In 1993, First Lady Hillary Clinton stirred up a major controversy with her ad-hoc White House meetings to develop a national health care program, which soon was doomed by closed-door gatherings considered elitist by critics. Controversy eventually destroyed her plan.
Now, 14 years later, she was the last of the major Democratic presidential hopefuls to unveil a national health care plan, with the certainty that national health care reform will be a major reality in some way in the next few years.
Under the leadership of a new president, Congress must adopt a national health care program. It's not only a moral imperative for the more than 40 million Americans who lack medical insurance, but also a practical necessity. Inadequate health care fosters sickness and disease that impose hidden costs for emergency and charity care on all Americans. A nation is judged by how it cares for the health of its citizens, just as how it protects the national security of its citizens.
Not everyone is sympathetic to plans offered by Democratic candidates and health care activists. President Bush has dismissed proposals as unnecessary. Americans, he said in yet more unforgettable Bush Speak, already have a health care system: They can go to hospital emergency rooms for help.
Despite the president, support is growing, especially in industries where health care for employees often is the fastest growing major cost of doing business.
Criticism that national health care is too costly is absurd. The $500 billion cost (thus far) of the Iraq war and special tax concessions for upper income Americans have been easy-come, easy-go.
Surely, healthier Americans are worth as much.
