By Denise Ross

Tom Daschle’s second book is on sale at Amazon and via the Center for American Progress, where Daschle is distinguished senior fellow and which appears to be handling publicity for the book.

The book, Critical: What We Can Do About the Health Care Crisis, is not just another analytic critique of what’s wrong with the American health care system and it’s spawn of financial woes for some, riches for others. Daschle offers a bold prescription to get us up off our collective sick bed.

There’s no “Look Inside” feature on this book at Amazon at the moment. Here’s what Publisher’s Weekly had to say:

Skeptics say we can’t afford to cover everyone; the truth is that we can’t afford not to because U.S. economic competitiveness is being impeded by the large uninsured population and fast-rising health costs. Daschle’s book delineates the weaknesses of previous attempts at national health coverage, outlines the complex economic factors and medical issues affecting coverage and sets forth plans for change.

Daschle proposes creating a Federal Health Board, similar to the Federal Reserve System, whose structure, functions and enforcement capability would be largely insulated from the politics and passion of the moment, in addition to a merging of employers’ plans, Medicaid and Medicare with an expanded FEHBP (Federal Employee Health Benefits Program) that would cover everyone.

Here’s part of what the Center for American Progress says:

After decades of failed incremental measures, the American health-care system remains fundamentally broken and requires a comprehensive fix.  With his bold and forward-looking plan, Daschle points us to the solution.

There’s plenty of other praise, too, from Bob Dole to Barack Obama.

While not enthusiastic, Dole says: “Senator Daschle is right on target on the need to start a serious dialogue on health care for Americans.”

Obama says: “Sen. Daschle brings fresh thinking to this problem, and his Federal Reserve for Health concept holds great promise …”

The Hoghouse asks, will we need a spoonful of sugar to make Daschle’s medicine go down? Or will the only people trying to prevent reform be the insurance companies and doctors and healthcare facilities that profit from the current system? Is that a fair characterization of where we’re at in this country?

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