USians ♥ Obamacare

True fact! Despite what the contemptible fiends currently holding the country hostage would have us believe.

Here's the truth: The American public loves Obamacare, with as many as 88% in favor, according to one survey.

How can that be, when polls regularly show a plurality of respondents with an "unfavorable" view of Obamacare? (In a September Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll, the difference was 43% unfavorable to 39% favorable.)

The answer, of course, is that most Americans have no idea what's in the law. In the Kaiser survey, 57% said they didn't have enough information to know how it would affect them. When they're asked how they feel about specific provisions, however, they're almost always thunderously in favor.

Here are figures from Kaiser's March 2013 poll:

Tax credits for small businesses to buy insurance: 88% in favor.

Closing the Medicare drug benefit doughnut hole: 81% in favor.

Extension of dependent coverage to offspring up to age 26: 76% in favor.

Expanding Medicaid: 71% in favor.

Ban on exclusions for preexisting conditions: 66% in favor.

Employer mandate: 57% in favor.

If you agree with those provisions, congratulations: You love Obamacare. Yet when respondents are asked how they feel about "Obamacare," they're against it.

The one provision that always polls negatively is the individual mandate. Unfortunately, the mandate is necessary if you're going to outlaw exclusions for preexisting conditions. Without it, you'd bankrupt every health insurer in the country, because people wouldn't enroll until they're sick.

The only possible conclusion from all this is that the law's opponents have succeeded brilliantly in marketing "Obamacare" as something it's not, and its defenders have failed miserably at communicating what it is.

Obamacare isn't perfect. It's not even close, in my estimation. But it's going to help a lot of people. And that ought to be good enough for anyone in the US government, unless and until we can get socialized care passed in this self-defeatingly resistant country. And it certainly ought to be good enough for anyone in the US government who actively opposes socialized care, because this ain't it.

Reminder: Tonight, starting at 8:30pm ET, Shakesville will be hosting a Q&A with Healthcare Coverage Guide Kate O, who will try to help answer all your questions and/or direct you to helpful resources.