What's Health Care Got to Do with It?

I can’t seem to talk to anyone in aviation these days — on the ramp or in the air — without health care coming up. It’s killing small businesses, big businesses and everyone in between. And the stress on individuals is palpable. It’s telling that most people I speak to are more worried about losing their health insurance than their jobs. (I guess jobs in aviation have always been a little shaky.)   The health care legislation on the horizon is part of the reason for the anxiety. Change is always hard to accept. But can we afford not to change? I don’t know much about the pros and cons of the much-debated government option. I do know that what we have doesn’t work and has made health care unaffordable to too many of us and extremely expensive to the rest of us. So what do we do?   The competing ads on TV are no help. We know Big Medicine is behind the scare ads against the legislation; and we know assorted interests are in favor. I’ve been trying to focus on what economists I respect are saying. For me, Nobel laureate Paul Krugman makes the best arguments in favor of the legislation: It’s not perfect but it’s a start. And we have to start somewhere to rein in health care costs.   He — and other economists — argue that the economy will not turn around unless we contain health care costs. So I’m game for taking a chance, but I’m still on the fence on whether we should or shouldn’t support the legislation. So what do you all think? Is this an issue for all of you. And those of you outside the states, what’s your opinion?   It’s too critical to do whatever it takes to get the economy turned around — especially for aviation. Safety hinges on a stable economic climate.