Regina Herzlinger
Regina Herzlinger is the McPherson Chair at Harvard Business School and author of Who Killed Health Care? (McGraw Hill, 2007). She was a health care adviser to John McCain's presidential campaign.
Recently by Regina Herzlinger
Apr 13 2009, 9:29AM
Why Republicans Should Back Universal Health Care
The time for universal health insurance coverage has come. Everybody
seems to know that -- except for the Republicans, all too many of whom
cling to traditional denunciations of universal coverage as socialism.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus has been holding talks with Republican lawmakers over the past week, and all signs point to opposition from the GOP.
But for the welfare of the country and their political party, Republicans should, instead, seize the lesson of Nixon's trip to China. With one brilliant foray, Nixon converted the massive threat posed by the isolated China into an asset, secured a favorable mention in history, and stripped the Democrats of a key issue. By embracing their own brand of universal health coverage, Republicans can do the same.
But for the welfare of the country and their political party, Republicans should, instead, seize the lesson of Nixon's trip to China. With one brilliant foray, Nixon converted the massive threat posed by the isolated China into an asset, secured a favorable mention in history, and stripped the Democrats of a key issue. By embracing their own brand of universal health coverage, Republicans can do the same.
Copyright © 2009 by The Atlantic Monthly Group. All rights reserved.