Don’t Be Misled: Decrease in Uninsured Does Not Signify Improvement

The Census Bureau is reporting that for the first time since W came into office, the number of uninsured Americans has decreased. In 2006, 47 million families were uninsured. Today, that number is 45.7 million. Hurrah for the one million families who now have coverage, but what about the nearly 46 million more who don’t?

“The numbers represent a kind of scorecard on President Bush's stewardship of the economy at the kitchen-table level. However, they only go as far as the end of last year, before the current economic downturn started gathering force. Indeed, they could come to be seen as a snapshot taken at the high point of the administration's tenure.”
MSNBC Census: Number of uninsured dropped in 2007

I’m sure that the current administration would like the public to view these numbers as a sign of its success and of improving economic conditions. Ha! Only an idiot would believe that. God knows, the Bush administration has run out of time to make a difference. I’m praying our next president can and will.