The Field Poll has been questioning Californians since 1947, but I doubt there’s ever been such a dramatic shift as in this morning's poll: 36% of voters now favor “government-run” health care, versus only 24% who felt the same way nine months ago. Furthermore, where 52% previously supported reforms “within the framework” of the status quo (i.e. Gov. Schwarzenegger’s plan, or something like it), now only 33% do. There was also a (statistically insignificant) drop in the numbers favoring “free market competition”: from just 18% to 14%.

What happened? Gov. Schwarzenegger’s comprehensive health reform package, introduced in January, appears to have lost momentum. Only 6% though it “very likely” that significant reform will occur this year. Naturally, if you had favored the governor’s ideas and seen that they are not going anywhere, you’d move on to another idea.

But why move towards “government-run” instead of “free market competition”. Maybe Michael Moore’s SiCKO had a big effect?

And maybe it’s also the way The Field Poll (and others like it), persist in framing questions limited by the mental models of “single payer” or “shared responsibility”.  Sure, some political leaders are touting individual choice (see, e.g., President Bush, U.S. Senator Coburn, Rudy Giuliani), but when the people have fallen for the utopian fantasy of “universal health care”, delusion permeates the whole language of health policy.

Just look at the terms the Field Poll uses: “…sharing responsibilities among employers, government, and business”. The correct sentence should run: “…sharing responsibilities through reduced wages, higher taxes, or higher prices for goods and services.”

Or: “Replace current system with a new state government-run system covering all Californians”. That should read: “Replace current system with a new state government monopoly deciding what health care you get.”

Or: “Rely on free market competition to improve health insurance system”. How about this? “Rely on individual choice to improve the health care system, by giving health care dollars to Californians.”

I don’t think the polling questions are responsible for everyone who swung in favor of government dependency. Michael Moore’s got something to do with it. Nevertheless, if the people discussed health policy with the right language, more would favor individual choice in health care.