Barack Obama’s conclusion at the eventual, and extremely narrowly won, introduction of the Health Bill, he stated “Tonight, at a time when the pundits said it was no longer possible, we rose above the weight of our politics.” How significant is this as a statement?
It can be conclude that Obama is admitting that he’s virtually on a hiding to nothing as president of a country dominated by vested interests of powerful corporations where profits are all and people come as a very poor consideration, valued for their purchasing power. Their welfare has to be fought over, and to his credit Obama succeeded where even Bill Clinton had previously failed. It has come to a great cost of his popularity ratings. The Republicans may have lost office but their power did not evaporate with it.
Contrast the mighty effort needed to get minimal reform in health care with berated Cuba, a small country best by continuing sanctions imposed by earlier administrations, but upheld by Obama’s. Cuba not only affords somehow to look after its own people, but exports health care to Latin American and Caribbean neighbours, African nations and the war torn regions like Afghanistan. Here Cuban doctors are trusted, along with Medicin-sans-frontieres, most among the international aid agencies. In Cuba such support is not seen as “charity” but as “duty”. Before the earthquake Haiti only free medical care was given by Cuba. The World Health Organisation looks to Cuba to see how its done. The answer lies in prevention. If people are stopped from falling ill in the first place then care is affordable for those who do. Poor beleaguered Britain whose National Health service is a source of pride, has been fined by the European Community for failing to meet air pollution targets. The money that could have gone to help those falling ill from asthma, lung problem s, cancers resulting from the pollution goes to the EU. Who benefits from this extraordinary action?
Obama is not likely to show signs of softening attitudes to Cuba or Venezuela as his health reform zeal has made him a reputation of introducing socialism. The Capitalists won’t stand for that!
“Tonight, at a time when the pundits said it was no longer possible, we rose above the weight of our politics.”
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