Rights, responsibilities; the health of the nation, the health of the people who live here… On all these issues and more, almost a year after the election of Barack Obama, we’re still having a hell of time taking that new direction so many voted for. Take health care: one of the biggest sticking points has been whether health care is a right or a responsibility. Barack Obama called it a right on the campaign trail; McCain said responsibility. The voters made their choice, yet we’re still having the argument.

Those  who believe that health care is a right say it’s something we actually want people to have and to use. Study after study shows that preventive care and early treatment keep people healthier and costs lower.

Private insurers say if you’re healthy, don’t file a claim; the more claims, the more cost: that’s the problem with covering sick people.

It’s kind of like our approach to voting. In other democracies, everyone who turns voting age receives a permit to vote. In the US, there are a mountain of hurdles to qualify.

Back in 1980, Republican leader Paul Weyrich of the Heritage Foundation said “I don’t want everybody to vote… our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down.” What would the health insurers’ equivalent be? Something like: “I don’t want everyone to visit doctors because our leverage goes down as health increases?

Maybe thirty years from now someone will turn up the memo.

Meanwhile, there’s some good news.  Senator Russ Feingold and Representative Keith Ellison introduced legislation in the Senate and the House that would allow same day registration for all federal elections, making it easier for everyone to participate..

Heath care only for those who are rich and healthy enough? And voting only for those who are persistent enough?  The test based approach is about as good for our health as it is for our democracy.  So bravo to Feingold and Ellison.