The Clash famously took their name from Paul looking through the Evening Standard and noticing how often ‘Clash’ appeared in headlines. Thirty three years later and the word is still used constantly whenever an editor wants to convey conflict (another band name!) So with that another day – another debate about healthcare reform in the US. Why is this so difficult? I’m not a politician nor a great thinker but this has been building for over a generation now. The critical point being where you question what every person has a ‘right’ for versus what should be determined based on ability to pay.

I fall left of the divide and feel that education, healthcare and housing must all be inclusive and not exclusive. With the upwardly spiraling cost of healthcare coupled with more uninsured Americans needing coverage than ever before it’s abundantly clear changes must be made. The remarkable dance taking place within the US media is now suggesting it’s an all or nothing proposition – socialism – (fear tactic) versus a choice. I know it’s far more complicated than that and I realise costs will impact everyone – but is healthcare less important than Ford and General Motors? Is it less important than the Savings and Loan industry? Is it less important than fighting wars against unseen enemies and in the case of Iraq against ‘created’ threats?

I don’t know what it will take? An emergency room visit costing $15,000? 50% of Americans uninsured? People literally dying in the street? People shouldn’t have to lose their house because someone has a major illness, a serious injury shouldn’t equate to bankruptcy.  Even with insurance the costs are increasingly unfathomable. If education and healthcare aren’t the cornerstones of a noble society then what should be?

As Joe Strummer said

“It’s time to take the humanity back into the centre of the ring and follow that for a time, think on that”

Well off topic I appreciate – but frustrated as hell today. I was speaking with someone last night and reminded myself how similar things here are to 1976-1984 in the UK – bloody deja vu for me. A Clash on the horizon? I’m hoping….