Muddying The Waters of Reform

A relative sent me an email the other day, with the disturbing news that her health insurance coverage was going up to almost $1400 per month - just for her alone. She makes minimum wage - barely - and only part-time so her company contributes nothing. That's painful mathematics.

Weird thing is, I received another email from her that included a knock on 'Obama Care'; about how she'd rather work till she dropped than have 'Obama's government' tell her which doctor to see and what treatments she could have.

Here is a woman who has nothing to lose and everything to gain by a change in our health system, but she's defending the status quo. The forces aligned against the current health reform initiative are talented at spreading uncertainty - and fear. They are expert at muddying the waters when clarity is required for all who must decide our course - and that includes us, the taxpayers and health care consumers.

It is gutting to see how effective political smear and misinformation campaigns can be, when backed by 'interested parties' and executed by those without conscience.