Health Care Reform: What's in a Word?

Kevin Drum looks at the profoundly depressing evidence about our healthcare system and asks a good question:

"It sort of feels like whistling into the wind to keep harping on this, but it's still hard to believe that more Democrats aren't willing to put their reputations behind a genuinely sane, comprehensive, modern national healthcare plan"

The simple answer, to me, is that the Republicans, who can't see the wisdom or benefit to their biggest supporters, big business, of a reasonable national health care plan, have won the PR war about this issue. Mention health care reform, national health care, single payer or any related idea and you are overwhelmed with a PR offensive about Hillary Clinton and her failed plan, followed by references to "Soviet style, government controlled" clinics and, for a dramatic finish, a heavy dollop of "rationing."

None of these things are supported by the facts, but why should that matter? Until Democrats learn to control the language, they've lost the debate before they even get started.