Culture & Health Care
As I’ve watched the American health care debate become more and more inflamed over the past couple of months, I’ve been amazed by the increasingly passionate reactions Americans have had. Clearly, the very fact that so many of us are paying attention, and almost acquiring a Masters degree in health care systems in the process, illustrates how important we believe this to be. But why has there been such intense emotion around the debate? Why is there screaming and tears at meetings? Obviously, it’s personal. Obviously, the discussion is centered on a potentially massive change. However, American culture tends to embrace change. So, an aversion to risk is probably not the reason for such intensity.
Setting aside cost issues (which are substantial, but not cited when the rhetoric gets overheated), I believe the debate is emotionally charged because our cultural values of individualism and egalitarianism are in conflict. How much individual choice must I relinquish to get a “fair” system? Will my individual rights be taken away, including my right to make foolish choices? What will the individual have to sacrifice for the well-being of the group, and will it be for the group’s benefit? It seems to me that the societies that have embraced universal health care coverage are more group- and community-focused. What do you think?
I’d like your opinion about the passion. I’d also like to share a recent, globally-focused interview with T.R. Reid on NPR’s Fresh Air (August 24, 2009). Reid is a foreign correspondent for the Washington Post and wrote The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care. He spent three years studying health care systems around the world, and while his bias is clear, his insights about British, French, German, Canadian, Japanese, Indian, Swiss and Taiwanese health care systems are fascinating.
Let me know what you think.
Charlene
