Nikos Mourkogiannis: Purpose, Alignment, and Health Care

My Google alerts on the use of the word "purpose" increased dramatically once health-care reform captured the headlines. And in reading those alerts, I was fascinated to see how the thinking on the subject evolved.

Everyone seemed to agree that the health-care system would be shaped by the purpose that it would serve. Where the disagreement occurred was over what the purpose in fact was, with people divided by ideology. Some thought the U.S. should be true to its heritage of discovery and innovation and develop a new system of health care. There were those who spoke of extending to the entire population the excellent coverage that a lucky fraction of Americans have. Yet others saw this as an opportunity for altruism and wanted to guarantee for all the right to health care.