Democrats Have Opposite Plans to Fix Health Care

Soon to be Chief of Staff of the Obama White House, Rahm Emanuel, said “Rule one: never allow a crisis to go to waste. They’re opportunities to do big things.” The big thing he has in mind is comprehensive health care reform. But with the economy shrinking quickly it might not be the best time to vastly change medical care and insurance in America. See, health policy raises difficult and complex issues. It is as far-reaching and complicated as politics gets. If the government makes medical insurance reform a priority over the economy it could be too late. The economy cannot wait. Until recently, Democrats have argued that vastly expanded medical insurance coverage could be paid for mostly through better control of health care costs, creating a stimulus for Americans that boost the economy. But now they are inclined to admit that it will be expensive, but so much the better, they say, since a deficit-financed increase in spending will expand demand for medical care, increase jobs, and help the economy. But now the goals are opposite and the failure to fix long term cost control in health could be devastating. Also, the increase in jobs would happen in an area of employment where trained medical personnel are needed. But the response to more medical professionals is slow and expensive. This does would not benefit Americans. Those who put all their stock into the Obama administration, believing that they alone will fix medical care in America, are misguided. The No Insurance Club is a private sector solution to America’s failing health care system.