The Journal

Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Jamie Ford James Morone, a political science professor at Brown University, talks about the health care situation facing the United States Oct. 18 in the University Center Sunnen Lounge. The panel discussion, moderated by Webster University journalism professor Don Corrigan, featured several medical care professionals.

"National health care will come," said James Morone, sure of the future but not giving a specific time frame for the change.

Morone, a professor of political science and urban issues at Brown University in Providence, R.I., was the keynote speaker Oct. 18 at "Resuscitating American Health Care Delivery: What are the Options?" The panel discussion was held at the University Center Sunnen Lounge and was initiated by members of the Webster Groves City Council.

The United States is one of the few major industrialized Western countries that has yet to move towards a universal health care system. Canada, Australia and most European countries have some form of universal health care. Morone's declaration of the coming of universal health care echoed the general sentiments of the six-person panel.

Former Missouri Gov. Bob Holden, a member of the panel, noted how appropriate it was to have the panel on Oct. 18 - the same day the U.S. House of Representatives failed to override a presidential veto on a bill that would expand health care coverage for children. This was also the same day an article appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that showed Missouri trailing in women's health care issues.

Webster Groves Councilwoman Jeanne Kirkton and fellow Councilman Randy Gotte helped bring the discussion to Webster. Together, the panel was able to outline several options and explore several issues related to universal health care.
A hemorrhaging system

Before going into his suggestions for creating a national health care system, Morone explained the problems with the current system.

Morone said cost was a major issue with today's health care system. Costs related to health care are continuously rising in the United States, whereas countries with universal health care have little or no increase in costs because of efficiency and preventative care.

Continued...

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