Why I'm supporting the HCR Bill

[Joanne98]

I was for it, then against it, then for it, then against it, and now I'm for it again!

I know.

I don't like the bill. I wanted single payer and then the public option but.....

I realized that once the structure is set up with the exchanges, we will be able to tweak it without having budget issues.

For instance.

With the heavy lifting getting done, as in the 900 billion dollars, and an escape route thru the exchanges, we can nickle and dime the industry...

Pass laws that have nothing to do with the budget like....

A cap on what they can charge... 25% of income...

Pushing drugs into generic status faster.....

Bring in more doctors on HB1 status.

Things like that to lower costs.

There's hundreds of little things we can do that will make it better.

But we need a structure to work within..


Second.....

I also decided that losing this fight will only make the GOP stronger.

And I hate Republicans more than I hate the bill.

I know that's not a principled stand but it's mine.

I WANT TO WIN!

[NYC_SKP]

1. Yay! Glad to hear this, Joanne98. Bill not posted yet but here's a handy review.

Of some of the items.

I'm very pleased that the exchanges will include non-profits and CO-OPs, the chink in the HC industry armor.

http://twitdoc.com/docview?doc=28562335&key=key-2jx9pek713rwv075yfhq&usr=jeffreyyoung_hc&lcl=jeffreyyoung_hc/qciriqjn/Update_Summary_Healthcare_Reconciliation_Draft_3_16_10.docx&hits=1401&qs=byeqqk

:toast:

Editing to add Emit's great overview, here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7943735

[leftstreet]

2. When the Republicans take the midterms, they'll be doing the 'tweaking'

It's really irrelevant at this point

[LynneSin]

4. They would need to take the majority in both houses and that is probably not happening

They'll get close but I don't think they'll cross the line.

And with several of the positive changes with healthcare starting immediately (caps removed, pre-existing condition help, 26 year olds can be covered under their parents plan) - we may even see some good out of this.

[MineralMan]

5. Giving up, are you?

Not me. I'll be working on the 2010 campaigns here in Minnesota. We think we can get rid of Michele Bachmann. I'll bet we're right. If you're just going to give up, then do that and stop whining about it, OK? If you're not going to give up, then work as hard as you can to keep that from happening, OK?

We have work to do.

[librechik]

6. thanks for your couragge--Bachmann must go! n/t

[MineralMan]

10. She will if I and others work hard enough.

Join the fight!

[leftstreet]

7. Giving in, are you?

:eyes:

[MineralMan]

9. Is that what you think? You're way wrong.

As always, I'll take what progress I can get. Right now, I'm preparing for a Senate District DFL nominating convention and organizing my precinct for the November election. At the same time, I'm scheduling my precinct walking in Michele Bachmann's district, even though I'm in another district.

Giving in? Not me. Never have. Never will. Go here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7946842

[leftstreet]

11. If the Democrats were acting like Democrats, you wouldn't have to work so hard

ya think?

[MineralMan]

12. I've been working hard all my adult life. There will never be an

end to hard political work. You either do it or you don't. I can't not work for change. That's a huge part of my life. It's often frustrating, but there is no alternative.

[leftstreet]

20. The Bush Admin could never have pulled off this awesome HCR!

Yep, you keep working!

[zipplewrath]

22. No, they pulled off medicare perscription coverage.

The democrats are getting rid of the donut hole, and keeping the prohibition on negotiating lower prices. Pretty awesome huh?

[Romulox]

16. I am. Mock me if you will, but if we can't change the system now, we'll never be able to. nt

[Joanne98]

14. I want to win the midterms too.

[jobwithout]

3. Thats right

Lets just get a win... thats the most important thing. Fuck the people and what they need. <<<<<<<LETS GET A WIN>>>>>>

[Lifelong Protester]

8. I agree with you, and damn this laptop, I had a huge

well crafted reply and it 'disappeared' but basically, I can only say that while the bill does not go far enough, while the chance of having single payer SEEMED close, I still support this START. And I believe this is a start. Many folks are not giving up on this issue. I don't think Dr. Dean is. I don't think Dennis K. sold out or is giving up.

I'm old, but I still have hope, and I think I know a good start when I see it. If we want anything to get better in the future, we had better figure out how to fix our party from the inside out, because folks, there isn't any chance that some third party is going to come along and help us move our agenda forward. The teabaggers are showing what a disaster that is, and I do not think we have room for a fourth party.

The only party that has any chance of moving our agenda forward is the Democratic party. I'm for FORWARD, and not just because I'm from Wisconsin.

Has anyone referenced anywhere in this debate, except in passing, that we have not come this far in any proposed change in health insurance or care since LBJ? I think this soon to be passed bill is an accomplishment.

[zipplewrath]

13. Your optimism is interesting

And what makes you think you'll achieve any of those things? Especially since you'll be working AGAINST the insurance companies who now have 20 million or so more premiums coming in. And you do realize you can't get past a filibuster with something that is unrelated to the budget right?

[Joanne98]

15. I think the public will like it more than we expect.

And that will make it harder for them to oppose popular tweeks, especially if they lower costs.

[Romulox]

17. I just talked to my sister. She's outraged by mandatory, for profit insurance...

She's a single mom. :hi:

[mzmolly]

18. Has she checked the KFF calculator to see what her subsidy

is?

http://healthreform.kff.org/SubsidyCalculator.aspx

[zipplewrath]

21. Short term, I suspect not

Many folks won't even feel the effect for years. Those that will might find out just how little help they are getting. There are some spectacular promises being made about the effect of this bill, especially in the short term. When the reality doesn't meet the promise (and the GOP will be working hard to ferret them out) there will be some angry folks.

[Tailormyst]

19. Although the things you want done are all great ideas

They will never happen. As long as big business owns our politicians, none of that will ever come to pass.