In the aftermath of the Tom Daschle debacle this week, there was one piece of very good news for those who are appalled by the American health care situation: President Obama's signing of the S-CHIP bill extending health care to children from low-income families. The feel-good effect for politicians lasted perhaps one day, when bickering over the stalled stimulus bill inspired a righteous President to unleash his wrath, like Moses smiting the sinners.
At least the effect for the now-insured children will be lasting. I agree with the Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) that the U.S. needs a single-payer program, like other developed countries. But at least S-CHIP is a chink in the edifice of opposition to what is a sensible, cost-effective solution. There is no reason that the United States should pay way more than any other country and get sub-standard health care in return.
Now that Daschle is out of the picture, the speculation is on who might fill his shoes as Health and Human Services (HHS) nominee. John Nichols at The Nation, no fan of Daschle, reminds us that former Governor Howard Dean is a doctor, and has some considerable political attributes as well, like his organizational abilities. Nichols also mentions Congressman Jim McDermott, another doctor (psychiatrist, actually) who has a great resume that includes military and Foreign Service experience.
The main thing is getting a man or woman at HHS who can communicate the crying need for a fix to America's health care situation. Where elderly people, despite Medicare, must impoverish themselves in exchange for a modicum of care. And where countless billions are spent, needlessly, prolonging the suffering of those in the last weeks of life.
But beware of the backlash. "Harry and Louise," the media mercenaries who helped sink Hillary and Bill Clinton's attempt to fix American health care in the early '90s, are still around. So if not Tom, then Jim or Howard or whoever gets the HHS portfolio will have to deal with the big big bucks which oppose a health care insurance plan that makes sense. Because making sense for America does not translate to making money for the insurance lobby.