By Donald
B. Ardell – August 30, 2009
President Obama should put aside health system reform
efforts for a later date. This will enable the Administration to focus on
managing an economic recovery. Upon realizing this great achievement, the
national mood might be more amenable to health system reform than it is
today. At present, the fear of adding another trillion dollars to the
bloated deficit in order to control costs and improve coverage is
a hard sell. While millions lack adequate protection from ruinous costs
of medical care and will suffer as costs continue to rise, the timeout seems
essential. The current near-Civil War of ill passions has all but
eliminated chances for passage of reforms worth the trouble. At this time, the
Administration needs a timeout, not a
counteroffensive.
If the president can in a year or so guide the economy back to health from the
brink of ruin, a grateful majority will support health system reforms. This
will surely be the case if reforms are readily understandable, seen as
affordable and, best of all, retooled to foster a healthier population.
Thus, a reform plan must contain incentives that reward citizens for assuming
more responsibility for the quality of their lives. Such reforms are
unlikely in the present climate - and economic recovery is not getting enough
of the president's attention.
A quick summary of perceptions blocking a healthy consensus
for effective reform at the present time, even among Democrats, is not hard to
enumerate. While not listed, keep in mind that the monster issue is the
economic crisis - particularly job losses, wealth losses and record federal
deficits. These factors fuel fears, stoked by Republicans, of monster tax
increases, government domination and, to hear Sarah Palin tell it,
senior heads rolling in the streets. You're
over 50 and you want your blood pressure checked? HA! To the guillotine
with this useless old codger.
So, here is the list of the key obstacles to reform.
These factors justify a strategic move of putting off health system reform for
a later time:
1. Worries that Democratic reforms will lead companies
to reduce job levels. Current costs of employee health insurance benefits
have had this effect. Even job sharing, part-time work, flexible
hourly-based employment and other innovations, some designed to create family-friendly
worksite arrangements, have become too expensive for most companies.
2. The failure of the Democrats to create and communicate a
coherent reform plan. Most initially seemed in favor of a public option if not
a full national health plan. What happened to that?
According to physician Steffie Woolhandler, an
associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of
Physicians for a National Health Program, 62 percent of U.S. bankruptcies in
2007 occurred in the wake of medical illness, and 77 percent of those in
medical bankruptcy had health insurance (usually private insurance) when they
first got sick. The only way to deal with this disastrous situation is to
eliminate insurance, 'saving' nearly $400 billion annually on insurance
and provider paperwork, enough to cover the uninsured and plug the gaps in
coverage for those with insurance. (Source: What
Happened to a Public Health Plan? The Editors, New York Times, August
10, 2009.
3. A reluctance to defend vigorously against the grotesque
tactics of the fascist Right Wing of the Republican
Party. How ironic thatLimbaugh, Palin, Beck and the like encourage
thuggery at town hall meetings blocking debate and discussion while accusing
Obama and the Democrats of acting like Nazis.
4. A failure to promote prevention and especially REAL
wellness lifestyle reforms as part of health system restructuring.
Nothing will ever work or pay off as effectively as building incentives and
supports for healthy lifestyles. During the timeout, the president should
begin to champion and advance reform ideas that will support positive outcomes
that enhance quality of life.
While health system reform is crucial, a viable economy is a
perquisite for achieving it. A plan to promote REAL wellness is also
required for effective health system reform. Mr. President - put off the
health system reform until the economy is on track and REAL wellness is
understood as a guiding principle of health system reform.
All that aside, always remember - look on the bright side of
life.
Don Ardell is the Well Infidel. He favors evidence over faith, reason over revelation and
meaning and purpose over spirituality. His enthusiasm for reason, exuberance and liberty are reflected in his
books (14), newsletter (500 editions of a weekly report) and lectures across
North America and a dozen other countries. 