Insurance providers and health care reform

I've written before about the often-times symbiotic relationship between big business and big government. The latest example of this can be seen in the brewing battle over health care reform:

Some may find it hard to believe that the U.S. health insurance industry supports making major changes to the nation's healthcare system.

The industry, after all, scuttled President Clinton's healthcare overhaul bid with ads featuring "Harry and Louise" fretting about change.

But this time, it turns out, the health insurance industry has good reason to support at least some change: It needs it.

Private health insurance faces a bleak future if the proposal they champion most vigorously -- a requirement that everyone buy medical coverage -- is not adopted.

It's a pretty big win for your company when the government mandates that people buy the product you sell.

As I commented on Ta-Nehisi Coates' blog today:

The powerful use government to their own ends. Big business has little problem with big government. Big government gives them bailouts, subsidies, and regulations that help stop other firms from competing. The established interests detest the rough and tumble of the free market where they are in perpetual danger of being dethroned.

Any true proponent of change and challenges to the status quo should embrace the free market.

Update: While the insurance companies may be on board with the Obama-backed plan, doctors are not. Interesting, corporations on the side of the government and workers on the other.