It's kind of funny reading all the comments lately regarding Obama's health care reform bill. Every story I read on Yahoo! ends with literally thousands of comments of mostly very angry people.
One can speculate whether or not the "majority" of the American people are for the bill, or against it. The Democrats will say the majority is for it. The Republicans will say they're against it. Who knows what the actual reality is?
Personally, I think the Democrats have fumbled the ball for the past year that Obama has been in office. Obama had been trying much too hard to reach out to the Republicans for their support, when in fact, he didn't really need it. He won the election by a landslide. The country was ready for the changes he was promising, and to this date he hasn't really delivered on them.
The Democrats have also shown very little backbone this past year. I remember when the Republicans were in office, Dick Cheney was being interviewed by Charles Gibson:
Gibson: Recent polls show that 2/3 of Americans say the fight in Iraq is not worth it.
Cheney: So?
Gibson: You don't care what the American people think?
Cheney: You can't be blown off course by polls.
Now there you go. That's backbone. As bad as the Bush/Cheney administration was, at least they stood by their (bad) beliefs and accomplished whatever they wanted, regardless of what anyone else had to say.
The Democrats, on the other hand, might take a lesson from the Republicans. But no, they have to be so accommodating about everything.
What happened to the public option? Gone.
Universal healthcare in the US? Probably not in my lifetime.
Why haven't the regulations been put back into the banks and financial industries? So far, there hasn't been a single one.
The health care reform that they're trying to push through right now is something of a start, but seriously lacking in a lot of areas. Ok, there are a few good things on the bill: children with pre-existing conditions will now be covered. Insurance companies cannot just drop coverage on someone who gets sick. No more lifetime limits on coverage. More emphasis on preventative care. This is all good. But again...some of it is lacking. People shouldn't be forced to buy into health insurance if they don't want it. If people enjoy paying hundreds of dollars to go to the ER, that's their business. But you don't need to fine them. And, when it comes to fines, why are insurance companies only fined $100 per day for not covering someone with a life threatening condition? I can predict that these greedy companies will just wait it out until the patient dies, since that kind of money is just pennies to them.
I really hope the Democrats can get their act back together. This week, for the first time ever, I seriously started looking into joining a different political party. No, not the Republicans. I learned a long time ago that the Republican party primarily caters to the wealthy, not the (lower) middle class that I currently find myself in. I've been doing a little research on the Libertarians, the Green Party, and the American Independent Party. If I don't see at least some of those promises kept before 2012, I'm jumping ship.
One can speculate whether or not the "majority" of the American people are for the bill, or against it. The Democrats will say the majority is for it. The Republicans will say they're against it. Who knows what the actual reality is?
Personally, I think the Democrats have fumbled the ball for the past year that Obama has been in office. Obama had been trying much too hard to reach out to the Republicans for their support, when in fact, he didn't really need it. He won the election by a landslide. The country was ready for the changes he was promising, and to this date he hasn't really delivered on them.
The Democrats have also shown very little backbone this past year. I remember when the Republicans were in office, Dick Cheney was being interviewed by Charles Gibson:
Gibson: Recent polls show that 2/3 of Americans say the fight in Iraq is not worth it.
Cheney: So?
Gibson: You don't care what the American people think?
Cheney: You can't be blown off course by polls.
Now there you go. That's backbone. As bad as the Bush/Cheney administration was, at least they stood by their (bad) beliefs and accomplished whatever they wanted, regardless of what anyone else had to say.
The Democrats, on the other hand, might take a lesson from the Republicans. But no, they have to be so accommodating about everything.
What happened to the public option? Gone.
Universal healthcare in the US? Probably not in my lifetime.
Why haven't the regulations been put back into the banks and financial industries? So far, there hasn't been a single one.
The health care reform that they're trying to push through right now is something of a start, but seriously lacking in a lot of areas. Ok, there are a few good things on the bill: children with pre-existing conditions will now be covered. Insurance companies cannot just drop coverage on someone who gets sick. No more lifetime limits on coverage. More emphasis on preventative care. This is all good. But again...some of it is lacking. People shouldn't be forced to buy into health insurance if they don't want it. If people enjoy paying hundreds of dollars to go to the ER, that's their business. But you don't need to fine them. And, when it comes to fines, why are insurance companies only fined $100 per day for not covering someone with a life threatening condition? I can predict that these greedy companies will just wait it out until the patient dies, since that kind of money is just pennies to them.
I really hope the Democrats can get their act back together. This week, for the first time ever, I seriously started looking into joining a different political party. No, not the Republicans. I learned a long time ago that the Republican party primarily caters to the wealthy, not the (lower) middle class that I currently find myself in. I've been doing a little research on the Libertarians, the Green Party, and the American Independent Party. If I don't see at least some of those promises kept before 2012, I'm jumping ship.
Ken,
ReplyDeleteI hear what you're saying about losing faith in the Democrats. But don't those other fringe parties seem a little quixotic? They simply don't have much influence on policy debates.
For a person supportive of economic and social justice, multilateral foreign policy, and environmental sanity (as you seem to be), the Democrats are as good as one can get within the political mainstream.
Ken --
ReplyDeleteFor the first time in our nation's history, Congress has passed comprehensive health care reform. America waited a hundred years and fought for decades to reach this moment. Tonight, thanks to you, we are finally here.
Consider the staggering scope of what you have just accomplished:
Because of you, every American will finally be guaranteed high quality, affordable health care coverage.
Every American will be covered under the toughest patient protections in history. Arbitrary premium hikes, insurance cancellations, and discrimination against pre-existing conditions will now be gone forever.
And we'll finally start reducing the cost of care -- creating millions of jobs, preventing families and businesses from plunging into bankruptcy, and removing over a trillion dollars of debt from the backs of our children.
But the victory that matters most tonight goes beyond the laws and far past the numbers.
It is the peace of mind enjoyed by every American, no longer one injury or illness away from catastrophe.
It is the workers and entrepreneurs who are now freed to pursue their slice of the American dream without fear of losing coverage or facing a crippling bill.
And it is the immeasurable joy of families in every part of this great nation, living happier, healthier lives together because they can finally receive the vital care they need.
This is what change looks like.
My gratitude tonight is profound. I am thankful for those in past generations whose heroic efforts brought this great goal within reach for our times. I am thankful for the members of Congress whose months of effort and brave votes made it possible to take this final step. But most of all, I am thankful for you.
This day is not the end of this journey. Much hard work remains, and we have a solemn responsibility to do it right. But we can face that work together with the confidence of those who have moved mountains.
Our journey began three years ago, driven by a shared belief that fundamental change is indeed still possible. We have worked hard together every day since to deliver on that belief.
We have shared moments of tremendous hope, and we've faced setbacks and doubt. We have all been forced to ask if our politics had simply become too polarized and too short-sighted to meet the pressing challenges of our time. This struggle became a test of whether the American people could still rally together when the cause was right -- and actually create the change we believe in.
Tonight, thanks to your mighty efforts, the answer is indisputable: Yes we can.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
President Obama said: "...Congress has passed comprehensive health care reform."
ReplyDeleteAs I recall, the term 'Congress' refers to both the House and the Senate.
Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that one-half of Congress has passed comprehensive health care reform?
Hi Ken,
ReplyDeleteI read your blog before I read CNN. (You should feel honored. :-)
Here is what I found on CNN.
"The bill passed the House of Representatives late Sunday night. It was approved by the Senate in December.
A separate package of changes passed by the House on Sunday still needs to be approved by the Senate. The officials noted that the Senate cannot begin debate on the package before Obama signs the underlying bill into law.
Health care reform now faces Senate challenge..."
End of quote.
We'll see what happens!
Taylor