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RE: OBAMA AND HEALTH CARE. A reader writes in:
Ezra,Here's how he's going to finesse his rejection of a single payer plan:Obama said if he was starting from zero, he would likely support a single-payer system, similar to the government-run program in Canada. But he's leery of taking such a step because the United States already has a complex and established system of employer-based health coverage.He said that the country is already moving toward a government-based health system."The government is already covering half the people," said Obama, noting that Medicare, Medicaid and veterans health systems cover a vast number of Americans.There's some truth to this--obviously abolishing the existing private health insurance sector would be an enormous and bloody undertaking--but Obama has developed a kind of (Bill) Clintonian way of sliding by on the charisma you talked about, and not using it to actually build and lead a social democratic movement. Surely, he's been thoroughly briefed on the Wyden plan--if he doesn't at least propose that, I think it will not only be a substantive failure, but a major political one--he will dampen enthusiasm for him among progressive/netroots activists who will find Edwards more and more appealing, and he will miss a tremendous chance to contrast himself with Hillary's demonstrable failure on what is the most important domestic policy issue facing the nation.We'll see. It should always be said that Obama has plenty of time to surprise us all, to bring out a remarkable plan and present it with courage and pride. As of yet, though, his hints have not pointed in that direction.--Ezra Klein
