Crocodilian

Healthcare 'Debate' Dominated by Shouting and Lobbies

Thank you, author, for the brave and yet rare: "citizens share the blame".

Observing the eruptions of dyspeptic ignorance that pass for "protest" (people simultaneously incensed at the prospect of "Government controlled healthcare" and cuts to their Medicare are apparently unaware of what Medicare is) can lead to despair.

People ought not to have strong opinions about subjects on which they are ignorant. Though the critics have taken up the chant "read the bill", there's no evidence that they've read it, or taken the time and trouble to understand what healthcare finance is about, and why getting more for our healthcare dollar is both possible and necessary.

An intellectually shallow citizenry makes it very difficult, indeed nearly impossible to make good policy on important issues.

Healthcare has seen this before: if one thinks back some years to longterm care, and the popular revolt which lead to senior advocates like Representative Claude Pepper being chased by angry seniors for having had the temerity to give them the guaranty of long term care that they said they wanted . . . very sad.