporting a medical overhaul.

It also differs with findings of a poll released Monday by National Public Radio that suggests a "majority of physicians want public and private insurance options," and clashes with media reports such as Tuesday's front-page story in the Los Angeles Times with the headline "Doctors Go For Obama's Reform."

Nowhere in the Times story does it say doctors as a whole back the overhaul. It says only that the AMA — the "association representing the nation's physicians" and what "many still regard as the country's premier lobbying force" — is "lobbying and advertising to win public support for President Obama's sweeping plan."

The AMA, in fact, represents approximately 18% of physicians and has been hit with a number of defections by members opposed to the AMA's support of Democrats' proposed health care overhaul.

• Four of nine doctors, or 45%, said they "would consider leaving their practice or taking an early retirement" if Congress passes the plan the Democratic majority and White House have in mind.

More than 800,000 doctors were practicing in 2006, the government says. Projecting the poll's finding onto that population, 360,000 doctors would consider quitting.


Why am I not surprised that this survey contradicts all the 'official' declarations and Left-wing propaganda?

It's the same old story. If you want to know what people really think, ask them - not self-appointed spokesmen. Didn't the 'town hall' meetings in August teach our politicians anything? In particular, if you want the truth, never ask a politician.

Q: How do you know if a politician is lying?

A: His lips are moving.

Peter

5 comments:

Old NFO said...

No surprises here either... My doctor and all in the practice are firmly against the proposals. Period, end of statement. IF anything, they want tort reform, so they can stop being defensive...

Brad J (Kazrak) said...

FiveThirtyEight on this poll

Just so you're aware - these are the same pollsters who said the youth vote was going to McCain, 74-22.

Anonymous said...

This is good. The doctors will be going Galt. Reading other blogs, at this rate of losing doctors and others, death panels will not be needed. You will forced to wait your self to death. Isn't Utopia going to be a FUN place to die in. Praise the peace and light of the o.

Diamond Mair said...

You & your readers might find this interesting, Peter :

http://www.ouramericanfreedom.com/

A friend's significant other was involved in the website/video production ....................

Semper Fi'
DM

Rachel Leigh Smith said...

My dad's one of the intensivists at Cabrini. There is not a single doctor in practice at Cabrini who supports Obama's absurd idea.

If Obamacare were passed, Cabrini, and thousands of other Catholic hospitals, would end closing their doors. Permanently.