Congress and health insurance companies are mired in dysfunction and denial
Polls show decisive majorities of Americans favor the “public option” health care reform proposed by President Barack Obama.
If U.S. democracy were working properly, the debate would be over, and Congress would be ironing out the details.
But entrenched powers resist change fiercely, and the dysfunctional U.S. Senate dithers.
Many cling to hope that America can return to business as usual. Many deny the need for change. At stake now is not only the future of health care in America, but also the viability of democracy in America, the ability of the American economy to adjust to new worldwide realities, and the willingness of American elites to accept necessary change.
In addition to health care for all, these questions are in play:
- Who controls America, a cabal of medical interest groups? Or do the American people control America through democracy?
- Who leads America? President Barack Obama? Congress? The health insurance companies?
- Is America locked into a spiral of economic and social decline. Or is American able to change?
Health care reform doesn’t mean business as usual. Health care reform is not about protecting and increasing profits for the private health insurance industry.
Health care reform is all about three things:
- Making excellent health care available to all Americans.
- Empowering doctors, nurses and hospitals to focus on providing excellent medical care.
- Reducing the waste and inefficiencies inherent in the present private health insurance system.
Health care reform requires the will to change
– Bernie Hayden
RSS - Posts
