Finding Need; Creating Need

Sometimes politicians pass laws in response to public demand for change, but sometimes political rhetoric creates a a demand, or at least a greater demand than previously existed. Thus, Dan Walters of the Sacramento Bee writes regarding how Californians perceive their health care system:

The new Field Poll, released last week as the state budget stalemate ended and the Capitol turned to other issues, found that satisfaction with health care has plummeted from 51 percent of registered voters last December, just before Schwarzenegger launched his crusade, to just 28 percent this month, while dissatisfaction has leaped from 44 percent to 69 percent.