HCR: A symbolic victory for conservatives and private industry, and a substantve one for liberals?

[pscot]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-12-09/a-jaw-dropping-political-deal/2/

The Senate Democrats’ health-care deal is remarkable in many respects. President Obama praised them on Wednesday for producing "a creative new framework" to provide coverage to uninsured Americans without relying on a government insurance option. And well he should. Its creativity is the most impressive thing about it. Somehow the 10 Democrats, evenly divided between pro-and anti-public option going in—came out without a public option but still managed to make people who insisted on the need for one happy. (If Paul Krugman is happy, I’m happy.) It’s not exactly clear how it came about. Either liberals were so beaten down by how badly things have been going for them since Obama’s inauguration or because the public option was merely shorthand for covering as many people with affordable insurance as the system would permit. In any case, the conservatives and insurance companies got to declare “victory” and the liberals got what they wanted anyway. A symbolic victory for conservatives and private industry and a substantive one for liberals? When was the last time anything like that happened?
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What’s important about it is less the details than the fact that it is happening at all. The Democrats did something about a really big problem facing the country. Most people, including probably most Democrats, figured that had become impossible. And they had good reason. Leave aside that the only word upon which that Republicans can agree these days is “no.” (more)

[Davis_X_Machina]

1. No! No! Wrong! Sellout! Bad bill! Must primary all its supporters!

Thought getting that in early might shorten the thread.

[wryter2000]

2. Something that has gone almost totally unnoticed

With the disclaimer that we don't actually know all the details yet:

The bill will require the private insurance companies in the exchange to spend 90% of their income on actual health care. Not just on costs, which would include executive salaries and TV commercials, but on payments to doctors and hospitals. That pretty much eliminates any type of gouging and profit motive.

It's terrible that everyone won't be able to get into Medicare, but I hope this spurs the age to go lower and lower. As a very practical matter, this compromise could help many more people that what we still have left of the public option would.

[lapfog_1]

5. YES, that provision (depends on enforcement loopholes, of course)

is one that doesn't get discussed here much.

And the other thing is... what will happen here when Dennis Kucinich votes for this when it reaches the House. Howard Dean seems to like it a lot.

I'm guessing that "public option" became a keyword touchstone rather than simply a means to an end. And most people forgot what the end really means (more people covered, lower premiums, no pre-existing conditions, no lifetime caps).

[wryter2000]

10. Anthony Weiner is quite enthusiastic about it

More than I am, to tell you the truth. :)

[Old Codger]

6. OK

Sounds good, but 90% of what? Is there an actual limit in there on what they can charge???

[wryter2000]

11. I don't know that there's a limit to what they can charge

But it seems pointless to charge more than you can keep.

Honestly, I can't imagine any of the blood suckers signing up to provide service unless they create a non-profit arm of their companies.

I'm not sure how this will all play out.

[Winterblues]

3. It hasn't hit Obama's desk yet....

:shrug:

[pscot]

4. This seems like something that can be improved on

over time. But only if congressional Democrats remain in power.

[Vincardog]

7. But only if PROGRESSIVE congressional Democrats get in power.

[pscot]

8. We're never going to have a Congress

consisting entirely of progressives. Most pols are run of the mill time servers and self dealers. Over time, a progressive minority can steer the process, and prevent the wort conservative excesses, but only if the Democrats are in control. Nothing but evil comes from Republicon ascendance.

[Vincardog]

9. Electing FAUX democrats that serve the CONservative agenda does us no good