ajfortin.com

Reports on Chinese citizen reactions to the new health reform plan released for public debate are now out:

CCTV newsman Bai Yansong said in an TV interview that apart from the complaints people had about the medical system in the past, they now have to face another issue: Trying to understand the newly released reform draft. “I am personally convinced that many people won’t be able to offer any opinions for the simple fact that they are not able to make sense of it”, Bai said. “The funny thing is that it’s impenetrable after putting all the Chinese characters together,” and the first reaction to solicitation would be “not understandable.” He also pointed out four flaws of the draft:

-too much medical terminology causing trouble for ordinary people
-twisted wording along with sentences with confusing punctuation
-dry and meaningless language
-too general and hollow due to its form of expression

The Chinese government’s response is that it’s expected that “ordinary people aren’t able to make sense of it,” and they are planning to “publish a friendlier version of questions and answers concerning central issues of the new reform after collecting the most frequently asked questions.”

Much of the health care policy debate in this country as well sits on a similar sea of non-comprehension by “ordinary people.” I remember the proposed Clinton Health Security Act in the early 1990s. It was also an impenetrable tome of jargon and fragmented presentation. Maybe it comes with the territory. If it does, then the hacks and not the wonks will rule.