Singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt, a critically acclaimed rocking folkie from Georgia, died at age 45 on Christmas Day in Athens. Ga. Chesnutt, who was partially paralyzed from the effects of an automobile accident, had cobbled together a successful career against all odds, and was admired by many other artists. As his record label put it, "Vic transformed our sense of what true character, grace and determination are all about."

Chesnutt's demise, and his financial struggles of the past year, have also made him an instant poster guy for the inhumanity of this country's profit-driven health care system. Recently, the singer had been understandably down, and angry, about a Georgia hospital's lawsuit. Chesnutt owed the hospital $70,000 for surgery bills he had accumulated, but the singer said he couldn't afford good enough insurance to cover the expenses, and wasn't able to keep up with payments.

The AP story about his death noted Chesnutt's comments about his Canadian bandmates' reactions to his health-related financial problems. "There's nowhere else in the world that I'd be facing the situation I'm in right now. They cannot understand what kind of society would inflict that on their population. It's terrifying," said the singer. Amen, brother. Now, about that public option ...

• The late singer Vic Chesnutt