There's so much we agree on, if you look deeper

I love journalism, but I'd be the first to admit it has flaws; one of the biggest is that we in news pay disproportionate attention to disputes while ignoring areas of agreement.

On the question of reforming health care, this has led to the perception that the American public is hopelessly divided. But it's not true, according to an in-depth poll sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The February tracking poll, released Tuesday found that  majorities, regardless of party affiliation, agreed on several key provisions in the reform bills that have passed the House and Senate. They include:

--Changing  how health insurers do business, preventing them from excluding people because of pre-existing conditions or dropping them when they get sick.

--Offering tax credits to small businesses to help workers get coverage;

--Creating a health insurance marketplace, a virtual exchange that lets consumers compare prices and coverage.

--Closing the prescription coverage gap in Medicare, called the "doughnut hole."

--Expanding  high-risk insurance pools for those who cannot find coverage.

Those are all items on which we have near-consensus. It's time to build on it.

--Carol Gentry, Editor, can be reached at 727-410-3266 or by e-mail.