Physicians' voting record is poor

UPI ^ | May 16, 2007

[presidio9]

U.S. researchers said the first study of physician voter turnout suggests physicians' participation in the nation's political process is poor. Dr. Jennifer Lee and Melissa McCarthy of the Johns Hopkins Medical School designed a study to compare the voter turnout rate of physicians with other occupational groups. Data were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Lee and her colleagues found approximately 1-in-4 physicians reported not voting during the most recent presidential elections. Lawyers reported the highest voter turnout and laborers reported the least.

The researchers said physicians were no more likely to report having voted than secretaries, waiters, drivers, laborers or nurses. And physicians were significantly less likely to report voting compared with lawyers, teachers and farmers.

"Physician voter turnout rates in presidential elections are relatively unimpressive considering that physicians have much at stake personally and professionally," said Lee. "If physicians remain silent, an important voice is lost in the political process."

The study is to be presented Saturday in Chicago during the annual meeting of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. The study appears in the May supplement of the journal Academic Emergency Medicine.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Lee and her colleagues found approximately 1-in-4 physicians reported not voting during the most recent presidential elections.

That's an even lower turnout rate than the deceased in Chicago.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The only reason they would be concerned about physician turnout is that they must believe that MDs would vote Democrat.

[BlazingArizona]

That's an even lower turnout rate than the deceased in Chicago.

...but they're less likely to be all Democrats.

[Rodney King]

Why is it “poor” when people who don’t care to vote don’t vote? What is good about people who are indifferent (as viewed by their not showing up) showing up to pull a lever? What’s wrong with a system whereby those who care the most vote, and those who don’t really care don’t vote?

[presidio9]

The only reason they would be concerned about physician turnout is that they must believe that MDs would vote Democrat.

Actually, the opposite may be the case in the next few elections. Socialized medicine will crush doctors. I know several doctors who are otherwise liberal (pro-abortion, pro gun-control, etc.) who will be voting Republican this time around, because they don't want to see themselves regulated into the poor house.