Chapter 460 - 213: Unfinished
While mainstream public opinion was condemning the violence, this Mayor was actually trying to explain its root cause?
On the television, Leo continued:
"We can’t pretend this was just an isolated incident. The actions of Luigi Randall were extreme and unacceptable. But what pushed him to that point?"
"In Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, how many other Luigis are there? How many more families are crying in despair late at night because they can’t afford their medical bills?"
Leo’s voice grew louder.
"We can no longer wait for healthcare reform from Washington. It’s too slow. And we can’t count on insurance companies to suddenly grow a conscience, because that’s something they simply don’t have."
"So, I am standing here today to announce a decision."
"The Pittsburgh City Government, along with all member cities of our Pennsylvania Industrial Revival Alliance, will jointly establish a regional public health task force."
"We will conduct a comprehensive assessment of how the current health insurance system operates in the Rust Belt."
"After the assessment report is completed, we will submit reform proposals to Harrisburg and Washington."
Leo looked into the camera.
"If the existing insurance companies are unable to provide our citizens with fair, affordable, and humane services."
"Then, our alliance will consider establishing our own regional mutual aid healthcare organization."
"We will not let a single Pittsburgher, not a single one of our fellow Pennsylvanians, be forced to pick up a gun because they can’t afford medicine."
"This is what we are going to do."
The press conference came to an abrupt end.
Without giving the reporters a chance to ask questions, Leo turned and walked straight off the podium, leaving behind a room full of dumbfounded journalists.
...
「The Mayor’s Office.」
Ethan Hawke flung the folder in his hand onto the sofa, and the papers inside scattered out.
He loosened his tie and paced back and forth across the room, the sound of his leather shoes on the floor rapid and heavy.
"You’re insane."
"Leo, you’re completely insane."
Ethan stopped pacing and turned to look at Leo, who was pouring a glass of water.
"That wasn’t what was written in the speech at all!" Ethan’s voice was spiraling out of control. "We agreed to calm public emotions, to emphasize the fairness of the law, and to classify Luigi Randall’s actions as an isolated, extreme individual case!"
"And you! You just went and dragged the entire health insurance industry into the mud!"
"That’s health insurance. It’s a third rail that even Washington is afraid to touch."
"One President tried to reorganize the healthcare system and ended up causing the Democratic Party to lose Congress. Another President attempted to expand health insurance coverage, which triggered the Tea Party movement and let the Republican Party control the House of Representatives for eight years."
Ethan stared hard at Leo.
"This is political suicide."
"You went through all that trouble to secure two billion in Federation grants. We could have taken it easy, fixed a few roads, attended some ribbon-cuttings, and coasted to reelection."
"Why would you poke that hornet’s nest at a time like this?"
Leo, holding the glass of water, walked to the window.
"Because I had no choice, Ethan."
Leo took a sip of water and looked at his reflection in the glass.
"This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time."
"At the very least, I’d been considering it since my time in Washington."
"You’ve seen the way public opinion has been trending lately."
"My opponents are frantically painting me as a radical. They want to portray Pittsburgh as a breeding ground for violence and chaos."
"And Luigi, as fate would have it, is on the run across Pennsylvania at this very juncture."
"It’s a gift from God for them. They’re going to tie Luigi’s crimes to me. They’ll say, ’Look, this is the consequence of Wallace! This is the inevitable result of progressivism: assassinations and riots!’"
"I can’t let them define me."
Leo’s voice turned icy.
"I have to be the one to define this narrative."
"That’s the only way to divert the public’s attention."
"People need a new target for their anger."
"Instead of letting them unleash their anger on me and my administration, it’s better to let them hate the greedy insurance companies. Let them hate the CEOs making tens of millions a year while denying claims."
"It’s called reframing the narrative."
Ethan had to admit, from a crisis management perspective, this move was indeed brilliant.
But the cost was too high.
"But Leo, this is healthcare." Ethan gave a bitter laugh. "You’re declaring war on the wealthiest and most powerful interest group in the entire country. The healthcare lobby spends more on lobbying each year than the military-industrial complex."
"Besides, financially, it’s a bottomless pit."
Ethan picked up the calculator on the desk and quickly pressed a few keys.
"Do you know how many people with chronic illnesses there are in Pittsburgh? Do you know how expensive cancer drugs are? If we really try to fill this hole with the city’s budget, we’ll go bankrupt."
Leo walked back behind his desk and sat down in the leather chair.
"Who said we’re going for full subsidies?"
Leo laughed. "Ethan, you’re still thinking with a big-government mindset. You think I’m trying to create socialized medicine?"
"No. I’m doing business."
Leo took a draft proposal from his drawer.
"I’ve studied the current healthcare market carefully."
"Why are drug prices so high? Because there are kickbacks between insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies, because middlemen add markups at every level, and because ordinary patients have no bargaining power."
"But what if we turn Pittsburgh into a massive purchasing group?"