The more things change

If you follow this link, you’ll find a scan of an editorial expressing skepticism about the need for the president’s proposed health care reform, and confidence that capitalism and American ingenuity will eventually take care of any problems our health care system might have.

The editorial is from the May 2, 1949 issue of Life magazine, and the president in question is Truman.

Sixty years later, we are still having the same debate (with some minor differences, of course — the John L. Lewis United Mine Workers health fund has not to my knowledge figured significantly in the current incarnation). And we are still being told by opponents of reform that capitalism and American ingenuity will eventually solve everything. Maybe in another sixty years!

(Found this cleaning out my files — I think I set it aside during the last h.c. debate. Sorry for the illegible spots, it’s that way on the original.)