We're all frustrated with the current state of the health care debate. One of the main reasons we're frustrated is that this Administration missed a golden opportunity to effectively frame the "government is good" argument. And now it's too late to build the argument...
See if you can think of a government program/legislation that was created before it was badly needed... 3,2,1... time's up.
Now see if you can think of a government program/legislation that came to be long after it was obviously needed... hmm... civil rights legislation, workers rights, womens rights, food safety, clean air/water... The list is interminable.
This basic history lesson does not inform the current debate around the big issues of the day, and it should. Climate change and health care are both great examples of issues that have not been solved through the marvels of the free market, and that's putting it lightly! But of course, the opponents of change say that government cannot be, is not the answer. Unfortunately, too many proponents of change are not pushing back in the right way.
The argument should go something like this... The private sector has had its chance to solve the problem, it has failed, now it's time for government to try to respond to the desires and wishes of the public. And if you think we can't do it... just take a look back at all of the good things that have come about when government finally got up off of its ass and decided to act!
There's no guarantee that Government will provide the perfect solution, but at least the architects of the solution are accountable to some degree. I would wager that a member of the House, Senate or the President is a lot more fearful of public perception than your average corporate CEO.
The American people have had the notion of an ineffective, even dangerous government drilled into their heads ever since the 80's. There needs to be serious push-back starting now, or the Dems will find themselves living in the same old paradigm of debate that forces them to fight on the enemy's terms. The propaganda has been so insidious that the re-education must start at the most basic level: THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT IS TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE. IT HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. ALMOST EVERY MAJOR GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE HAS HAPPENED IN RESPONSE TO OVERWHELMING DEMAND FROM THE GOVERNED!!!