It would seem like there is some good news -- indeed, some very good news -- for those of us who support universal health care. According to the latest New York Times/CBS poll, large majorities of Americans favor universal coverage. Even more stunning, 60 percent are willing to pay higher taxes to achieve it. Er, maybe not so stunning. Before anybody gets too excited, check out the New York Times/CBS poll from late September, 1993. Large majorities backed universal coverage then, too. And how many people said they were willing to pay higher taxes for it? Sixty-two percent. (Times Select/paid archive.) In other words, public opinion about health care is almost exactly where it was in late 1993 -- right after President Clinton introduced his infamous health care plan. And we all know how that exercise turned out. This doesn't mean the new poll is meaningless. Clearly the public is growing anxious for change, in much the same way it did before the Clinton health care fight. But it's a reminder that today's reformers still have a lot of work to do if they actually want to pass legislation. Note: For a good primer on public opinion and health care, see this Ruy Teixeira memo which the Century Fund and Center for American Progress published. Or, if you can get into Health Affairs, read this article by article by Robert Blendon and John Benson. As that article notes, majorities in the 50 to 60 percent range have frequently supported universal health care, even if it means higher taxes. The hard part is converting that broad sentiment into political momentum -- and then sustaining that momentum once special interests begin attacking and the public inevitably starts to have some second thoughts. --Jonathan Cohn