Pigs, lipstick and health reform

The volume of articles extolling the virtues of health reform is quite negligible in proportion to the volume of corresponding pieces dispelling the myths of health reform. A recent installment of the former was an attempt to put a positive spin on the measure by invoking the familiar “put lipstick on the pig” metaphor.

One positive outcome of the bill, it was posited, is that 24 percent of Americans will benefit from this legislation. With nearly 330 million citizens, this equates to about 79 million people. Cue: “Imagine” by John Lennon. Imagine all the people … living in harmony … . Sure, 79 million will benefit, at the expense of the remaining 251 million. I was particularly affected by the fact that 11 percent of Massachusetts’ residents will be assisted by the measure. Wait! I thought the Bay State already fixed this problem back in 2006!