Flashpoint in Health-Care Reform

Health care is an explosive flashpoint in U.S. politics this year more than ever. By 2013, Americans will either be headed, however slowly and fitfully, toward virtually universal access to decent health care or most of us will be struggling to use dwindling public vouchers to purchase ever more expensive private insurance. These alternate futures reflect what will happen if there is a Republican takeover of the presidency and Congress in January 2013 compared to what is likely if Barack Obama secures re-election in November 2012 or if Democrats have control of at least one chamber of Congress.