Mind-Set

The chief executive of Chrysler believes that new leadership from outside of Detroit is the deciding factor in the Big Three automakers' acceptance of strict new fuel economy standards. Certainly, every industry can benefit from new thinking to address what appears to be insoluble problems. Health care is a good example. Health in the U.S. is defined in terms of sickness and medical care dominates the field. Costs spiral out of control and health status declines. The idealogues in Congress and some economists don't help by staking out extreme positions to protect or cut sick care. The dialogue has to shift from sick care to achieving and maintaining optimum health status for individuals and the population. That has less to do with medical care than the politicians think or are willing to admit.