I know, I know, I've just been a blessed ray of sunshine over the health insurance legislation that's been debated for the better part of President Obama's legislation so far.
I've had numerous complaints and concerns about the content of the bill. Some DUers have tried talking me through the process, demonstrating how some of the provisions may not be so bad for the American taxpayer. I appreciate their patience with me, even when I've been at my grumpiest. Someone on DU even told me - unless it got stripped out in the Senate - that there may already be the beginnings of a "public option" in one of the provisions for either the community health clinics or the insurance exchange program itself. Even ProSense is hinting that there may be the beginning of such in the newly-passed bill.
I read. I listened. And yes, I complained anyway, and sided with Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich in the past. But the writing is on the wall.
מנא ,מנא, תקל, ופרסין The days of Republicans and their Tea Party shock troops delaying this legislation outright have come to an abrupt end, just as Belshazzar's reign in ancient Babylon did.
The arguments by progressives, public-option supporters, and single-payer activists against the current bill have been weighed in the balance by those in control of the process on Capitol Hill - and found wanting.
And just as Belshazzar's domain was split between Persia and Media, those who are currently uninsured will be divided between Anthem, Wellmark, Aetna, United HealthCare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, etc.
So while we now await the inevitable signing ceremony at the White House, maybe it's time to change strategies. We can supercede or replace this bill with something better. And the time to start working on overhauling the overhaul is before the ink from Obama's signature dries on the bill.
The first priority is to establish a real public option that is open to everyone and provides care comparable to that offered by Big Insurance. That may render moot any attempt to challenge the individual mandate in court. And it will also foster healthy competition in the insurance marketplace.
Then we need to strike the language that restricts women's access to healthcare. Executive order be damned - are not women entitled to all of the rights that men are?
After that, we need to enact legislation that allows the taxpayer to choose her own doctor instead of being assigned one by her insurance plan.
As for Medicare Advantage, the reconciliation bill would set a minimum threshold of 85% spent on medical costs and improvements in care. I can get a better minimum payout at a Las Vegas casino. Our seniors deserve better - something in the range of 92% would work.
On the bright side, our nation's children will be among the first to benefit from this bill, which is a very good thing. I am sick to my core of seeing children weep because they can't understand why the insurance company won't pay for the care they need in order to enjoy the healthy and happy life that all children rightfully deserve.
Right now, a lot of Democrats on Capitol Hill are patting themselves on the back, praising Nancy Pelosi for pushing the bill through, and raising a glass to the dearly departed Ted Kennedy. But we can't let them rest on their laurels for too long. There is still much to be done before we can truly say that healthcare reform has come to America.
The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream, though deferred, lives on.
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