Some notes on the HCR

[nadinbrzezinski]

1.- We STILL Need the conference committee to reconcile both bills, so we really do not have a finished product YET. So my hope is that we do get something slightly more progressive still. So yes, do put some pressure, we might be able to get this to move left a little... not much, just a little.

2.- It is truly historic, and like other historic pieces of legislation it is more conservative on the first passage than it will be in twenty years or so. That is the nature of the system... and until WE are willing to do more than just participate within the accepted boundaries established by the political class...

3.- As I expected, due to many historic reasons this is following more closely the German or Dutch model than the Canadian model... many years of propaganda are us. Never mind that it needs a LOT MORE controls on the insurers.

4.- I WANT single payer but you know what? Until the American population decides to do more than just watch American Idol... forget it, so I will take the crumbs... and make no mistake, these are crumbs.

5.- This is truly a victory for the political class, but until the people become far more active, well that is the way it is.

Happy Holidays to all.

[ananda]

1. umm

Have you ever known bills to get less conservative as
time goes on?

Give me a break.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Yes, SS was highly critizied by the left

and was not that good on first passage, same for Medicare, and S-Chip... and that is the nature of the beast in the United States.

[Frances]

3. Very thoughtful post

I would prefer single payer too, but think that what we got is better than what we have at the present.

I hope that in the future we'll get more progressive modifications, but that will depend on the voters.

It sounds to me that a lot of DUers are like the Nader voters in 2000. They would rather have Republicans in power than someone like Gore or Obama.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. They are still part of the political class

the problem is that Americans, not just Du'ers, are really not knowledgeable of US history or how the system truly works. It is this conservative because we the people are STILL WORKING within accepted political boundaries. Progressive changes only accelerate when people break away from the accepted boundaries.

And people are very frustrated as well. WE WANT at the very least a public option, but the elites are not going to pass legislation with it (most likely). That may happen in decades to come. The battle has just begun.

:-)

[levander]

5. Health care reform is so inevitable now...

That even 40% of the populace supports a bill that does it, no matter how poorly the bill accomplishes the goal.... Check the polls, 40% of the people still support this bill.

It's not now or never. A good bill could easily get over 50% support from the populace. For the Democratic party's own survival and success, KILL THIS BILL!

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. If the American people decided to work OUTSIDE

the accepted boundaries set by the political class I am betting we would have a far better bill.

But until the American people realize that political leaders are not saviors... why the fight has just begun.