Health reform opinions mixed

By Brittany Benjamin and Jesus Diaz

While students ferociously Youtubed President Barack Obama's off-the-record insult towards Kanye West, his bluntness may have come too late.

Amid complaints that he was not candid in his initial health care pitch, support for Obama's proposals is quickly dwindling, even within his own party.

Not that students are noticing.

An overwhelming majority of students agree that health care reform is necessary in the United States. Yet, consensus on how to achieve this reform is muddled, according to a recent survey conducted by The Santa Clara.

Over 80 percent of students believe health care reform is needed, but many question whether the President's health care plan is the preferred option--if they are familiar with his plan at all.

Approximately 35 percent of 285 surveyed students said they are not familiar with the components Obama hopes to see in final health care legislation.

"I don't think anybody fully understands it," said senior Patrick Schweiger of the President's plan.

Of the 66 percent who said they are familiar with the Obama's plan, 47 percent said they support it; 32 percent said they do not. Twenty percent had no opinion.

Under Obama's proposal, all Americans would be required by law to have health insurance. It also pushes for malpractice reform.

Additionally, in a health care reform address to Congress, Obama said government-run public health insurance provided an option for consumers, forcing private insurers to lower costs.

The package was originally estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to exceed $1 trillion, but prevailing bills in congress have been trimmed to approximately $900 billion.

The main opposition comes from beliefs that the plan would create unfair competition, driving private insurers out as government takes over the market.

Other opponents fear that Obama's proposal would increase the federal deficit.

"I'm a little skeptical," said freshman Alex Graves. "I don't think it's going to work out the way he says it will. There definitely needs to be change though."

The Senate Finance Committee rejected to add a government-run health insurance plan to major legislation on Tuesday.

In a 15 to 8 vote, the body rejected an amendment proposed by West Virginia Senator Democrat Jay Rockefeller to add a public option. A modified version of a public plan proposed by Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, was also defeated by a 13 to 10 margin.

Meanwhile, the majority of students at Santa Clara support reform, yet remain divided on the proposed plan.

"I am not very educated about the issue, but I do believe everyone should have equal health care no matter their wealth," said senior, Dria Murphy.

Junior Katie Lanier supports universal coverage. "What would be ideal is to adopt Canadian or European systems, but I don't think it would work in our society," she said. "We don't think about the future so much."

Of surveyed students, 41 percent believed the quality of the care is most essential in a future health care plan. Twenty-eight percent believed coverage for everyone is most important, while 25 percent supported an inexpensive plan over all other aspects.

"I am not too surprised that students are divided between these options," said Political Science Department Chair Janet Flammang. "I think it's a difficult issue, it's taken many forms in Congress and many students feel confused."

Much of the confusion occurred from ambiguity in the proposal's presentation, as well as other incidents where controversy outshined the proposal itself.

Most notable was the outburst from Congressman Joe Wilson, Republican from South Carolina, who shouted, "You lie!" after Obama said the health care legislation would not provide free coverage for illegal immigrants during his Congressional address.

The shock of his comments towards Kanye West's characters after the VMA awards likewise drew attention away from the specifics of his plan. As a result of all these distractions, many students have been left as bewildered as Taylor Swift.

Even Obama admits he was at fault for much of the confusion.

"I, out of an effort to give Congress the ability to do their thing and not step on their toes, probably left too much ambiguity out there, which allowed the opponents of reform to come in and to fill up the airwaves with a lot of nonsense," Obama said in a "Good Morning America" interview.

While the issue of health care has resulted in arguments of war-like proportion on a national level, students have taken a more relaxed approach.

"I haven't been following recently," said junior Adam Pecoraro. "I see good intentions of a national health care plan, but I don't think it would work well with our country."

Pecoraro believes that the uninsured should be taken care of--not through a national policy, but through private providers.

Santa Clara students' view of Obama's health care is reflective of the general American public.

According to The New York Times, 30 percent of Americans "mostly support" the plan while 23 percent "mostly oppose" it. Forty-six percent do not know enough to make a judgment.

A New York Times poll also affirms that 59 percent of Americans think the changes under consideration are confusing.

"Students should become informed and think not only of themselves but their families," Flammang said. "I think Obama has asked for a healthy debate and I hope students turn to reputable sources for information about this issue and look at the actual documents and not scare tactics."

Contact Brittany Benjamin and Jesus Diaz at (408) 554-4546 or news@thesantaclara.com.