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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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 OPINION 
7

Why Health Reform Will Happen—And Why It Won't

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(Newser) – With the Obama administration stepping up its push for health-care reform, Mark Halperin, in Time, lists five reasons why it will, and won't, get done. The pros:

  • The industry is "still on board."
  • "Barack Obama doesn't fail too often."
  • It's a must-win for the entire White House agenda.
  • Congressional Democrats are "remarkably united" on the issue.
  • There's enough big-name Republicans who want a deal.

The cons:

  • The job is too big to do without "genuine bipartisan support."
  • Necessary compromise will bring something "well short of universal coverage."
  • "The public is not demanding action."
  • It's just not worth it for Dems worried about reelection.
  • "Most journalists still have health insurance."

Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., the ranking Republican on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee moves copies of the health care reform bill.
Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., the ranking Republican on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee moves copies of the health care reform bill.   (AP Photo)
President Barack Obama.
President Barack Obama.   (AP Photo)
The health care reform bill and its amendments are seen at the seat of Sen. John McCain.
The health care reform bill and its amendments are seen at the seat of Sen. John McCain.   (AP Photo)
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Reader64481089
Jun 18, 09 6:26 PM CDT
"Most journalists still have health insurance." and there in is the largest problem of getting the message across to all Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
MarkFL
Jun 19, 09 7:05 AM CDT
You make it sound so simple! What you are talking about is a huge investment. However it is not so easy to get new facilities where they are needed and staff them. What is an unnecessary test? A test that comes back negative? No ability to sue? I thought we had qualified staff. And what types of lawsuits are you talking about? I assume malpractice. What happens when a doctor actually commits malpractice?
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IN RESPONSE:
radnip
Jun 26, 09 3:34 AM CDT
Or we could admit we like war better than investing in our own people. And that other RICH countries can provide healthcare for all their citizens but we are too POOR to do so. Or maybe admit the truth: We are too stingy and too disdainful of our fellow Americans to want to pay for anyone's healthcare, even that of fellow Americans. When over 50% of Americans have no health insurance or inadequate health insurance but it's still uncertain whether America has the will to implement a universal plan...it makes one wonder who's really running the country. It's not like we're poor right? Or did I miss when all the rich people moved to France...oh wait, they didn't do that. Too socialist, right? I must have missed when all the rich people moved to Palua...
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taiwokay
Jun 19, 09 1:37 AM CDT
let be optimistic it will work. Reply
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riffran
Jun 19, 09 5:33 AM CDT
The problem is way too multifaceted, for any one "bill" to fix.....the price of research, the price of actual services provided, the cost of resources, the cost of insurance for the people, insurance for the practicioners themselves, the litigation nightmare, from the genuine , to the oppurtunistic, uncompensated services, personel shortage....and on and on..just where the heck do you start on that tangled skein???? Reply
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