http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17980179/
Unsurprisingly, like most Democrats and a few moderate Republicans, Obama is pushing for universal healthcare. Of course... that means nothing. Policies differ from candidate to candidate from Romney-style manditory insurance to the Clinton-Schwartzenegger idea to Euro-style socilaized medicine (which Obama is leaning toward, according to the article)...
He makes a valid point in that a concensus should be built up amongst the public before a specific policy is drawn up... but is that evidence of clever strategy and populist integrity... or of vaguery and excuses for having no ideas? We just don't know yet.
Personally I don't think too much about a healthcare system. It seems that every system, the status quo, laissez faire, socialized, and hybrid... They all have problems. I can't even determine how they rate... For all the complaint about socialized healthcare, I'm not overly impressed with the status quo and the capitalist insurance method... I think the argument really has to do with ideology... not even just regular capitalist vs. socialist/populist ideology, but a simple "Do you think healthcare is a public or private good?" To me, the answer is both, much like education. We need to experiment... but must do so in such a cautious manner as to avoid catastrophe.
Obviously we need to switch the American thought on healthcare from emphasizing symptoms to emphasizing prevention... but that's easier said than done. One things for sure: we are currently in a train that's about to wreck.
If Obama can do as he seems to claim: socialize the healthcare system AND do it without requiring higher taxes, even making it more efficient and affordable... I'm all for it- even though I have reservations about socialized healthcare. If it can be done affordably, it beats a half-socialized system that is getting more and more out of control and eating more and more of the budget...
But does he have the secret? Does he believe that once the issue is framed, we will collectively find a solution... or is he just spouting promises that cannot be kept?