by Autherine B. Smith

Created on: August 11, 2009

As the nation debates health care reform, whose voice is being heard the most: citizens, politicians, or special interests? Decidedly, it is the voice of special interests being heard the most. These special interests include, but are not limited to, the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. Will the loud voices of the special interests drown out the needs of the majority of Americans desperately hoping for health insurance reform in 2009? If media attention is the gauge, the voice of the special interests is the only conversation being heard.

The Census Bureau has released data indicating that more than 46 million Americans do not have health insurance coverage.

The special interests voices are not necessarily bad for the political process or the public interests. They are being heard the most because they have the funding to get their message out and to support politicians who are in positions to support those messages in the proposed health care bill and the four amendments. The danger is that the voice with the deepest pocket may, ultimately, have the greatest influence on health care reform. This influence may not offer the best results for hard working Americans facing cripplingly health care costs.

It is important that the loudest voice not become the dispositive voice on health care reform. Legislators must hear and respond to the voices of the disabled, child welfare advocates, and small businesses. These groups have less funding for media campaigns and political contributions. They will have to insist that members of Congress acknowledge the power of their vote and organize grassroots opposition to the loudest voices against health care reform.

Progressive groups such as ACORN and churches are organizing and chanting on the left. Conservative groups such as The Pro-Life Union and churches are organizing behind the scenes and screaming on the right. Yet, the loudest voice in the debate on health care reform is that of special interests groups, particularly the insurance and pharmaceutical industries.

Perhaps, believing in the strength of their numbers, progressive groups supporting health care reform have been quick to identify their affiliations: ActionAIDS, Citizens for Children and Youth, ACORN, and many others.

Conservative groups have been less forthright in identifying their affiliations, choosing instead to portray an illusion of a groundswell of anti-health care reform made up of the common man and woman.

President

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