Politics and Healthcare - Is it Oil and Water?

The Affordable Care Act, affectionately known as Obamacare, has been called both the most significant step forward or backward in the modern era. 

I believe that healthcare is a right for all people, and so I strongly support universal coverage. In Canada there was a vote for the greatest Canadian of the 20th century. They voted for the man who introduced universal health care, Tommy Douglas. 

But political agendas seem to continuously prevent forward motion. For example, detractors have said that the ACA will cause huge overcrowding of hospital emergency rooms. In actual fact, in Massachusetts, where (Republican!!) Governor Mitt Romney enacted universal coverage in 2006, there has only been a 2% increase in ER visits. But who ever said politics and fact checking go together.

In another disturbing turn of events, the Republicans are fighting the bipartisan nomination of Vivek Murthy MD as the next Surgeon General. Dr Murthy, with a Harvard degree and Yale MD and MBA has stated that his primary goal would be to attack the epidemic of obesity in this country.

Why is his nomination in doubt? Would you believe the NRA????

In conjunction with virtually every medical society and organization Dr Murthy, when questioned, stated that he that he advocates reasonable and mainstream forms of gun control. However that is a personal choice, since the surgeon general's office has no influence on gun control. 

Yet the NRA has launched a campaign against his nomination! I quote the New England Journal of Medicine:

"The critical question is this: Should a special-interest organization like the NRA have veto power over the appointment of the nation's top doctor? The very idea is unacceptable.

Despite the continuing American tragedy of mass shootings — Newtown, Aurora, Fort Hood, Virginia Tech — the NRA has redoubled its efforts to prevent enactment of stricter firearm regulations. Lawmakers who run afoul of the NRA face political retribution. By obstructing the President's nomination of Vivek Murthy as surgeon general, the NRA is taking its single-issue political blackmail to a new level. With the record of past surgeons general as their guide, senators should do what is right for the health of our country by confronting the NRA and voting their own conscience. Dr. Murthy is an accomplished physician, policymaker, leader, and entrepreneur. He deserves the President's continued backing and should be confirmed."