Titanic View of Health-care Reform

The debate over our current health care crisis reminds me of the chaos on the Titanic. The story is a good example of what we do when we believe our survival depends on getting a seat in the life boats, regardless what is happening to others. Certain passengers were given the seats in the life boats and others went down with the ship. What made some lives more important, worthy or deserving than others? Class, education, nationality, money? Would more people have survived had they all worked together to survive? I think so. Is it really possible to overcome the need for personal survival in a crisis long enough to work together? How do you get people to focus on the big picture as well as their own personal needs? I have the feeling that many of the people who are resisting health care reform are fairly comfortable in their own lifeboats and what happens to others...well, regrettably, cannot be helped.