Former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber Announces Reform Movement

In an announcement to the press that ended months of speculation, the former governor announced that he would not be seeking another shot at that office. He instead announced that he would be starting a campaign to reform health care. In his announcement he said “I can make the greatest difference not by entering a campaign for governor but by launching a campaign to change the American health care system.” It was put forth that perhaps Mr. Kitzhaber had announced his potential run for governor as a way to get publicity for his health care reforms, and he doesn’t deny it. I applaud him, as the growing cost of health care is the most challenging affront to the future of the economy. Not to mention that it is grossly unfair and should be an embarrassment to any American. As the richest economy in the world, there is no way that any public official can justify our current system. Mr. Kitzhaber- “M.D.” by the way-has some very interesting views and ideas for genuine health care reform. Mr. Kitzhaber is not without qualification. He was a champion of the Oregon Health Plan when it was formed. It became a model for other States by greatly reducing the ranks of the uninsured. It provides limited benefits to a wide range of Oregonians. It has since been attacked and reduced by Republicans, still it remains the only source of health care for many.

His plans are outlined on a new website, archimedesmovement.org. The title page has a quote from Archimedes, “Give me a lever and a place to stand, and I can move the Earth.” A great place to start. It seems that with the current political leadership in Washington it could perhaps be easier to move the Earth than to get real reform. The Bush White House and the Congressional leadership seem to be more concerned with giving tax cuts to the rich than even attempting to reform health care. On the Arhcimedes website Dr. Kitzhaber states “It is time for a Revolution, not of violence but of vision, not of arms but of ideas, and an unwillingness to accept a system that has become obsessed with the delivery of health care as an economic commodity at the expense of health for the American people.” He is right, good health care is becoming more and more of a “pay to play” situation. He notes on the website that health care costs for the average American family were 10,880 a year for 2005, up from 9,950 just a year before. And that exceeds the yearly gross income of a minimum wage earner. And yet, The Republicans say we don’t need reform or a rise in the minimum wage. Dr. Kitzhaber also points to the rising costs of health care as it relates to the job market. More and more companies are cutting health care, or eliminating it altogether.

In summary, it is good to see someone with the clout and experience of John Kitzhaber taking this challenge on. I encourage everyone to find out more. Check out website, and see if you can help. Hillary Clinton has some good ideas too, and if she happens to get into the White House the Conservatives wont be able to stop her, if there is a strong grass roots movement too.