We see a lot of gloom and doom out there about how the Wall Street bailout won't leave any money left over for health reform (or anything else for that matter). We have often pointed out that the question shouldn't be whether we can afford health reform, but whether we can afford NOT to do health reform given its impact on federal and state budgets, the manufacturing sector's ability to compete globally, and ordinary people's pocketbooks up and down "Main Street" (to use the term of choice this week).

Jane Sarasohn-Kahn over at Health Populi makes similar arguments. Each one percent increase in unemployment, means one million more uninsured (and another million on Medicaid and SCHIP). State tax revenue is falling, while medical bills are growing. ERs are swamped. Ordinary people are delaying care—even necessary care. You can read her full post but her bottom line for health reform: "The lesson from financial markets is not to put off to 2012 what we can and should do in 2008."(We think she means 2009 but you get the point.)