And so, the torch of health care reform has been passed from the Republican caucus in the House, to their Republican counterparts in the Senate.

Or is it not a torch, but rather, a flickering fuse burning down towards the main explosive charge?

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has put together a welcoming committee of thirteen GOP senators to shepard the bill passed by the House through the gauntlet awaiting it in the Senate.

You would think, after the debacle of House Republican leadership cramming an ill-conceived and flawed bit of legislation down not only the throats of a Democrat House minority, but also down the throats of whatever moderate voices remain within the Republican caucus, you would think that Mitch would make some attempt, however cosmetic, to include a broader spectrum of stakeholders in the Senate group charged with the primary responsibility of making a silk purse out of this particular sow’s ear.

You would think, but you would be wrong.

A significant chunk of health care has to do with “women’s” issues, and those issues are not confined to reproductive topics. There are five Republican women in the Senate—some of whom have staked out positions on national health care. Not a one of them is included in this working group. Not to worry, ladies, you can come into the boy’s tree house from time to time upon invite—not just all the time.

Of course, it might just be that McConnell is afraid of adding a female to the mix who might, nevertheless, prove to be persistent.

Admittedly, it is hard for Republicans to find a person of color to add a little diversity to the reception committee, but there is one African-American senator, who happens to have a background in insurance.

You won’t find him in the group picture either.

What you do find is the GOP establishment’s country club view of the world. All white. All male. All but one over 50. All relatively well off, and none of whom have much in common with the ordinary Americans who care little about the politics of health care, but have a vital interest in having access to health care—beyond using the local emergency room as a primary care facility.

These are the folks with whom Mitch is comfortable, and comfort level is what apparently trumps all else.

For a number of reasons, not the least of which is that the primary motivation behind this exercise is political in nature and not public health policy, this beginning does not bode well for a happy ending.

If, as appears to be the case, the intent is to force matters to a vote without any effort to involve the 48 Democrat members of the Senate in the process, the stage is set for health care to become a political ping pong ball batted back and forth depending on which party has legislative control at any given time.

This is not a promising scenario.

Democrats say they are the first to admit that the Affordable Care Act, the nation’s current health plan, has significant flaws. You would think it would be a good idea for Mitch to force the Democrat’s hand by having them identify those perceived flaws to explore the possibility of finding common ground.

Of course, there is no incentive for Democrats to cooperate if the only outcome acceptable to the GOP is to rip out the Affordable Care Act root and branch.

Which appears to be the case.

Admittedly, the fact health care is complicated should not have come as a surprise to anyone—but the issue is not insurmountable. There are many ways to achieve the end.

For example, look up International.Commonwealthfund.org for a brief description of how 18 other countries, including the United States, handle the issue.

More about that later.