…yesterday I re-read what I wrote on this subject last summer, and it stands as my basic view on the subject. The only thing that's changed is that the CBO has evaluated the current plan more approvingly than whatever was under consideration in August. And from what I've read this approval depends on a lot of finagling to the timing to keep some costs out of the CBO's picture, excessively rosy assumptions, and promises made by Congress which it is very unlikely to keep.
I did finally read David Goldhill's piece in The Atlantic. It's very good, and I think points in the direction we ought to be going. It's not a cure-all, but that's part of a reasonable approach: there is no cure-all, nothing that will give everybody perfect health care at a cost to no one.
I could almost prefer the more leftward "single-payer" solution to what just passed. Those who wish to see the insurance companies suffer for their sins will be disappointed; it appears that the industry will be well provided for, as the fundamental irrationality of third-party payment for everything is preserved. I predict that this bill will greatly empower all sorts of parasitic entities that have nothing much to do with actually delivering health care.
But, you know, it's…change. I see the president is quoted in the paper this morning saying "This is what change looks like." You just want to say "Dude. Change can look like almost anything, many of them far from attractive."
Light On Dark Water 
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