Are people observing more or less resistance to health care reform this time around?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

as opposed to 1993-1994 when the Clintons' efforts were brutally assailed, killed, and then ground into dust- by pretty much everybody, including many in the Democratic Party? I don't have a lot of personal anecdotes to relate to but almost nobody I've talked to about health care coverage seems "happy with the insurance they have" and, even though there is clearly a movement out there to (once again) block healthcare reform, it just feels......different, somehow- kind of like the opposition seems resigned to defeat this time. What is everybody else seeing out there?

For one thing, I think that it's almost impossible anymore for anybody to claim that everything is hunky dory with most people's insurance. That probably seemed much more credible back in 1993-1994 and I was plenty satisfied with my insurance when I first started working for the State back in 1999 up until about 2006 when my previous insurer, M-Plan, went bust. Now, just about the only plan that is affordable (through my job) is a high-deductible ($2900) HSA plan and the doctor visits and medication are squeezing us in a way that they never did before. I can't even imagine what other people are going through right now.

For the first time since 1993-1994, I feel at least (cautiously) optimistic that we will finally get some real reform of the system and I strongly appreciate President Obama's aggressiveness in pushing this issue, particularly in recent days.

[scheming daemons]

1. Much less resistance overall.. frankly, the health care situation wasnt nearly as bad then as it is

now...

[givemebackmycountry]

6. And just THINK about...

How much money they earned since then.
How many millions have been paid out in bonuses and excess compensation.

How many claims have been denied?
How much money have employers paid out to shoulder the burden?
How many have died?

There's a reason why the resistance has been dialed back.

WE WANT THIS YOU FUCKERS AND YOU BETTER GIVE THIS TO US.

You got to throw us a bone every once in a while and the time has come to PAY UP.

I think it's going to happen.

Good post, good for us.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Much less resistance

Some of the rabid wingnuts I chat with online are very much in favor of health care reform. We argue about what to do but they agree something needs to change.

[berni_mccoy]

3. You've got people here resisting it.

[runawaypappy]

8. Resist they should....

Everybody wants something for free...the only question is who is going to pay for it?
This deal is going to cost somebody (my guess is the middle class) as usual, and they are
nearly "beat dead" already. When the middle class is finally destroyed will the poor or the rich pay?
The poor can't and the rich won't. Anybody?

[Laelth]

11. Welcome to DU.

Of course, all medical services have to be paid for by someone. In civilized countries a progressive tax that puts the burden on those most able to afford it pays for the system. The proposed, regressive tax that we're talking about now puts most of the burden on the shoulders of those who can least afford to pay for it--the uninsured, themselves--in the form of a new tax of between 1.5% and 11.5% of gross income.

:dem:

-Laelth

[HughMoran]

4. I'm going with much less as well

The system sucks, only rich people don't notice.

[nightrain]

5. By and large, I believe more people have awakened to the

knowledge that single payer would be a far better method since the 90s. These "reform" proposals will force many more into dire financial straits if there's an individual mandate to preserve and fund the health care insurance extortion corporations. I mean really, let's stop beating around the bush and call a spade a spade. This bs reform mostly is a scheme to transfer money from we the people to them the corporations. Oh yeah, and as an afterthought, maybe throw a sop to the people.

[abumbyanyothername]

7. Less resistance and two points

1) Obama ran on healthcare reform overtly. Billary sort of sprung it on people. Or at least comparatively speaking.

2) As noted above the situation is worse. And this is directly tied to the aging of the baby boomers, who are now the scourge of the health insurance industry and who also feel the wrath most deeply when they lose their job or something. Because everyone, ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY everyone has pre-existing conditions if they are 45 or more years old. And many sooner than that.

[DonCoquixote]

9. Less resistance but

Now the insurance industry is more slick as they realize that they will lose. They know it is the difference between a death penalty (single payer) and life imprisonment (the public option).

[Laelth]

10. Oh, yes. Much less resistance.

The AMA endorsed the House bill. That's very different than 1993-94. The AMA wants everyone to be forced to buy insurance so that doctors will be more likely to get paid for their services. They're also pleased that no doctor nor any hospital will be forced to treat a public insurance patient.

Schumer says the insurance industry will get 40 million new customers here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6075750

Ultimately, I think there's less resistance this time because the AMA and the insurance industry are getting almost exactly what they want. The House bill will be good for both of them.

I am not certain that it will be good for most Americans.

:dem:

-Laelth

[sharesunited]

12. Less resistance and more anger, with major disappointment about to happen. n/t

[BlooInBloo]

13. Seems to me the Empire started too late - like they didn't really believe it was gonna happen...

or something.

[timeforpeace]

14. Last time the drug companies and insurance companies fought it, this time they're OK with it.

Must be getting some of the pie this time.