Poll: Oklahomans doubt future of affordable health care, Social Security

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Will affordable health care and Social Security be available to Oklahomans in 20 years? <br><br>The answer remains to be seen but many who participated in a recent survey apparently

Monday, May 1st 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Will affordable health care and Social Security be available to Oklahomans in 20 years?

The answer remains to be seen but many who participated in a recent survey apparently have serious doubts.

A poll sponsored by The Oklahoman showed that most state residents feel good about their lives and think the state has a bright future.

But 51 percent did not think affordable health care will be available to everyone in 20 years.

Another 48 percent either strongly or somewhat disagreed that Social Security will be available to future retirees, compared to 44 percent who think it will be available.

Otherwise, 69 percent said the quality of life in Oklahoma will be better in 20 years.

The poll also revealed that 54 percent think the future generally looks bright, compared to only 7 percent who are pessimistic and 38 percent who are uncertain.

The survey showed that 65 percent of state residents reported being satisfied with life in Oklahoma, while 31 said they were dissatisfied.

The poll had a 5 percent margin of error and was based on a random survey of 402 people, conducted March 22-29 by University of Oklahoma pollsters.

Education and technology will drive this better life, many respondents said.

But poll coordinator Katie Kimberling said technology and education didn't prompt responses.

"In answering the question of whether or not they're satisfied, they are probably taking many variables into account: Do I have a job? Am I happy? Are my kids healthy? Am I healthy?" Kimberling said.

"The answers we get are going to be based on a quick brain scan of what's going on at that point in a person's life, but it's generally encouraging that 65 percent overall say things are good," she said.

OU economics professor Bob Reed said the optimistic flavor of the poll was partly the product of Oklahoma's historically stable economy.

He said the state's per-capita personal income has ranked between 70 percent and 80 percent of the national average for much of the second half of the 20th century.

"Not a lot has happened to impact the long-term economic development of the state," Reed said.

The poll showed the most optimistic Oklahomans were between 26 and 35 years old or older than 65.

Among the younger segment, 59 percent thought the state's economic future was sound, while 58 percent of people aged 66 to 75 believed that. Most optimistic were people over 75, with 67 percent saying they thought the state's economic outlook was bright.