John C. Goodman: Healthcare Policy Analyst, Pundit

For instance, while there has been much optimism over the possibilities for accountable care organizations, Goodman dismisses them as "HMOs on steroids." While the White House nurtures its healthcare reform plans, Goodman says it has not only missed its mark in attempting true reform, but is misleading the public.

In the end, healthcare reform will continue to necessitate major changes because, Goodman says, patients may get lost in the shuffle.

And when he has some free time, he tackles New York Times crossroad puzzles, sometimes spending up to two hours on a Saturday trying to solve them. He often does, taking care of them in pen, not pencil. It gets him away from one passion, politics and healthcare policy, to another—learning different subjects. "It forces me to be aware of more things going on, to pay attention; sports, Broadway, and the movies, and Greek gods," he says, laughing. He doesn't want to have "too narrow thinking" about just economics and public policy.

There is no doubt, however, that politics and health policy are his passions, and he doesn't mind a good fight over his ideas.

In the 1990s, Goodman was credited as being a key force in thwarting Hillary Clinton's proposed healthcare reforms initiated by then President Bill Clinton. Goodman doesn't talk party politics, but he does sure talk politics and does not apologize for being right of center. The Wall Street Journal has called Goodman the "Father of Health Savings Accounts" (of which Goodman is quick to remind us).