Policymakers everywhere are trying to contain costs and provide affordable access to high-quality care. While we can—and, I hope, will—do much to better our system, the only true solution to our perpetual healthcare "crisis" would be to find affordable ways to prevent and cure all diseases, eliminate pain and disability—and beat death. Until then, it is a safe assumption that most healthcare systems will almost always be, yes, in crisis.

Humphrey Taylor is chairman of the Harris Poll, Harris Interactive. He can be reached at htaylor@harrisinteractive.com