Why is the Healthcare Debate So Nasty? by James Morone November 20, 2009

Zócalo Public Square Presents:
There are few subjects in political life that rival healthcare for provoking vicious public debate. Not even the launch of war and the bailout of Wall Street incited ferocious town halls, fierce attack ads, name-calling among elected officials, and all-around vehemence. What is it about healthcare that moves us so? Every president since Franklin Roosevelt has struggled with universal healthcare; the last major victory toward it came over 40 years ago, when Lyndon Johnson created Medicare and Medicaid. Since then, presidents’ efforts either made small advances — like George W. Bush’s expansion of retiree benefits — or suffered overwhelming defeat, as Bill Clinton did. This year, Barack Obama has been haunted by past failures and hampered by the rancor of public debate. James A. Morone, co-author of “The Heart of Power: Health and Politics in the Oval Office,” visits Zócalo to explain universal healthcare reform past and present, and why it so incenses Americans.

This event is made possible by the California HealthCare Foundation.

Zócalo Public Square is a non-profit organization that builds community by broadening access to civic discourse. Zócalo presents lectures, panels, screenings, and conferences, and publishes original reviews, interviews, and other online features to spur conversation on and action around the most important and compelling ideas of our time. All Zócalo events are presented in open, welcoming, non-partisan, and multi-ethnic spaces. Our online work strives to strike the same broad, generous and balanced tone as our live events.

Zócalo launched in 2003 in Los Angeles, the city we still call home. Since then, we have presented over 175 events featuring nearly 450 speakers. Zócalo has set up shop in two dozen Los Angeles venues, and has traveled to three other U.S. cities and two other continents.

Official Website: http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/upcoming.php?event_id=351