Pamphlets and Prisms

There are basically two ways to interpret political history. One is through folklore, the other through facts (though, yes, I suppose that a combination of the two is possible, too).................................................................................................For example, just take a look at how the various elements view in hindsight Hillary Clinton's attempt at health-care reform. Those on the far-left continue to see it as a noble attempt at reform that was largely derailed by big industry. Contrasted, those on the far-right continue to see it it as a government takeover of the private insurance industry. AND THEN THERE ARE THE FACTS. a) Big business DID NOT oppose Hillarycare. Yes, the smaller providers opposed it in that they wanted a more market-oriented approach but conglomerates such as Prudential, Cigna, Aetna, Met Life, and Travelers (all of which by that time had become HMOs) - they were all basically behind it! And, b) because they were basically behind it, it was also unfair for the demagogues on the right to denigrate it as a big government takeover. It was what it was, in other words; yet another example of big business and big government enriching each other and maybe, MAYBE, the public benefiting from it.