In a speech to a local chamber of commerce today, Governor Pawlenty remarked that Minnesota “is overemphasizing social services and welfare at the expense of some
other key priorities, like K-12 education, like higher education, and
like transportation.” While I don’t agree with his characterization that we are “overemphasizing” spending on health care and social services, those costs are beginning to crowd out our ability to increase spending in other key areas. In fact, we just discussed this in today’s session of the emerging leaders program in which I’m participating. The state demographer gave an excellent lecture on the dramatic shifts that are changing the face of Minnesota, including a rapidly aging population. By 2020, the number of Minnesotans age 65 and older will increase 53%. And a substantial number of aging boomers will need expensive medical care, pushing up our public health care costs.
The governor was addressing a business crowd, an audience that is concerned with public investments that will boost worker productivity (like transportation and education spending). But I don’t think that’s an excuse to toss out a not-so-subtle dig at the people served by programs like MinnesotaCare. Besides, the lion’s share of rising health care costs can be attributed to the unprecedented aging of our population. What the governor should be advocating is a national solution that makes health care affordable for everyone.
National single payer is what it is called– every other industrialized country in the world has it, and for the life of me I can’t figure out why people are so resistant to the notion. It’d knock 25% of the cost of health care right off the bat, and would make US businesses that much more competitive internationally. I want the same access to health care that Joe Lieberman has– is that so wrong?