Law Students

I usually do not jump into policy wonk discussions about heathcare reform. Why? Because on the broader issue of reform I do not have much to add to the conversation. However, I do KNOW that our current system is broken beyond belief and therefore, the status quo is simply not an acceptable/viable option. To see an entertaining "back of the napkin view" refer to this post. So this is a purely personal post. If you do not agree with my position regarding the status quo then this is a good place to stop reading.

One side of this debate apparently wants to do nothing, and wants to use the worst kind of demagoguery to achieve their status quo objective . They see it purely as a political fight that must be won at all costs. Sure, go ahead and use hate (which is likely to lead to violence) to achieve your political agenda. We have seen this movie before in American politics and it doesn't have a nice ending. Why not engage in a civil and constructive manner instead? In the marketplace of ideas there is lots of room.

We need to put aside this "do nothing" BS and decide to do something for the sake of our children and our grandchildren, and ultimately for our own sakes as well. Doing something is not only the morally right thing to, it is economically the right thing to do. In short, doing nothing only serves the interest of the few at the expense of the many. It is a completely unsustainable alternative.

In the Appendix of the HIPAA Survival Guide we close with the following:

It is through grace, divine mercy, and the awesome power of the almighty that a sick nation will become well again. We all have a role to play, but it will take a firm belief in something greater than ourselves to reach this objective. Future generations are relying on us to do the work and keep the faith.

In short, health care reform matters. It may be the single most important domestic political agenda item of our generation. It is simply unconscionable to remain on the sidelines and not to engage. However, whatever your religious beliefs, engaging in the conversation need not, and must not, be seen as an opportunity to engage by fanning the flames of hatred.

What purpose does that serve?