Gap in world view of Democrats, Republicans

[steven johnson]

I think the Democratic point of view has been well vindicated but the press continues to spout the right wing puppet theater script.

The polarization between the worldviews of Republicans and Democrats, and the intense negative effects they produce, reach new lows daily.

The recent health care summit moderated by President Obama was marked more by the deep and often bitter differences between Republicans and Democrats than by any desire to cooperate. Sen. Evan Bayh's decision to leave the Senate and the abysmally low ratings of Congress are further testimony to the deep differences between Republicans and Democrats. Because assumptions are the basic elements of worldviews, it behooves us to examine them and to see how they shape important issues. Furthermore, because each party takes its assumptions for granted, they are rarely examined systematically, let alone side by side.

Because it literally deals with matters of life and death, health care is a perfect illustration of the fundamental differences in worldviews.

Republicans generally assume:

-- Don't do anything that interferes with business; i.e., hands off the free-market system.

In sharp contrast, Democrats generally assume:

-- Business must be strongly regulated because it cannot be trusted to act in the public interest.

-- Health care is not a business because when one is sick, one cannot shop for alternatives. Health care is a fundamental right for all, not a privilege for those who can afford it. Even those with coverage are not treated fairly by for-profit health-insurance companies.

Gap in world view of Democrats, Republicans

[MindandSoul]

1. I totally agree with you!

Health care should be consider a "public goods" at least as the same level as "defense!"
However, until it is accepted as a right for all, and it is realized that for profit business is actually experiencing conflict of interests between, in one hand, providing services to keep people healthy or help treat people who are sick through the most expedious and the least costly means AND, in the other hand, making profits (which entails letting people get sick, so they will seek health care and pay anything that they can afford to become healthy again, providing treatments that are multiples and repeating, and prescription medications that only prolong the need for treatment rather than cure people), the health care industry will continue to lead us wherever they want us. . .and that is to a ever increasing rates of coverage.

The only way to resolve that is to make health care "public goods" and to request that providers of health care be "not for profit" business. . .or government options.
We are a long way to reach this. . .but at least if we can get rid of pre-existing conditions, dropping off people from their health care program because they get sick and treatment cost too much, and providing TRUE competition. . .we would be a step ahead. So, even if Obama's plan falls short of perfect (very short!), it is a step in the right direction, and if we do not take that step. . .it is the same as taking a step back and giving the BIG health care business a blank check!