For well over a generation, probably dating back to the late 1960s, attitudes about government and its ability to do anything right have declined. This helps explain Republican success over the past several electoral cycles. This was due to the reaction to the expansion of the size of government during the Great Society, the Vietnam War, growing debt, among other factors. But since the private sector has been making serious mistakes recently, it's worth considering whether attitudes might shift. This poll suggest so:
Americans overwhelmingly support substantial changes to the health care system and are strongly behind one of the most contentious proposals Congress is considering, a government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurers, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.
The poll found that most Americans would be willing to pay higher taxes so everyone could have health insurance and that they said the government could do a better job of holding down health-care costs than the private sector.
Yet the survey also revealed considerable unease about the impact of heightened government involvement, on both the economy and the quality of the respondents’ own medical care. While 85 percent of respondents said the health care system needed to be fundamentally changed or completely rebuilt, 77 percent said they were very or somewhat satisfied with the quality of their own care.
This might have serious political implications if the shift is noted mostly among the young. As they age -- assuming their attitudes don't change -- support for expanded services and the higher tax levels to pay for them might be sustained for the next generation or two.
