Figuring out Obama and the future of health care reform

[stevietheman]

Perhaps Obama was just doing all the maneuvering necessary to get any kind of reform through. One can argue that even watered down reform will provide multiple advancements.

I'm just as unhappy as most Progressives are with the Senate bill.

But Obama is a politician not unlike most other politicians. He needed to score a victory. And not scoring one would have meant 1) We wouldn't see another major reform effort for a long time (if one looks at political reality, this is inescapable); 2) The GOP would become very emboldened and would take that defeat to use toward defeat of just about anything else the Democratic Party and Obama wants; and 3) We wouldn't have legislation to build on.

In the long run, I don't think we should take this legislation as a sign that we need to stand down in the next election. On the contrary, I think we should use it as a cue to elect even more progressive Democrats. After all, we realize that the defeat of the Public Option lies squarely with the deficiency of a progressive force in the Congress. So let's fix that. And upon fixing that, create the ability to tweak health care reform to the People's benefit in the years and decades to come.

Let's make lemonade out of this lemon. After all, the flaws will become apparent, and the solution to those flaws will invariably be Progressive in nature.

[DrDan]

1. you have convinced me - I plan on doubling all planned campaign contributions

[Laelth]

2. This bill is worse than doing nothing.

The status quo is better because it will ALLOW for states to address this issue themselves. Passing the bill will prevent state action on this issue. California will probably pass single payer on its own in 2011. All they need is a Democratic Governor. The legislature has already passed the bill. Schwarzenegger vetoed it. Once California has single-payer, most (if not all) states will follow suit.

It's likely that if we pass a new law now, the new law will preempt single-payer, i.e. the Federal law will preempt state law and prevent states from enacting a single-payer system.

THIS is what the health insurance companies fear. THIS is what brought them to the bargaining table. THIS is why they are not fighting Obama's tepid reforms, and THIS is why it is extremely important that we do not pass any health insurance reform bill this year.

Let's not settle for a bail-out of the health insurance industry. Let's insist on the eradication of it. In all likelihood, California will lead the way in 2011 ... if we can just give them time.

Canada got its single-payer system one province at a time, and it looks like that's the only way it can happen in the United States.

I don't think the Federal Government is capable of reforming the system right now. If this bill is the best the Federal Government can do, then the Federal Government should do nothing. It's time to let the states try.

Kill the bill.

Forcing people to buy insurance is no more the answer to a failed health care system than forcing people to buy houses is the solution to homelessness.

:dem:

-Laelth

[alsame]

4. I remember Bernie Sanders talking about possible state by state

passage of single payer. That was months ago, even before the Baucus bill, I think.

I think you're exactly right about the insurance industry's motivation for accepting this bill now.

[Clio the Leo]

3. I like that attitude Stevie! NT