Regulated Industry - yes, if it's done right
The idea that government can't run an efficient program has become so pervasive that it's now a common belief among the American public. Unfortunately, it ignores the fact that not all government programs are inefficient, nor does it really look at what causes problems in the first place.
There are things that the government is very good at doing, and some things they are terrible at managing. If you get right down to the bottom line, government should lead and insure that the privte industry does what is right for the country and it's citizens.
We commonly believe that our health care system is the best in the world, and when the argument comes up concerning universal coverage we point to problems with the system in Canada or Great Britain. Yet, you hear little about Germany's system. I mention Germany's system as it provides universal health care through several hundred private insurance companies, and insures that everyone is covered; everyone. It's a system that the government governing, and it works exceptionally well.
We are the only industrialized nation that doesn't provide universal healht care, and if you don't have coverage through an insurance company or public, quasi-public or private employer you can expect to go bankrupt.
You can bet your ass that the insurance companies influence in the legislation is intense. This is just too important to them financially to just let our representatives and government administrators develop the details, and you can bet insurance company and health care industry lawyers are involved in the process. It's called an iron triangle and the only way to stop the process is for a massive outcry.
We should remember that our government is a government for the people and take it back from corporate interests. If any of you recall the initiative in the early 1980's to ban superbikes - Senator John Danforth of Missouri was the leading legislator acting on behalf of insurance company interests at the time, know this. Once that became known, the man couldn't have a public discourse without facing the issue from angry motorcyclists and bikers. Being a reasonable man, he considered what his constiuents were saying and dropped his support for this nefarious plan, and began working with various biking affiliated groups.
This current legislation affects a lot more than motorcyclists. It could be interpreted to children riding bicycles, swimming or playing anything that has the slightest bit of risk. Don't just focus on those who ride, gateer allies from across your neighborhood and let this become an issue that will make congressmen and women from across the country face the wrath of the people.
