Sherman Frederick/Properly Subversive
This presidential election won’t hang on the issue of health care. Not because it isn’t important, but because the system as it exists now covers a lot of people fairly well.
Sherman Frederick
Could it be improved?
Of course.
Should it be improved?
Also, of course.
But, care must be taken not to throw out the proverbial baby with the bathwater. Making America’s health care better is tricky and can’t be reduced to a sound bite for a campaign ad or a meme.
That’s why I think pundits have been far too harsh on Donald Trump’s answer during the debate when asked to explain his health-care proposal. He said:
“I have concepts of a plan. I’m not president right now. But if we come up with something, I would only change it if we come up with something better and less expensive.”
That’s vintage Trump, and I mean that in a good way.
He’s not doing the phony political thing by spitting out a memorized graph or two on the topic, saying he “doing the work” and then referring you to a 3,000-word policy statement (with footnotes) on remaking the American healthcare system. He’s just telling it like he sees it.
He’s also not doing what President Joe Biden has done this year by ballyhooing how he negotiated with Big Pharma to reduce the prices on drugs to provide relief for the beleaguered middle class.
When you dig into the Biden deal, you find the reductions are small, apply to only a very few named drugs and don’t take effect until 2026. I happen to take one of those drugs on Biden’s list and the last time I picked up the painfully expensive prescription from Walgreens, the pharmacists quipped: “The good news is this drug will be slightly cheaper some day … if we live long enough.”
Clearly, late in his first and only term, Mr. Biden postured this deal primarily for public consumption in a reelection year. Like most politicians who talk big, but do little, it fixed nothing.
The point is that specific, detailed plans slapped together for a campaign are almost meaningless. American health care has holes. Mr. Trump has “concepts” for filling them.
That’s more honest than most, it seems to me.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
— The Nevada Independent reports that EV charging stations are far and few between in Nevada. Only about 600 charging stations exist in Nevada. The only states worse off are Wyoming, Idaho and New Mexico. This despite big promises from the state’s politicos.
— CBS News did a “man on the street” style interview with customers at several Nevada restaurants asking about the upcoming presidential election. They reported finding only one Harris supporter in each restaurant, but scads of “enthusiastic” Trump supporters. Take it for what it’s worth.
Thanks for reading. You can find more columns at shermanfrederick.substack.com.
ONE MORE THING
Picture is missing??!! 🙁