United Liberty

Gallup is out with a new poll with that shows a majority of Americans do not believe that government should be in the business of ensuring health care:

More Americans now say it is not the federal government’s responsibility to make sure all Americans have healthcare coverage (50%) than say it is (47%). This is a first since Gallup began tracking this question, and a significant shift from as recently as three years ago, when two-thirds said ensuring healthcare coverage was the government’s responsibility.

Gallup has asked this question each November since 2001 as part of the Gallup Poll Social Series, and most recently in its Nov. 5-8 Health and Healthcare survey. There have been some fluctuations from year to year, but this year marks the first time in the history of this trend that less than half of Americans say ensuring healthcare coverage for all is the federal government’s responsibility.

The high point for the “government responsibility” viewpoint occurred in 2006, when 69% of Americans agreed. In 2008, this percentage fell to 54%, its previous low reading. This year, in the midst of robust debate on a potentially imminent healthcare reform law, the percentage of Americans agreeing that it is the government’s responsibility to make sure everyone has health insurance has fallen even further, by seven points, to 47%. Half of Americans now say this is not the government’s responsibility.

Americans are growing skeptical of government intervention, that’s not to say they outright oppose it (though they should). It good to see that in a time when we constantly told that government should get more involved, or as George W. Bush would say, “When people hurt, government must be on the move.”

Maybe this brief dive into populism that we’ve experienced these last few years is fading and voters are re-thinking government’s role. I’m not getting my hopes up, but maybe we are seeing signs of life.