Health Care Timeline

I just read a quote about leadership that said leaders take people where they want to go but great leaders take them where they may not want to go but ought to be (Rosalynn Carter). The first instance could be characterized as pure Democracy since in such a situation, the people completely dictate what to do. Most societies, over time, have found this to be an unreliable method to make decisions. If you look at the development of society you almost always find that democracy gives way to some other form of organization most likely because democracies often end up being unable to make tough decisions.

The United States has a representative form of Government. Now since representatives have to get reelected, they have to be responsive to the people they represent, but, for the period of their term they have a chance to take unpopular but correct decisions. However, their willingness to take risk is clearly dependent on how much time is left in their term. If you make an unpopular decision immediately before you are up for reelection you seriously put your future in danger. On the other side, if you have a significant amount of time between the decision and the election, if in fact it was the correct but unpopular decision, you have time in which you may be able to show that it was the right thing to do.

To a large extent the health care reform is subject to this time sensitivity. Realistically, there are some areas of the country where Government involvement in health care is looked at with some favor while there are some areas of the country where it is looked at as a terrible thing. Representatives from these districts have little doubt about what they should do. However, there is a significant part of the country where opinions are not so clear. It is these representatives who hold the outcome of the health reform decision in their hands.

What is most important in these districts where many Democrats won very close elections and where Republicans present a significant challenge to their reelection that it is important to get a health care bill passed this year. They have an election in November and need significant time to show that whatever is passed is the right decision even if many of their constituents don't think so now.

For those who wonder why the time pressure is so intense, this is probably the most significant reason.