Is health care the issue and who will bring change?

As we head into 2008, what will the critical election issue be? Will it be health care or more the economy, or perhaps some of both? As much as I hear about the health care issue, I remain skeptical about the US voters wanting real change. Everyone talks about the issue, but then the next comment is something about how bad the "socialist" health care system is in Canada or the UK. This tells me that the Democrats continue to do a poor job explaining the issue, while the health care powers continue to do a great job of spreading fear. As I have said many times, I've used both the US and the French system and there is no way I would ever go back to the current system in the US. Even with taxes, it's much cheaper and better in France.

Krugman asserts here that health care is the pivotal issue in 2008 and that Edwards is the only person that can bring real change. While I tend to agree that Edwards is the only leading candidate who can bring change on this issue, I would also extend that and say he just might be the only leading candidate who can tackle the bigger issue of moving the country back to the middle.
(More on the special interests after the jump.)
I wholeheartedly agree with Krugman that the special interests, whether in health care or big business in general, will not just sit down and have an easy discussion and give up power. These are groups that sink millions upon millions of dollars into the lobbying system. Look just what happened a few weeks ago when the Democratic member of the FCC cooled off on the idea of competition within the cable TV industry. Look at the complete lack of action that we have witnessed from Congress on so many issues. It's nice that we are moving the Big Auto industry into the 1980s, but is this really a great accomplishment? Is this the best our political leaders can do? Is this what they consider compromise?

In recent years, including during the Clinton administration, we moved so far to the right in favor of every business special interest, "compromise" like we have been witnessing is just one baby step after another. Big deal, we moved the auto industry a few steps, though still decades behind the auto industry around the world. Yippee. It is precisely this kind of compromise that makes America a less competitive nation. China must be shaking in their boots.

Like Krugman, I have serious doubts about Obama taking on these special interests via consultation and simple discussion. And Hillary? I love the fight that she can deliver, heaven knows we could have used a more combative attitude in the build up to Iraq, but it didn't quite work out that way, did it? We could have used a strong voice even in recent months on critical battles in Congress (issues that are important to Democrats such as privacy, rule of law, etc) but she was occupied with her presidential campaign.

The special interests dominate DC and yes, they do rule the day. How many of us believe this is actually a good thing? Our traditional political leadership seems unable or unwilling to take any action without asking these groups for a hall pass to visit the bathroom. That goes for both sides of the isle.

Nobody is saying we need to trash the system and start over, but we are kidding ourselves if we think the powerful lobbyists will help American find a middle ground. Edwards is saying that to expect the powerful groups to give up that power (that they bought and paid for!) is "fantasy" and I completely agree. Groups and people use the power that they are given. We have handed over much too much power to business across the board in recent years and it's time to start taking some back.

Pick any special interest...Big Food, Big Auto, Big Oil, Big Finance, Big Pharma, Big Health Care...and ask yourself if their agenda matches your own personal/family agenda. Is it advantageous to have factory farms that continue to churn our e. coli and salmonella breakouts? Have we seen any changes in the policies that led to the problems? How about the price of gas at the pump? Any help from the Senate there? Those banking charges that pile up every month? How are they working out? Do you really see tremendous benefits from paying higher charges? What great benefits and cost savings are you seeing from your health insurance company? Lower costs?

I am for any Democrat that can defeat the GOP next year but I also want to see a Democrat that can bring real change and not just a change of party name. I like the big three Democrats and each candidate has qualities that will be good for the country but I do wonder which of those three will be a force for change. Which will move us back to the middle and offer fairness for average Americans? Who do you think can do this and will they be up for the task? Propping up special interests is soooooo 2007.