Vested Interest - Trends - March 1999 Issue

Patients Irked at HMO Control of Health Care

A poll of 1,008 people nationwide taken by ICR for Associated Press found that patients are upset at how insurers have taken control away from doctors. The survey found that most patients are satisfied or very satisfied with their health care, but HMO patients feel they’ve lost control of their treatment. While 48% said that their doctor still has more influence than their insurer, almost as many, 41%, said the insurer had more influence. Older Americans, most likely to have Medicare and other fee for service plans, were most satisfied with their treatment, while well-educated adults aged 35-64 were least satisfied. (AP, February 5, 1999)

From Home Room President to...

An ABC News poll of 500 high school students nationwide were asked about aspirations to the presidency. A strong majority, 62%, said they thought they could be president if they wanted to. Women were slightly more likely to think they could be president – 64% said so. But most have no interest in the job. Only 17% said they would want to be president. The survey also asked 1,008 adults if they would want their children to be president. Only 30% said they would – down from 42% a decade ago. (Reuters, February 13, 1999)

Blind to Injustice

A survey of 1,000 adults nationwide sponsored by the American Bar Association found strong disagreement with the idea that “the courts treat all ethnic and racial groups the same.” A plurality, 47%, disagreed with the statement, while 39% agreed. On a similar note, nine in ten respondents agreed that wealthy people and companies often wear down their opponents by dragging out legal proceedings, and nearly eight in ten thought it cost too much to go to court. A slight majority, 51%, agreed that the justice system “needs a complete overhaul.” But a strong majority, almost four in five, have great confidence in the jury system. (AP, February 23, 1999)

Government of the People

The Center on Policy Attitudes polled 1,200 adults nationwide and found that a majority, 54%, think the government does not pay much attention to what the people think when it decides what to do. About a third, 36%, said the government pays “some” attention, and just 7% estimated “a good deal” of attention. A strong majority, three in four, thought government was run for the benefit of “a few big interests” rather than for the “benefit of all the people”. By a two to one margin, respondents said that government officials should pay more attention to polls than to what they think is right (67% for polls, 26% for what they think is right). (The Polling Report, February 15, 1999)