Analysis finds likely U.S. voters rank health care second most important issue in presidential choice

ScienceDaily (Oct. 10, 2012) ? A new analysis of 37 national opinion polls conducted by 17 survey organizations finds that health care is the second most important issue for likely voters in deciding their 2012 presidential vote. This is the highest that health care has been ranked as a presidential election issue since 1992. When likely voters were asked to choose from a list of issues, similar to the approach used in election-day exit polls, one in five (20%) named "health care and Medicare" as the most important issue in their 2012 voting choice, far behind "the economy and jobs" (cited by 51%).

"The economy dominates most voters' thinking in terms of their priorities for choosing a candidate," said Robert Blendon, professor of health policy and political analysis at Harvard School of Public Health and co-author of the analysis that appears as an online Special Report on October 10, 2012 in the New England Journal of Medicine. "But in a close election, the two candidates' stands on health care issues could help swing the balance among some voters."

Likely voters who said "health care and Medicare" will be the most important issue in deciding their presidential vote were much more supportive of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) than the public in general is. Despite two and a half years of contentious debate, the public has not changed its view: Americans' assessment of the ACA remains mixed. Although several elements of the law are popular, since the law's passage the majority of Americans (in an average of polls) has not approved of the ACA. Americans have been relatively evenly divided in their opinions. An average of current polls shows that 44% approve of the ACA, and 45% disapprove (Chart 1). However, among likely voters who said "health care/Medicare was the most important issue in their voting choice, 41% said they were much less likely to vote for a candidate who supported repealing all or part of the ACA; 14% said they were much more likely to vote for such a candidate (Chart 2).

View the charts: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/files/blendon_charts_oct12.pptx

The analysis also looked at the issue of changing Medicare in the future to a system in which the government provides seniors with a fixed sum of money they could use to purchase either private health insurance or Medicare coverage. An average of current polls of the general public shows that 27% favor such a proposed change, while a majority (66%) are opposed. Among likely voters who said "health care/Medicare" was the most important issue in their voting choice, 39% said they were much less likely to vote for a candidate who supported such a change in Medicare; 11% said they were much more likely to vote for such a candidate.

These results suggest that "health care/Medicare voters" are siding with Obama vs. Romney on the ACA and Medicare issues in the election.

Another issue that has emerged during the 2012 campaign is placing substantial new limits on the availability of abortion services. Abortion was found to be the top issue for 4% of likely voters. The general public is divided, with more people favoring restrictions on abortion. About half (52%) say that abortion should be illegal in all circumstances or legal in only a few circumstances; 44% believe abortion should be legal under any or most circumstances. However, a large majority (83%) of the public believes abortion should be legal when the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest. Among likely voters who said abortion would be the most important issue in the presidential voting choice, 61% said they were much more likely to vote for a candidate who favored placing substantial new limits on abortion services, a position similar to that held by Governor Romney; 24% said they were much less likely to vote for such a candidate.

It should be noted that many likely voters who are opposed to the ACA or favor major changes in Medicare may not rank "health care and Medicare" as the top issue in their voting choice. They may see "the economy and jobs" or "the federal deficit and taxes" as most important.

An additional factor that influences election outcomes for incumbent presidents is the public's assessment of their record -- in this case, the President's record on health care -- during their first term. President Obama's approval rating on handling health care is 41%, with 52% disapproving. In terms of perceptions of progress, the majority of Americans believe the problem of health care costs in the United States has worsened during the past 5 years (65%). Only 27% see quality of care as having improved, although about equally few (25%) think it has worsened.

"Despite the historic nature of the health care legislation that was enacted during President Obama's first term, the public remains quite mixed in their views about his performance on health care," said Blendon.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Harvard School of Public Health.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. R.J. Blendon, J.M. Benson, and A. Brul. Understanding Health Care in the 2012 Election. New England Journal of Medicine, 2012 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsr1211472

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/living_well/~3/Imy9uzwhWMw/121010172214.htm

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The Hard Romantic Choice | Psychology Today

?Good things might come to those who wait, not to those who wait too late.? Bill Withers

?Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?? Tina Turner

Humans face many choices in their lives and they take them seriously?often too seriously. Thus, there are some people who yearn to experience profound passionate love and so dismiss romantic experiences that fall short of such love. They want profound love at its best, and when they cannot get it, they would rather relinquish all other ?superficial? romantic experiences. There is no ?second best? in their romantic vocabulary; they want all or nothing. Monica is such a woman.

Monica is an attractive and wise professional married woman in her mid-forties. She is very sensitive and romantic issues are always on her mind. Her husband, a kind, loving person, cares a lot for her. She loves and cares for him as well, but it is more a kind of companionate love than passionate love. Nevertheless, she considers their marital relationship quite satisfactory and never intends to leave it. Monica has never had a one-night stand, but she experienced, while being married, a profound passionate love that was not consummated. She and her (would-be) lover talked and met a lot, but no sex was permitted. Her lover demanded ?all-or-nothing.? Despite her profound passionate love for him, she was not ready to give him everything including not sex. Monica had to abandon the whole relationship. She still yearns for this or a similar relationship, but she does not regret what she did?or in this case, what she did not do.

Deep down in her heart, Monica wishes to fulfill four seemingly incompatible wishes:

(a) Maintaining her marital framework (?which is very satisfactory?),

(b) Not losing her romantic sensitivity (?having the wonderful feeling of being romantically excited?),

(c) Feeling once again profound enduring passionate love (?feeling as if I am in heaven all the time?), and

(d) Not having superficial sex (?I cannot have superficial casual sex devoid of profound passionate love?).

Monica faces a hard choice in wanting to maintain all these wishes. If indeed Monica is right in believing that (a) and (b) will not change, as they are both deeply embedded in her heart and values, then she would probably have to choose between (c) and (d). Since both of them provide romantic flavor to one?s life (although quite a different flavor in each case), the choice would have to be made on the basis of their ability to maintain her marriage (a). Monica would certainly like to implement the wish for profound love (c), as she yearns not merely for romance, but for a qualitative romance. However, while a profoundly love affair would satisfy her romantic sensitivity, it is likely to threaten her marriage.

If Monica?s wish for profound love were fulfilled, it could destroy her own marriage. Monica knows this. She does not want to kill her marriage; on the contrary, she wants to enhance it. However, she still yearns to experience profound love, but her two wishes may be incompatible. As Oscar Wilde said: ?Each man kills the thing he loves.?

Given Monica?s wish not to lose, and even enhance her romantic sensitivity, the hard choice she faces is between profound love and superficial casual sex. This choice will eventually be determined by the value that each has concerning its romantic nature, and its prospects of causing the least harm for her marriage. The two options, profound love and superficial casual sex have different values in each aspect.

The hard choice facing Monica is common to many women in their midlife who no longer have childbearing responsibility and begin to look at their sexuality differently. They give more weight to romance, and try to find profound love without ruining their marriage. These women (and men) are more or less settled in their work and life, but are not prepared to abandon romance. They may get sex at home, but what they really yearn for is the profound love they see every day on TV. However, profound love is hard to find and the search can be very costly. In any case, these people are not typically preoccupied with sex, as casual sex does not address their yearning for profound love; rather they are seeking love and if they can find it, they may be prepared to sacrifice their marriage.

It should be noted that yearning for profound love is incompatible with casual sex. Whether the profound love is found in marriage or outside it, it is a relationship that is built on some sort of exclusivity with someone who is "the one and only". Superficial casual sex entails having many replaceable partners. The issue that bothers most married people who yearn for profound love is not so much the risk of being exposed, but rather the risk of not being able to stay in their marriage if they cherish dearly.

The difference between profound love and superficial casual sex is also expressed in the road leading to desired relationship, and in particular the degree of commitment in these relationships. In profound love commitment is significant, whereas in superficial casual sex there is hardly any commitment.

Monica believes that romantic relationships, no matter how profound they are, should involve serious commitments. Thus, even in her nonsexual relationship with her (would-be) lover, she wanted him to be in touch with her on a regular basis and did not like the fact that he ?disappeared? from time to time. She felt that lovers, even almost-lovers, should be in touch with the beloved frequently in order to satisfy their immense longing for each other. The lack of such serious commitment prevented her from expressing her intense emotions. Moreover, the presence or absence of such commitment was for her a test of her friend?s serious intentions and the fact that he would temporary disappear from her life after their close intimate talks could indicate that he would disappear after they had sex.

Monica believes that most men, if given her dilemma, would choose the more superficial experience of uncommitted sex over profound love, and the less committed road that would emerge from this choice. Nevertheless, she thinks that they pretend to feel profound love. Therefore Monica avoids any type of ?light? connections?it is either everything (that is, profound passionate love) or nothing. But she is well aware that she will never have everything, and is determined never to engage in superficial casual sex. Accordingly, and given her profound commitment to her marriage, she is condemned to have her romantic sensitivity unfulfilled (assuming that it cannot grow significantly within her marriage). Hence, she understands those who may wish to give up such sensitivity all together.

Monica?s romantic attitude is a serious one that allows no compromises. Therefore it is either profound love and serious commitment or nothing. It is interesting to note that in her nonromantic behavior, Monica is a witty, lively woman who is great fun to be with. But all this disappears from view when it comes to romantic prospects. In these circumstances Monica is a normative and serious person?perhaps too serious. She is serious in the sense that everything romantic is perceived as important rather than a playful or light-hearted. She is afraid that a more relaxed, spontaneous approach could send the wrong signals to the other person about her romantic willingness, and could tempt her to take steps that contradict her values.

Source: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-the-name-love/201210/the-hard-romantic-choice

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Conservatives Preach Diversity of Thought Without Practicing It (Atlantic Politics Channel)

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Clinton: Pakistan Shooting Shows Challenges Facing Girls (Voice Of America)

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Israel scrambles Palestinian 'right of return' with Jewish refugee talk

More than 60 years after the founding of Israel precipitated two tides of refugees in the Middle East, the Israeli government has launched a campaign to persuade the world that it?s not just Palestinians who suffered in Israel's early days.

Facing powerful forces that were reshaping the Middle East ? including rising anti-Semitism, nascent Arab nationalism, and a strengthening Zionist movement ? some 856,000 Jews from Morocco to Iran were compelled to leave their home countries. Most of them settled in Israel.

Partly because of draconian Arab laws issued after Israel declared independence in 1948, these Arab Jews left behind assets estimated at $700 million (about $6 billion today). According to one accounting, that?s roughly double the value of Palestinian assets lost.

Now, Israel is demanding that those losses be acknowledged and recompensed in some way. In doing so, the campaign touches one of Palestinians' most sensitive wounds, harbored since Israel?s founding in 1948: their right to return to lands and homes left in 1948-49, when at least 750,000 either fled or were expelled by Israel.

RELATED ? Think you know the Middle East? Take our geography quiz.

Though many Palestinians recognize at least some Arab Jews as refugees, they are concerned that Israel is trying to cancel its debt to them by putting the suffering of Arab Jews on the same international ledger.

The campaign has also met resistance from some Arab Jews in Israel, who have criticized both the logic and the motives behind it. Palestinian and Israeli critics have two main arguments: that these Jews were not refugees but eager participants in a new Zionist state, and that Israel cannot and should not attempt to settle its account with the Palestinians by deducting the lost assets of its own citizens, thereby preventing individuals on both sides from seeking compensation.

?You cannot create some kind of accounting equation in which one cancels out the other,? says Yehuda Shenhav, an Iraqi Jew and author of ?The Arab Jews." She adds, ?you cannot use the Arab Jews that arrived to Israel ? as the capital in which you deny the legitimate rights of [Palestinians].?

REFUGEE STATUS

When the United Nations presented its 1947 proposal for partitioning historic Palestine into two states, an Arab delegate warned that doing so could unleash hatred against the roughly 1 million Jews living in the Middle East ? an anti-Semitism perhaps worse, even, than seen in Nazi Germany.

?If the United Nations decides to partition Palestine, it might be responsible for the massacre of a large number of Jews,? said Heykal Pasha of Egypt.

Days later, the UN voted in favor of the 1947 partition plan, paving the way for Israel?s declaration of independence in May 1948. As Arab countries joined Palestinian fighters to protest the new state, they also cracked down on Jews in their own countries.

Iraq made it illegal to propagate Zionist ideology and froze the assets of its Jewish population ? the wealthiest in the Middle East ? and allowed them to leave only under condition that they leave behind their property and never return.

The Syrian government took property from Jewish residents to make room for Palestinians. Egypt passed a law just before the UN decision, in July 1947, requiring Egyptian companies to maintain quotas of Egyptian directors and employees that caused many Jews to lose their jobs, since most were not Egyptian citizens.

Egypt, Algeria, and Jordan all passed laws in the 1950s and early 1960s preventing Jews from holding citizenship. And Jews were the target of significant violence, particularly in Libya and Iraq, where hundreds were killed.

Zionists, eager to bolster the population of their new state, recruited fellow Jews during these tumultuous times and the Israeli government helped to orchestrate the floods of new immigrants.

TIMING

Israel originally romanticized the exodus of Jews from Arab countries; the transport of 50,000 Jews from Yemen became colloquially known as the ?magic carpet? operation, for example. Only more recently has Israel sought to emphasize the suffering endured by such refugees.

Indeed, part of what makes Israel?s campaign controversial now is the timing, which some say is politically motivated.

?You can definitely be a refugee and be fleeing persecution and then end up showing up [in Israel],? says Diana Buttu, an international human rights lawyer and former adviser to the Palestinian negotiating team, adding that that?s not the real issue. ?I think what?s driving it is: 1) they want to completely eliminate the issue of the right of return 2) ? they want to create this idea of homelands and that the only place you can flee to is your homeland.?

The implication, she says, is that Palestinians in the future could only return to the part of historic Palestine designated as a Palestinian state ? and not inside Israel proper, where many of them lived before 1948.

But Yigal Palmor, spokesman for Israel?s foreign ministry, describes the current push as the maturing of long-term political and social processes ? including the gradual willingness of Holocaust survivors to discuss their experiences and seek reparations, thereby awakening Arab Jews? desire to make similar claims, and the growing political clout of Arab Jews over the years.

He flatly denies that it?s a political ploy.

?It?s not that we?re negotiating Palestinian demands [on refugees] and someone comes up with this idea on how to neutralize Palestinian demands,? he says.

He also notes that Israel has always been highly critical that the UN created a special agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA.

According to a 2008 assessment by international economist Sydney Zabludoff, who has spent years working on Jewish reparation issues, UNRWA has spent more than triple the amount the Palestinians originally lost in 1948. To be sure, the Palestinian refugee population has expanded to some 4 million since then as Arab countries have resisted assimilating them and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process remains stalled.

SETTLING ACCOUNTS

But the most controversial aspect to Israel?s campaign is the perceived attempt to equate the suffering of Arab Jews with that of Palestinians and thus cancel out both accounts without individuals on either side receiving compensation.

"It all sort of comes out in the wash, they [Arab Jews] had a lot of property, they were pretty wealthy ? it?s far too complicated, let?s just call it a day," says Ms. Buttu, summarizing her view of what the Israelis will say in negotiations.

In Israel, a group of Iraqi Jews issued a statement recently thanking Israel for recognizing them as refugees but taking issue with the new campaign. They wrote in part, ?we will not agree with the option that compensation for our property be offset by compensation for the lost property of others (meaning, Palestinian refugees).?

Zvi Gabai, a former Israeli ambassador whose family came to Israel from Iraq in 1951 with nothing, says the answer lies in a suggestion he attributes to President Bill Clinton: establishing an international fund to compensate Palestinian refugees as well as Jewish refugees.

?I think this would be the best way to solve the question,? he says. ?To compensate both groups of refugees.?

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israel-scrambles-palestinian-return-jewish-refugee-talk-163953195.html

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Self-Improvement: Where To Start | Healthy Lifestyle Plus

Webmaster | October 1, 2012 (3 hours ago) | no comments

Self-improvement is a process, whose stimulus is usually past failure, an unwanted experience like living from one pay check to another with no extra money to spend, bad lifestyles like being overweight, lack of self-confidence or gambling, loss of a loved one, or an end to a relationship.

The result is an improvement of your life, taking control, getting your life back to normal or creating the future you want.

To put it in another way, getting the best out of yourself.

In order for someone to help themselves improve, they must first of all identify areas that need improvement in their lives, health, relationships, prosperity or whatever.

There is also need to understand who they are, their capabilities, weaknesses and uniqueness and be honest about it.

It will be useful to state these in writing and regularly refer to them so they remain focused.

Another important area to point out is for them to identify how they think they will be able to achieve their goal. So, a written action plan should then be put in place. This is achieved by self-enrichment of their mind, character and attitude. It requires effort, patience, perseverance and commitment and this change does not come easily.

Self-improvement e-books, home training programmes or life coaches are available online if one thinks they really need someone to help support them.

Self-enrichment of mind, character and attitude are done by continuously exercising your mind with positive thinking.

This is when one repeatedly tells themselves that they are just as good as anyone, can get better and can achieve anything in life. While this sounds easy, is the most difficult and yet a very important part of self-improvement. This is so because of the way we have been raised, who we are, our values and beliefs.

It is also the constant conflict with the subconscious mind that needs to be kept in check if one is going to achieve their goal of self-improvement.

Another important area is goal setting. It is necessary that you start with short term, simple, easily achievable goals, possibly in a day, before you set big goals that will take you a while to achieve. Setting huge goals that take a while to see results usually bring in procrastination. To stay motivated, it is necessary that you set simple goals first.

Setting a routine and self-discipline are the other skills required in achieving self-improvement. These can not be emphasised enough as they have a huge impact on your success. Results can only be seen when you stick to them and they help you stay motivated as well.

Identifying self-defeating behaviors like doubting your own ability to achieve, the ?I can not do this or this is for the rich? and addressing them permanently is also important. Rewarding yourself-is also important when you have achieved even the simplest of your set goals. It will help you stay motivated.

It is worth noting also that self-improvement is not an overnight thing but a process as already stated so stick with it, be faithful to yourself-and remember, it is alright to slide back a bit. As long as you realize that you are falling behind and pick yourself-up again, you will be able to achieve your goal of self-improvement.

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Article by Kay Maruta

About the Author :?Looking to improve yourself, then claim your life back and create the future you want. Go on and grab yourself-a sensational personal development audio by visiting http://www.self-help-genius.com. self-improvement is very much possible if you know where to start.

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Qatar Airways flight lands safely after emergency

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) ? A Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Lagos landed safely after declaring an emergency over a problem with its landing gear, said an emergency response official.

The Airbus A330 aircraft landed safely just after 1 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) with no injuries, said Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, the emergency management director for Lagos state.

Harold Demuren, director-general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, told The Associated Press that the flight Saturday declared an emergency prior to its arrival to Lagos. Demuren said firefighting equipment and personnel stood by for its arrival at Lagos' Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

Officials with Qatar Airways could not be immediately reached for comment.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/qatar-airways-flight-lands-safely-emergency-122801610.html

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