Paul Krugman idealizes the democratic process in Clinton, Obama, Insurance
(Feb 4, 2008). If Congress adopted policy on merit alone, we would
already have guaranteed, quality, affordable health care in this
country. And gun control too.
There’s every reason to conclude that proposals sounding like they
limit choice —by including something called a “mandate”, for example —
will trigger public concerns about government interference and
administrative competence. Indeed, even focusing on the “universal”
aspect of health care proposals makes people who already have it think
about what they would have to give up for others to get it.
We’ve recently had a brief debate about whether words matter in
campaigns. Careful consideration about the public conversation that can
create the space and public support for guaranteed health care in the
future is exactly what’s called for now.