With the health care debate roiling in the Congress, and the president making his pitch in a prime-time presser, this piece by Malcolm Gladwell deserves yet another read. Money quote: "One of the great mysteries of political life in the United States is why Americans are so devoted to their health-care system." The article amply amplifies on this mystery.
Compared to Canada and the democracies of western Europe, all of which have universal health insurance sponsored by the national government, we pay (a lot) more, leave a considerable proportion of the population uninsured (and many others with such poor plans that they would almost have to be stricken with a fatal disease before their insurance would do them any good), and get poorer outcomes (as measured by such basic health statistics as life expectancy and rates of infant mortality). What is there to like?
We need something bigger and more radical than what is likely to be enacted, if anything is enacted, when this season's fight comes to an end. But at least they are talking about how to deliver health care to more Americans. Beats hell out of invading Iraq.
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