Health Care Reform Almost There

I realize that the GOP will make Health Care Reform the centerpiece of the 2010 elections.  Not sure how they'll campaign.  I guess they'll tell us that its a good thing that our health care costs are sky-rocketing, there is little competition, and that our insurance companies can deny us coverage if we have a pre-existing condition.  Maybe they'll say that we went too far, too fast, even though FDR first proposed universal coverage back in the 1930s.  Harry Truman did as well and even Richard M. Nixon was proposing that we extend Medicare to all Americans.  Bill Clinton tried to work on it as well.  Hey, back in the fall of 2008, John McCain (now chief obstructionist) said that health coverage was a right for every American.  I know, I watched the debate.  Now he had a different plan, but he didn't win, Barack Obama did.  What we'll get isn't perfect.  It's not the plan that Barack Obama wanted to offer, but it takes 60 votes in the Senate to close debate.  It appears that this last vote, that of Ben Nelson is now in the fold.

Of course, the House will have to agree to a plan that can pass the Senate.  My expectation is that they will recognize political realities, understanding that politics is and always has been the art of compromise. 

This is a long time in coming.  It is a major triumph, and yet it really is only the first step.  There is still a lot that needs to be done to make this work for all Americans.  But, we've moved farther along in the last few months than ever before.  

Comments

roy said…
Bob, I think the GOP will have all it wants... they'll point at the bill and simply say? "The bill did nothing positive. Insurance premiums continue to skyrocket. They'll offer you a policy but they can charge you basically whatever they want and if you don't purchase a policy that you can't afford, you get fined. So, prices didn't go down. You are forced to purchase something either you don't want or can't afford." And they'll win because of it.
The Dems turned on the liberal base and gave up everything we hoped for while giving a huge windfall to the insurance companies in a guaranteed customer base.
I don't think the bill was the best they could get given any political realities out there. They played the game poorly and I think they gave away the farm. I am disgusted with them and if this is all we get, likely will not vote for a single democrat in the coming elections.
Anonymous said…
They are all idiots (and power hungry, greedy, egotistical, and represent in clearest terms man's internal sin nature) and to add health care to the pile only makes me sadder.
Chuck
Anonymous said…
I can't imagine they feel like they're getting anything behind them. We still own the farm, we just have to kick the squatters off now.

Anyway, this helps the poor and/ or seniors decide between food and health care. I guess the choice has been made. The food companies should have lobbied more I guess.

Chuck, shouldn't you put "Health Care" in quotes? David Mc
Anonymous said…
I can't imagine they feel like they're getting anything behind them. We still own the farm, we just have to kick the squatters off now.

Anyway, this helps the poor and/ or seniors decide between food and health care. I guess the choice has been made. The food companies should have lobbied more I guess.

Chuck, shouldn't you put "Health Care" in quotes? David Mc
Anonymous said…
I guess the seniors won't be effected much. But I'm sure their children would like to decide how best to spend their earnings.
Robert Cornwall said…
First to Roy,

The reality is that it takes 60 votes to cut off debate and get a vote. That essentially means that every Democrat has a veto because the GOP will not come to the table. They have decided to obstruct.

Overall, as I understand it, this bill while not perfect will prevent insurance companies from tossing people out for pre-existing conditions, will provide subsidies for those needing further coverage, and there are regulatory parts to it. To say that there is nothing positive here is really to be cynical. You can say that they turned on the liberal base, but Howard Dean, who is yelling the loudest now, recruited the very moderate Senators that have to be appeased to get a bill passed. The problem here is the senate rules that allow the fillibuster to derail legislation. You can decide to not vote for a Democrat, but what is your choice? GOP? Green? The first isn't going to do much for you, and the second will not even get into the arena.

And to Chuck -- if they're all idiots, does that include the persons you voted for in the last election. I find it ironic that we all think our representative (as long as we voted for them) is great and think that the problem is everyone else's representative.

Whether you like the results or not this is the farthest this discussion has ever gotten. You can vote it down, hoping for a better bill, but I expect I will be dead long before it ever gets done.
Anonymous said…
I know we can all agree on at least one thing-
If they would follow the rule book (i.e. Our US Constitution) we'd all have less to gripe over. They act like a bunch of amateurs. There should be a minimum education level. a basic IQ and some sort of honesty requirement for these clowns. I guess that wouldn't be by the book either..); David Mc
Anonymous said…
Bob,
Have you looked at the "kick back" money these Senators are getting to vote for the bill? Its hardly a "fair and unbiased" opinion being put forth. $100M for this senator to buy their vote. That is hardly representative government. My newly elected senator has hardly made a peep, so I think she is an idiot! :)
Dems loved the filibuster when they were the minority.
Sorry, but its all partisan politics and that is the sad part. The health care stocks were up today, so it can't all be bad, right?
Chuck

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