No time to back down (Gene Lyons)

[mooseandsquirrel]

Given the nation's deepening economic crisis, some are cautioning President-elect Barack Obama to postpone comprehensive health insurance reform until things settle down.

For reasons both substantive and political, it's crucial that he ignore them. Fortunately, the incoming Obama administration gives every indication that it intends to deliver on its promises.

In practical terms, there's nothing better the new administration could do for millions of Americans living through hard times than removing the fear that losing your job means losing access to health care. New York Times reporter Robert Pear recently chronicled the hardships endured by former employees of a closed cookie factory in Ashland, Ohio.

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http://moose-and-squirrel.com/gene/gene.html

m&s

[lelgt60]

1. Absolutely agree - and it would help the economy as well

First, there's the obvious stimulus of allowing people to spend their health care dollars elsewhere. And it allows them to take some of the time spent dealing with the issue to go to more productive things, like looking for a job. And there's the government jobs that would administer the system.

Also, some of the proposed systems could lower overall health care costs, providing even more money for other things.

More importantly, though, is that this economic crisis, whatever its origins, is also a crisis of confidence. Suddenly improving people's health care would be quite beneficial in improving peoples outlook on life, and their willingness to take on new economic activity.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Healthcare costs - and access to health insurance - are a HUGE economic burden to USians. nt