Very enlightening historical perspective on national shape insurance. It seems special interests dominant in our democratic society. Quite surprising that both republican & democratic presidents tried to pass national shape insurance. Special interests contribute to both parties and when the going gets close focus on those candidates who are vulnerable in order to entice their vote.

In our current lack of bi-partisian political climate, it seems very doubtful that national shape insurance has a chance of being passed.

One Nation Uninsured is brought to life in a original way by various first-hand recollections that are peppered throughout detailed, academic sketches of the foremost historical episodes that disastrous to produce national shape insurance. Instead of reading like another dry textbook, this book provides an informative, intimate, and plausible narrative of why many of the foremost players did what they did in light of their different circumstances, motivations, and temperaments. Particular attention is also paid to other vital non-shape care events, such as the Red Scare, Brown v. Board of Education, Watergate, and Iran-Contra, as they indirectly affected the political will to mobilize for and against national shape insurance, making this account all the more believable and nicely nuanced.

My only complaint is that since the book was published in 2005, 2006 Part D legislation which expanded Medicare coverage, could not be discussed, but hopefully an updated edition will be written in a few years. Overall, a surprisingly fascinating and readable primer on such a complex issue.

In One Nation, Uninsured sociologist Jill Quadagno clarifies how powerful stakeholders have blocked every bid for complete shape care coverage from the Progressive Era through the Clinton debacle. A perfectly written and compelling account of 100 years of shape policy history told with a novelist’s flair and an historian’s eye for point.