From Zogby.

A number of interesting items in the poll, but the overall conclusion is that there is not the screaming demand for government health solutions that Democrats would have you believe, even from seniors.

--82% of all voters surveyed and 67% of seniors agree that “seniors should have the option of picking a private health plan approved by the Medicare program to provide their health benefits.”

--The complex drug benefit being debated in the Senate was described to those with drug coverage to ask if it would be better than the coverage they have now. 74% of seniors said no, and only 16% said it would be better.

--Of those seniors without drug coverage, only 42% said they would be likely to buy the new policy.

--66% are worried that “a government-provided prescription drug benefit might mean that some people could lose their private health care coverage and become more dependent on government funding.”*

--78% said “if the government gets into the business of providing a prescription drug benefit for Medicare…the government would eventually control what drugs are produced and developed.”

--54% of all of those surveyed would trust a private health plan to provide medical and drug benefits while only 34% say they would be more secure knowing the government was in charge. Seniors over age 65 were almost evenly split, with 43% picking government and 42%, private plans.

--78% said that “health plans should be able to negotiate with government to get a fair price” while 14% said “the government should decide how much to pay plans.”

--51% overall believe that choices of drugs would be limited “if the government were to provide a Medicare drug benefit;” 43% are confident their doctor would still be able to choose the right drug for them. 58% of seniors, however, believe their doctors would be in charge of choices.

--77% overall and 80% of seniors say that “seniors should have to pay something for their prescription drugs to keep the Medicare program from going broke and so the next generation of seniors does not become a greater burden on future taxpayers.” Only 18% overall and 15% of seniors said that they should be entitled to all the drugs they need, “even if it puts serious financial strains on the Medicare program.”

--If Congress must choose, 54% of voters said it’s more important to pass “a more generous prescription drug benefit for low-income seniors who don’t have any coverage now” than a plan that “provides some drug coverage for everyone, regardless of income” (42%).

--56% of seniors said it was more important to have protection from larger drug bills while 37% said it was more important to have help with “everyday expected drug costs.”

--Seniors also were asked if they would support a plan that provided $600 on a drug card for lower income seniors, with protection from large drug expenses starting at $2,000. 75% supported such a plan.

--Voters were evenly split – 44% to 44% -- over whether the federal government or private health plans “would do a better job of getting lower prices on prescription drugs for seniors.”

--49% said it is “more important for drug companies to continue to do research on new cures for the future” while 40% said it is “more important for drug companies to lower the costs of the drugs they already have developed.”

--About half (48%) of seniors are worried that they or someone in their family will have trouble getting a doctor or keeping a doctor because of Medicare payment cuts.

--51% said they would support increasing the age eligibility for Medicare to 66 or 67, while 48% disagreed. Those already over age 65 supported the change by an even wider 61-36% margin.

In addition to showing widespread skepticism about a government-controlled drug benefit, the poll also reflects some of the confusion that is prevalent on Capitol Hill, particularly regarding the impact of price controls or administered pricing on an expanded Medicare entitlement.

For example, voters were evenly split – 44% to 44% -- over whether the federal government or private health plans “would do a better job of getting lower prices on prescription drugs for seniors.” However, the survey shows that voters are concerned that if the government gets into the business of providing a prescription drug benefit for Medicare, it would eventually control what drugs are produced and developed.

So we apparently have another manufactured crisis to create another freedom-crippling entitlement and increase the dependency of the citizens on the government. But as anyone who lives in California could tell you, what the people really want is only important to leftists when it agrees with their own agenda.

What I see in this poll is support for a reasonable program that would assist only those with severe income limits and others who cannot pay reasonable costs, or are saddled with unusually high costs. A means-tested "food stamp" program for medicine, if you will.

The Democratic Party hates this idea, because it does not deliver the massive political power that a universal program (with little or no private alternatives) would.

*A real concern. Medicare has utterly destroyed the ability of seniors to find comprehensive health insurance coverage in the private sector. (footnote mine)