Chris Widener Promises Better Health Care Through The Status Quo
U.S. Senator Patty Murray, from the state of Washington, has avoided supporting a progressive legislative agenda so far in the current session of Congress. She’s earned a net legislative score of just 17, while more progressive Democrats such as Jeff Merkley from neighboring Oregon have mustered a much higher score of 57.
Conventional political wisdom is that Senator Murray is protecting herself from Republican challenges by shying away from progressive legislation and embracing some right wing legislation. The lineup of Republicans itching to challenge Murray in the 2010 election for her Senate seat, however, indicates the opposite. There are 5 Republicans signed up to take on Murray so far. It seems that Murray’s weak progressive record has managed to alienate her own liberal base while at the same time failing to satisfy Republicans – the worst of both worlds.
Among the Republicans competing for the chance to challenge Senator Murray in the general election is Chris Widener. Widener is a motivational speaker who promotes a laissez-faire economic agenda as the centerpiece of his campaign.
Within that agenda is Widener’s idea for health care reform: “Affordable, Quality health care for all Americans through the free
market system”. Reflective readers will note that health care delivery through the free market system is what’s already in place. That free market system has failed to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans, so why should anyone believe in Widener’s idea that the free market system will somehow take care of all the problems with America’s health care system in the future?
While it’s true that Widener’s vision for health care reform through preserving the status quo doesn’t make much sense, Patty Murray has not been a strong advocate for a progressive alternative. When an incumbent like Murray doesn’t bother to take a clear stand on issues that matter, even nonsense like the babble coming out of Widener’s campaign can seem exciting by comparison.
Any politician who promotes the free market as the solution to the problems of the current health care system is essentially dismissing the problem out of ignorance or condoning the inequities that the current system promotes. Without some legislative changes, the system will continue to punish the poor and the unwell with limited access to health care. It also makes no attempt to control the the rather extreme cost increases that we currently face.