Bill Clinton recalls healthcare battle

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TAMPA, Fla., March 22 (UPI) -- Former President Bill Clinton discussed the importance of teamwork at a seminar in Tampa, Fla., using the battle over healthcare reform as an example.

After speaking for 50 minutes, he opened the floor to questions. When asked about healthcare reform, he recalled speaking at a 1993 town hall meeting in Tampa.

"It's amazing that 19 years ago I was here in Tampa talking about healthcare, and we're still debating it. In the more bizarre twist of all, the Democrats adopted what was the Republican solution for healthcare -- the individual mandate," Clinton said. "And the Republicans sued us in the Supreme Court because they now say we're a dangerous left-wing organization for embracing the idea that they gave us in the first place."

He discussed the work of his own non-governmental organization, the Clinton Global Initiative, as an example of collaborative citizenship, from replanting forests in Rwanda to rebuilding post-earthquake Haiti.

His point: The only thing that can combat the forces of inequality, instability and unsustainability was the combined efforts of citizens, The Tampa Bay Times reported.

The Wednesday night seminar, held at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, was about the 21st century.