The only changes to the public position on ObamaCare now come within the margin of error.  That’s the big takeaway from the latest Rasmussen poll, which shows 55% opposed to 40% in favor of the health-care overhaul plan.  Those numbers have not changed more than three points in either direction since late November, when a momentary boost of support for the Democratic plan came and went within one polling cycle:

But pessimism continues to rise, nonetheless:

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 17% believe passage of the legislation will achieve the stated goal of reducing health care costs. Fifty-seven percent (57%) think it will lead to higher costs.

Fifty-two percent (52%) also believe passage of the legislation will lead to a decline in the quality of care.

Overall, 40% of voters nationwide favor the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. Fifty-five percent (55%) are opposed. As has been the case throughout the debate, those who feel strongly about the issue are more likely to be opposed. Just 19% of voters Strongly Favor the plan while 45% are Strongly Opposed.

The internals on the poll are interestingly contradictory.  For instance, the youngest voters favor passage 58/34, but then they also believe that passage will make health-care quality worse, 38/28, with 21% believing it will stay the same.  That’s actually the best showing among age demographics for believing ObamaCare will make health care better.  Majorities believe it will make it worse starting from age 40 up, and 49% of thirtysomethings believe the same (against 11% who think it will improve health care).  Given that the youngest voters have poor turnout records, this is not a good sign for ObamaCare supporters in Congress this year.

As far as bending the cost curve downwards, no one is buying that argument at all.  Forty-two percent of 18-29 year olds think costs will rise, while 32% believe they will fall, the only age group not to give a majority opinion of rising costs in the future.  That prompts the question: if younger voters believe that costs will rise and health-care quality will get worse, how do they wind up supporting ObamaCare by 58%?  Has anyone taught younger voters any critical-thinking skills at all?

We don’t need health-care reform.  We need educational reform.