Cartoon 839: Trust me

The success of a nation is the sum of its parts. Internally, nations with domestic strife, such as the health of the wider populous, are less successful. This is an axiom that has been proven over and over again. The health of the people translates into a stable and a productive society.

Then why is healthcare such a big issue in America? The answer is politics. America has great healthcare for those that can afford it. In the past business and industry provided that healthcare as part of the compensation package to employees. As the costs of healthcare has gone up, businesses and industry have backed off. The drop off has reached the point where an increasingly larger segment cannot afford good healthcare, especially as they age. As their health fails, so to does domestic tranquility. 

The first question is why the dramatic increase in healthcare costs? Contrary to what is published, it is not over use or inefficiency. The real exacerbating factor is the industry is a consortium that acts in lock step to drive up costs and increase profits. They have powerful political support to maintain this system. The only thing that can force change is government intervention. The second question is who benefits most politically under this system? The answer is Republicans. They receive large donations from the industry to keep things the way they are.

The Republicans now find themselves fighting a rear guard action. The train has left the station. Legislation was passed authorizing government intervention.

The Republicans first approach was electing a President that would back off. That failed. Next, they are using their media control to derail the new healthcare. They are trying to make it negative in the public’s mind by highlighting every foible. Finally, they are trying to link the economy lack of resurgence to the healthcare initiative. Their next best hope is absolute control of Congress with mid term elections. They can repeal or roll it back.

As a fallback strategy if these efforts fail, they are now instilling in the public mindset that they can step in and make healthcare better. They provide no details on what this means, they say “…trust me”.