Polls have a weakness in that people often say what they think the pollsters want to hear. Or people say what they believe “enlighten” people are supposed to say – even if it doesn’t reflect their own beliefs.

Moreover, surveys are often worded in such a way to elicit a desired response because the sponsors want to influence public policy. What is often absent in the surveys on health reform is a discussion of the costs. For instance, people aren’t asked if they support universal coverage even if it means losing the coverage they currently have and paying much higher taxes.