Any observer of the legislative gridlock in Washington must sometimes think: there's got to be an easier way.
How
much ink has been spilled, how many hours spent, and how much anguish
generated in trying to get health care insurance for all Americans? And
still the fight goes on.
This week, President
Hassan Rouhani of Iran simply announced that the Iranian government will
henceforth provide health care insurance to all Iranians.
We could have done that, too.
If there weren't so much ideological and political opposition to
government providing something that almost all advanced nations do for
their citizens, we could have simply extended Medicare to all.
And then raised taxes to pay for it. That's the way to do it. It seems so simple -- until you throw politics into it.
China
did something similar in becoming a world leader in the use and
manufacture of solar energy panels, while we have to slog through smog
and ice storms trying to take baby steps in climate control, with
Republican ideologues and big money interests fighting against every one
of those baby steps.
Would I swap it? No, I wouldn't trade democracy for any other system. I just wish we had a better informed citizenry who would send representatives to Washington who also respect evidence, logic and science -- and who have a touch of empathy and kindness for those in need,
instead of cutting holes in the social safety net and selling out
future generations by refusing to fix our infrastructure, stop planetary
pollution, and enhance health, education, and welfare for all our
citizens.
Ralph
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