Yes, the healthcare system is politically powerful in the US, but also we have a culture war that has existed since the founding of the country such that half t

Yes, the healthcare system is politically powerful in the US, but also we have a culture war that has existed since the founding of the country such that half the country considers is highest political priority avenging slights and punishing the other half. Any sufficiently powerful minority can leverage this state of low level war to prevent any legislation that might harm them. Someone wants to prevent hog waste runoff from CAFOs? Inflame the culture war! Medical pricing is out of control? Inflame the culture war! People are being destroyed by payday lending and someone wants to address this? Inflame the culture war! Someone wants to reduce our profits by forcing us to internalize the costs of methane leaks? Inflame the culture war! There are a bunch of people itching to beat up their neighbors. Tell them that the people who want to fix something are their enemies and away they go. That is why the Land of the Free is such a shitshow.