Within two days of each other, major mainstream media outlets reported on President Obama's proposed government-sponsored healthcare initiative.

The New York Times/CBS poll said that a majority of Americans think government sponsored healthcare is the answer.

The day before, The Wall Street Journal/NBC poll said they were leery of his proposals and worried about their costs and efficiencies.

In the New York Times/CBS report, a majority of Americans think the government can do a better job than private insurers.

Perhaps, this speaks louder about the poor job private insurers have done than in any belief the government can do it better.

What is important in this debate is how questions are phrased and what responses are wanted.

A perusal of the New York Times/CBS questions shows a clear desire by those organizations to support the notion of a single-sponsor government program.

While President Obama and legislative leaders argue the merits of government managed healthcare, many Americans are getting educated as the real reasons costs go up each year.

The Wall Street Journal/NBC poll revealed a deep worry about the costs of these programs as the economy teeters and deficits rise.

Both surveys revealed a deep unease about the healthcare system, with many respondents worried that it was broken beyond repair.

Critics point to the Medicare system and its costs as one reason not to get the government involved in managing the process.

Strangely muted during this debate are the big stakeholders, drug companies, doctors, hospitals and suppliers.  All of them appear to want to get a place at the negotiating table rather than find answers.

Playing out at the state level are the various mandates and restrictions placed on private insurers that has created a state-by-state variation in healthcare insurance offerings and prices.

Most Americans don't realize that states have imposed taxes on their insurance premiums.  These taxes, usually hidden from consumers, are going up.  New Jersey being the latest to add a "temporary" tax on insurance premiums starting July 1.

Ironically, while China moves forward with efforts to utilize Consumer Directed Healthcare offerings as a way of holding down costs, the President and Congress seem hellbent to ignore or even emasculate these programs.