>>Much as I admire FDR's legacy, that logic hits a roadblock if doing nothing is the right thing.

Known as "masterly inactivity" in the House of God. Deciding to do nothing is different from not deciding. ;-)

>>I didn't have a burning house feeling about the funding of health care.

You should. Sample question: if the economy teetered after the bankers did their thing, what is the plan for the $47T Medicare deficit? Obama didn't even get near that before the "Do the Worst Thing" brigade shouted him down. So no decision is made (unless people want to argue that their decision was to ignore it) and the Worst Thing looms closer and closer.

>>You and I have parried over the inherent corruption in the present system, where MD's made prescription decisions that are influenced by payments they get from big Pharma.

That's your prejudice that is not "proven" merely by the fact that big Pharma makes payments. There always wil be payments since manufacturers don't have access to patients but need to fund clinical trials- by caregivers and facilities who reasonably expect to be compensated either by a share in the new treatment or funding of the trial expenses or both. Of course there will be some rorts and dishonest types, but those who scream at the sight of that still will expect to reap the benefits of the clinical trials and legitimate endeavors that would be eliminated without funding.

>>It goes a lot deeper. Just about every hospital in NJ is staffed by administrators who are former political hacks.

OK, but how many $300K Michelle salaries do you need to eliminate to take care of the Medicare deficit? I cannot understand why intelligent people are so determined to do the worst thing about that.