Source: AP/Charles Dharapak.
This feels like a day to remember. In a surprising decision, the Supreme Court managed to steer between a rock and a hardplace, giving the greenlight to Obamacare. By calling it a tax they made the Dems happy that very little was struck down, and the Republicans happy (ish) that they have something to complain about (those Big Taxing Dems). Lots of discussion about the implications for seniors will no doubt emerge, but I see this as just a step towards a necessary universal coverage system, similar to one in which every other industrialized country provides comprehensive overall coverage for a lower percentage of GDP.
A comment on the Health Care Blog (by someone called Bob Wachter) does a great job of summing it up, and highlighting why I’m happy to live in America:
The United States government, for all its exasperating foibles and silliness, retains the capacity to surprise and even delight. Five years ago, who could have guessed that we would elect a centrist African-American president with a middle name of Hussein. Three years ago, who could have guessed that our deeply divided Congress could pass ambitious (albeit imperfect) legislation that moved us toward universal insurance, promoted healthcare quality, safety, and efficiency, and banned the worst offenses of the private insurance market… all in the midst of the worst economic meltdown in a generation. And just yesterday, who could have guessed that this Supreme Court would uphold this law in a principled decision that steered clear of today’s puerile politics. The pundits and bloviators will have a field day dissecting what today’s ruling will mean in the “who’s up, who’s down” echo chamber that passes for news. For now, let us celebrate Churchill’s famous line about our national character: “Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing… after they have exhausted all other possibilities.” Today, the Supreme Court – and particularly the Chief Justice – gave life to Churchill’s words.”
Ping. That’s the sounds of just one of the 64,000 impediments to innovation in the aging space snapping off.
