THE PEOPLE SPEAK, AND CONGRESS IGNORES THEM - AT 9:23 A.M. ET:  Byron York, in the Washington Examiner, points out that opinion polls are clear on the public's attitude toward health-care "reform," but that Congress is showing little interest in popular will:

...the American people simply do not share Obama's sense of urgency about health care reform. In a new poll, the Gallup organization asked the following question: "If Congress is going to reform the health care system, should Congress deal with health care reform on a gradual basis over several years, or should Congress try to pass a comprehensive health care reform plan this year?" Just 38 percent of those surveyed want reform now, versus a clear majority -- 58 percent -- who want reform on a gradual basis.

When you break Gallup's results down by political party, you see that Democrats are the only ones feeling any urgency at all. Fifty-nine percent of Democrats want reform now, but 77 percent of Republicans, and 63 percent of independents, want gradual reform. When it comes to health care reform, there is no fierce urgency of now.

The plain fact is, the public's top priority lies elsewhere. "The only issue that people have a sense of fierce urgency about right now is the economy and jobs," says Republican pollster David Winston. "The president is in an uphill battle to try to move the discussion to other topics."

COMMENT:  The arrogance of the administration, and its Democratic allies, is simply breathtaking.  They think that they know what's good for the American people, and that the people themselves don't.  This stems from a sense of superiority.  "We know since we are your betters."  I call it SATitis, a disease that's caused by overly high scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test.  Very serious.  No cure in sight except practical experience.

October 23, 2009