It never ceases to amaze me how often some (usually) Republican politician repeats some variant of the claim that the U.S. has the best health care system in the world. It seems to me that at least two things should follow from that claim:
1. People all over the world should be clamoring to have their own countries move to a health care system like ours.
2. Health care policy should be a far bigger issue in other countries with democratically elected governments than it is in this country. After all, if it’s a huge issue here, it should be even bigger in those countries in which, according to the Republicans, they have it even worse.
Neither of these statements appear to be true.
Human beings being what they are, I’m sure citizens of every advanced country bitch and moan about the inconveniences that they experience with their health care systems, but I certainly haven’t heard about any substantial number of people holding our system up as a preferable alternative. On the other hand, plenty of people here seem to feel that the systems in other countries are superior. (See, e.g., the inestimable Paul Krugman)
Nor have I heard that Health Care policy is a critical issue in any advanced country but ours. Every other country appears to have arrived at a solution that more or less satisfies the bulk of its citizens without bankrupting the business sector. Tinkering around the edges, maybe. Demands for wholesale change; not so much.
Everyone used to like our jeans, everyone still likes our music, but no one likes our health care system. That should tell all but the most parochial something.
On a slightly different point, it looks like the Obama campaign slogan is being slightly altered. It is now: “No, we can’t”, as Rahm Emmanuel waves the white flag of surrender (before the fight even begins) on the public option. If the Democrats back down on that then our system will remain the envy of the world-in the fevered imagination of Republicans. For the rest of us it will remain the road to economic ruin.
UPDATE: Will wonders never cease? Rahm may want to surrender, but Harry Reid, of all people, is telling Baucus to stop chasing those Republican votes.
One Comment