Confronted by many other challenges, Barack Obama was bold to push for healthcare reform in his first year as president. His current difficulties lead many to say he was wrong. In our view, he was right to say that the issue could not wait. The failure of the US, alone among advanced nations, to grant all its citizens affordable healthcare is indefensible, a scandal that has persisted too long. Mr Obama’s sense of urgency was justified.

The demands of decency aside, he is also right that mending US healthcare is a pressing economic goal. The current system causes insecurity, ties workers to jobs they might prefer to leave, suppresses wages and encourages over-consumption of over-priced services. The case for change is irresistible.