Americans can be dumb.
Surveys show that substantial percentages of the American public endorse pseudoscientific or at least highly questionable assertions about the world. Forty-one percent believe in ESP, 32% in ghosts, 37% haunted houses, 31% in telepathy 25% in astrology, 21% witches and 21% in communication with the dead, 26% clairvoyance/predicting the future and 9% in channeling the dead. Seventy-three percent of Americans believe in at least one of these 10.
ParanormalSince 54% believe in faith healing, they should do well with our current healthcare system with all of its flaws.
Americans' Belief in Psychic and Paranormal Phenomena Is up Over Last DecadeA 2001 Fox News/Opinion Poll showed that 17% of Americans didn't believe Elvis was dead or weren't sure
link, a North Carolina poll this year showed 46% of people didn't believe Obama was a citizen
link, and 8% of North Carolinians polled said that Hawaii was not a state.
link,
"Stupid is as stupid does."
Forrest Gump
A look at each of those points:
THE POLL: 45 percent said it's likely the government will decide when to stop care for the elderly; 50 percent said it's not likely.
THE FACTS: Nothing being debated in Washington would give the government such authority. Critics have twisted a provision in a House bill that would direct Medicare to pay for counseling sessions about end-of-life care, living wills, hospices and the like if a patient wants such consultations with a doctor. They have said, incorrectly, that the elderly would be required to have these sessions.
THE POLL: 55 percent expect the overhaul will give coverage to illegal immigrants; 34 percent don't.
THE FACTS: The proposals being negotiated do not provide coverage for illegal immigrants.
THE POLL: 54 percent said the overhaul will lead to a government takeover of health care; 39 percent disagree.
THE FACTS: Obama is not proposing a single-payer system in which the government covers everyone, like in Canada or some European countries. He says that direction is not right for the U.S. The proposals being negotiated do not go there.
THE POLL: 50 percent expect taxpayer dollars will be used to pay for abortions; 37 percent don't.
THE FACTS: The House version of legislation would allow coverage for abortion in the public plan. But the procedure would be paid for with dollars from beneficiary premiums, not from federal funds. Likewise, private plans in the new insurance exchange could opt to cover abortion, but no federal subsidies would be used to pay for the procedure.
FACT CHECK: Health Overhaul Myths Taking Root