Arne Carlson and Richard Lamm: Health-care debate is needlessly polarized

Health-care reform rises again as one of the top concerns of the American public in this presidential election -- but that does not necessarily mean there will be any progress. Consider that it has been 75 years since the first calls for change came in 1932, with the Report of the Committee on the Cost of Medical Care.

Despite growing concern about our inadequate health-care system, we are stuck with the status quo because the traditional health-care reform debate has been held hostage by ideological camps -- single payer vs. marketplace. Neither group listens or learns from the other. We must abandon these dead-end approaches and start building consensus.

Two new market research surveys in Iowa and Washington state commissioned by CodeBlueNow!, a nonpartisan, grass-roots, nonprofit health-care reform organization, uncovered some surprising findings. This research shows that the American people are not polarized on many issues relating to health-care reform. Rather, the studies show definitive common ground is shared by independents, Democrats and Republicans on some key issues, while independents shift back and forth across party lines on other issues.

Of the 17 statements tested in Iowa and Washington, only one statement showed any statistical difference between the two states. As former governors from two different states and two different parties, we are stunned at the deep congruence on these issues, given the very different demographics, economies, rural and urban populations, incomes, education levels, and voting patterns of Iowa and Washington. No pollsters or pundits would have predicted these findings.

Let us take a closer look on the key issues where these two "red and blue" states align.

There seems to be consensus that we need to find a way of covering everyone. Sixty-nine percent of Washingtonians agree with 71 percent of Iowans on this. And 51 percent and 52 percent agree there should be one basic benefit package for everyone.

Voters in both states do not want government-run health care (only 31 percent in Washington and 25 percent in Iowa believe this should be the case), but they also do not think that health care should be a completely personal responsibility like automobile insurance (only 35 percent in Washington and 41 percent in Iowa are in favor of it). To further support these findings, there is agreement that health care should be a shared responsibility of employers, individuals and the government, with 59 percent and 62 percent in agreement.

The statistical similarities in the overall findings show how deeply the American public has thought about health care. They also show that the public would not fully support the proposals of either party as they now stand.

Given this concurrence on some core values and the swings between the parties, we believe it is time and more than possible to shape a nonpartisan vision and create a Voters' Health Care Platform that the majority of Americans can and would support. This data is just the beginning of a solid foundation for reform. But it also offers hope that our opinions are not as rigid as current party platforms suggest. The truth shown here is that neither party will succeed without the other or without the independents.

There is no yellow-brick road to health-care reform. Many hard decisions lie ahead about the delivery system, coverage, cost-containment measures and more. But, if the journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step, then we have at least found that the first step will not be on a land mine.

We have the possibility of real forward movement for reform that cuts across party lines. It appears that it is the lack of political courage -- not lack of public support -- that keeps America from universal coverage.

Arne Carlson, a Republican, was governor of Minnesota from 1991 to 1999. Richard Lamm, a Democrat, was governor of Colorado from 1975 to 1984. They are honorary board members of CodeBlueNow!