I got to go on a vacation in the United Kingdom a week ago. While reading long-term care (LTC) stories there, and while reading presidential primary and White House Conference on Aging briefing papers here, I came to this conclusion: One of the root causes of chronic political conflict is lack of empathy.
Members of pro-business and pro-discipline groups don't always seem to have much empathy for regular people facing big medical bills and a need for LTC services.
Consumers, and policymakers, have a lack of empathy for what private and public insurers are up against when demand for benefits is high and cash is tight.
My daughter's school tries to teach first-graders there a little about how the world really works by having them run a school postal service. All students and teachers can buy stamps (for a penny) and send letters.
The first-graders draw the stamps and deliver the letters. My daughter was in charge of the crew that drew the stamps. I don't remember how they used the profits. Maybe to buy pizza.
