It is not Pakistan. It is not the banking crisis. It is not even education.
 
It is healthcare. The future of our prosperity, the ability of America to wield power, our standing in the world, and our capacity to afford to educate our young all depend on us solving this one. Without solving it we cannot afford to tackle the other ones. I think most of America is clueless on how bad the healthcare mess is.
 
I am going to spend some of my reading time to getting smart on on it. I suggest you do too.
 
Here is why:

Look at the yellow and red. THEY are the issue. The purple (or interest) is just an echo of their impacts. Any budget forecast looks the same for one reason: healthcare burdens are looming and overwhelming.
 
Social security can be solved (raise retirement; tax benefits on the wealthy). Healthcare has no easy answers. It it strangling our public and private sector. Yet, any suggestion of reform gets all of America in a panic. I am here to tell you: change is coming. Or, we are doomed.
 
The situation looks the same for businesses. Their costs are either ballooning or they are passing them on to employees, lowering real income.
 
The debate is about to heat up. All of us need to get more educated on this issue.
 
Here are some of the things I want to figure out:
 
1. Why do we spend 2 times more than Europe per capita but live slightly less?
2. What value do insurance companies add to the equation?
3. How does the legal system contribute to the costs?
4. How do we deal with the ethical issues around treating very old members of society (e.g. heart surgery for a frail 90 year old)?
5. Where are we overspending or over treating (ie where can we save)?
6. How do we create incentives to ensure preventative care?
7. Is the system of creating supply for doctors flawed?
8. How do we trade universal healthcare needs with incentives for invention?
9. Do we know how well our treatments work? Is the default to act misinformed?
 
Know any good books or articles on the subject? Would love suggestions.
 
I don't have any firm answers. I am open to any proposal, Republican or Democrat. But, doing nothing is not an option. We have to all open our minds to the right set of adjustments. Will let you know what I learn.