Survey games. (column)

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The threat of taxes scares people. Ask "President" Mondale. Therefore, whoever conceived the gimmick of claiming survey proof that citizens begged to be taxed for some worthy cause was a genius. If people positively want to be taxed, then surely they believe passionately; their zeal and their cause obviously merit our support and that of politicians.

Unfortunately, the scheme has lost steam; every group panting for some boondoggle or other claims that voters want it so badly they're willing to be taxed. Sure they are.

During this past spring's National Health Council forum on longterm care financing, it seemed as though every speaker had a poll that showed people clamoring to be taxed for one program or another catastrophic care, national health insurance, whatever.

Then we had pollster Louis Harris telling a House subcommittee that 71% of respondents were willing to subject earnings above $45,000 to the Medicare payroll tax to pay for a home-health care program (for children, disabled, elderly). Those earning above $50,000 were even more willing to be taxed than were people generally, Harris said. He called it a clear-cut consensus. House Bill 3436, by Reps. Edward R. Roybal (D-CA) and Claude Pepper (D-FL), would have raised the Medicare payroll tax in that way for that purpose, but the House defeated it. Cost of the proposal: $7 billion.

Another example of surveystretching appeared in the April 29 AAHA Provider News, published by the American Association of Homes for the Aging. It reported that:

Americans overwhelmingly support the need to develop effective housing programs to meet the needs of working and middle-class Americans, according to the National Housing Institute's "Status Report on the American Dream." The study indicates that a clear majority of citizens are willing to ...