Massachusetts Healthfail

Thursday, June 25, 2009

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090427/himmelstein_woolhandler

Can anyone say single-payer?

A good example of how even a public-option plan can still flounder if it is gutted by conservative and business interests.

Same authors, earlier piece with some additional information: http://www.counterpunch.org/woolhandler09212007.html

There are additional articles out there about the failures of the Massachusetts system. Do you think that the data coming out of Mass. (which is more mixed than these articles admit) will aid conservatives in defeating a public-option in national health care reform. Or will it serve as an example for liberals to advocate deeper liberal structural reforms in the system?

I'll go with the former. It will come down to rhetoric and name calling. Anything with any resemblance of structural reform will be a labeled a "non-starter" by conservatives and center-right democrats. I'm admittedly jaded, I say torch the system and the parties like Atlanta.

While poll after poll show that Americans support a public health care option (which is remarkable given that many Americans confuse the watered down public option proposals with "socialized medicine") The democratic leadership, including Obama, are not offering true reform (testimony to the influence of campaign donations and lobbying).
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/54_152/news/36261-1.html Glimmer of hope that there is enough pressure on the left to achieve true reform. Also serves a sad reminder that the US does not have a true center-left party.