Health Insurance Reform is Better than the Status Quo

As an advocate for single payer health care (also known as Medicare for all), I’ve struggled as the reforms I’d supported got diluted and distorted.

Rather than rant more about that, I’ll take this opportunity to note that some reform is better than taking no action at all to repair a broken system. Right now, millions of people in the U.S need health insurance reform, and they can’t wait for the perfect bill.

As Democrats line up behind President Obama to support this effort, I applaud the skill and tenacity that got us this far even as I recall that our aim was for so much more. I have to hope that this progress will add momentum to other efforts that are underway.

It looks like President Obama is coming through for us, despite huge resistance from special interests. No matter what, this is historic, and is a sweet moment for working people, the poor, and the unemployed. Let’s savor it even as we work for future gains.