With lower average life expectancy at birth in America compared with Britain, let alone other west European countries, and an infant mortality rate in the same league as Russia, China, Mexico and Turkey, healthcare in America is in desperate need of reform. But IMO this is the most substantive and credible of the criticisms levelled at President Obama’s legislative proposals:

Zuckerman: Cost control not coverage is the key to health reform

“Why does it cost the US about $7,000 per person annually for our incomplete national healthcare system, while other major economic competitors provide universal coverage for about half that? The answer is quite simple: the federal government pays whatever the cost will be.”
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4049dac4-8d05-11de-a540-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

positive polling

Absolutely excellent speech. He didn’t pull his punches but without sounding too confrontational either.

What about the hecking twat?

Unbelievable.

On reflection, forget about the heckling twat, it was a fine, fine speech.

His approval jumped, and rightfully so. No one can really disagree with what he was saying, it was inspirational.

This sounds like one of the hardest battles of his presidency. If this passes, a couple of years from now, an all-encompassing healthcare policy will be sacrosanct in the US. So, really… this could be the key to a positive legacy. Looking back, people only really define presidents and PMs by one or two of their big moves.

News update:

“Prsident Obama warned on Saturday that nearly half of all Americans under age 65 could lose their health coverage at some point in the next decade, as he prepared to take his case for health reform on the road with a public rally in Minneapolis in the afternoon.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/health/policy/13address.html?bl&ex=1252900800&en=0736b32be37317df&ei=5087