Research Proposal on "Health Reform"

Research Proposal 4 pages (1296 words) Sources: 1

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Health Reform Prospects

"Health Reform: A Bipartisan View" by Jim Cooper and Michael Castle, begins and ends with the proposition that incoming President Barack Obama can achieve the goal of providing health coverage for all Americans. The authors base their argument on the idea that Barack Obama is assembling a talented team that can at last overcome partisan objects, and deal deftly with the enormous costs of the current American healthcare system. In their opinion, the reforming of healthcare is not only a necessary accomplishment for the future well-being of the nation, but also an excellent first step in building up support for the future president's agenda. They speak of the honeymoon enjoyed by all presidents during their first six months in office, and speculate that, by espousing such a popular endeavor, Obama can succeed in extending that honeymoon, building up "political capital," (Cooper and Castle, 2009, p. 1) that can be used toward succeeding ventures. Central to Obama's impending success, state the authors, is the existence of a ready-made healthcare plan in the form of a pending bill entitled the Wyden-Bennett Healthy Americans Act. Wyden-Bennett accords to all Americans access to a health plan identical to that enjoyed by members of Congress. The bill also would continue Americans' access to private insurers, and so settle questions of doctor choice and governmental interference in individual Americans personal health choices.

Nevertheless, Cooper and Castle recognize that such questions remain major obstacles in achieving major healthcare reform. In addition to notions of government interference, they cite concerns over the financial costs of such extensive changes, especially at a time of economic crisis. Problems of cost are addressed by reference to the testimony of Peter Orszag of the Office of Management and Budget in regard to current waste in the medical sector. Orszag declares that some $700 billion can be saved simply by reining in current waste (Cooper and Castle, 2009, p. 2). Orszag is, along with Senator Daschle, one of two experts mentioned as examples of Team Obama's political acumen, and ability to cut through government red tape, and partisan bickering. Partisan bickering is indeed another of the major obstacles noted by Cooper and Castle. Recognizing the need to secure bipartisan majority support, the authors reinforce their argument with a quotation from Thomas Jefferson -- "Great initiatives cannot be passed on slender majorities" (Cooper and Castle, 2009, p. 2). Jefferson's observation also calls attention to the fact that Democrats, at the time of the article's writing, controlled only 59 seats out of 100 in the Senate -- not enough to block a Republican filibuster. Special interest groups further add to the complexities of the situation, as do concerns of government intrusion in the private lives of American men and women. Many special interest groups condemn the healthcare reform proposals as examples of "socialized medicine," an attack the authors dismiss as ridiculous in light of the recent government bailouts of private corporations (Cooper and Castle, 2009, p. 3). They urge reformers to work toward the "good," rather than simply the "best," where best takes on the idea of political compromise; compromise that will handicap true healthcare reform.

Still, the authors appeal to the momentous nature and long history of the campaign for healthcare reform. Passage of Wyden-Bennett would represent the culmination of efforts going back to the time of President Truman, and represent a fitting cap to the career of Senator Ted Kennedy (Cooper and Castle, 2009, p. 3). Cooper and Castle list a range of congressional luminaries to back up the inherent nobility of the cause, and its deep bipartisan backing. Wyden-Bennett is portrayed as the universal antidote to a limited system. Current employer-based health insurance covers only a portion of the American population. It is also extremely expense and is increasingly treated as an unneeded financial burden by companies eager to cut costs. Wyden-Bennett, in contrast, will "redistribute" existing… READ MORE

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