The Garden City Telegram
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What they're saying
Published 6/26/2009 in Commentary : Editorial
Los Angeles Times, on health care reform:
Legislation to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system hasn't emerged from congressional committees, yet it has gained enough momentum for the demonization of the reform effort to start in earnest. ...
There are three fundamental and interrelated problems with healthcare in this country: It's too expensive, the results aren't as good as in other countries, and the insurance provided by government and the private sector leaves too many people uncovered. ...
The cost, quality and coverage problems are intertwined. Healthcare providers pass along the expense of caring for the uninsured and underinsured, raising costs for those who have insurance. Insurers respond by raising prices, which leads more employers and individuals to drop coverage. The low reimbursement rates prompt physicians to move into more lucrative careers as specialists, reducing the supply of the primary-care doctors who are vital to timely, high-quality care. And the perverse financial incentives in the system deter doctors and hospitals from aligning their interests with those of their patients. After all, the healthcare industry profits more from treating ailments than from preventing them. ...
The U.S. healthcare system isn't a failure. It's extraordinarily good at some things, such as developing new treatments. But its inefficiencies and gaps have created flaws so deep, the system cannot be sustained for long. ...
The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot, on President Obama, public records and transparency:
President Barack Obama, who made a pledge to bring greater transparency to government during his administration, needs to implement that philosophy at the door to his new home.
In a disturbing echo of his predecessor's approach to public records, the Obama administration recently rejected two requests for access to White House visitor logs maintained by the Secret Service.
MSNBC had asked for a list of all visitors since Jan. 20, and the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington had requested logs of visits by coal company executives. In response to the rejection, CREW has filed a lawsuit in federal court.
Administration officials say they're reviewing the policy on visitor logs but, for now, they're adhering to the Bush-era stance that the official record of visitors is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
Transparency, as Obama has said many times, enhances public understanding of government actions and serves as a safeguard against corruption. The concept applies to the White House. It is the people's house, and the people have a right to know who's inside.
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