"Paul Krugman today urges progressives to 'congratulate themselves'"

[ProSense]

A GOOD DAY FOR A DICKENS REFERENCE....

Paul Krugman today urges progressives to "congratulate themselves" on the success of the health care reform effort, in what he described as "a big win for them -- and for America."

And to that end, Krugman borrows from Dickens.

Indulge me while I tell you a story -- a near-future version of Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol." It begins with sad news: young Timothy Cratchit, a k a Tiny Tim, is sick. And his treatment will cost far more than his parents can pay out of pocket.

Fortunately, our story is set in 2014, and the Cratchits have health insurance. Not from their employer: Ebenezer Scrooge doesn't do employee benefits. And just a few years earlier they wouldn't have been able to buy insurance on their own because Tiny Tim has a pre-existing condition, and, anyway, the premiums would have been out of their reach.

But reform legislation enacted in 2010 banned insurance discrimination on the basis of medical history and also created a system of subsidies to help families pay for coverage. Even so, insurance doesn't come cheap -- but the Cratchits do have it, and they're grateful. God bless us, everyone.

O.K., that was fiction, but there will be millions of real stories like that in the years to come.

Krugman also identifies the groups of the legislation's opponents, most notably the "crazy right, the tea party and death panel people." The problem with this contingent, of course, is not just the total absence of coherent policy objections, but also that their wild-eyed madness now overlaps with the concerns voiced by the Republican mainstream.

"In the past, there was a general understanding, a sort of implicit clause in the rules of American politics, that major parties would at least pretend to distance themselves from irrational extremists," Krugman said. "But those rules are no longer operative. No, Virginia, at this point there is no sanity clause."

Man, I wish I'd come up with that one.

[derby378]

1. There's nothing "progressive" about the Senate bill...

...so now we're left to wait and see what happens when the House gets involved, although their bill also leaves a lot to be desired.

[ProSense]

3. "so now we're left to wait and see what happens when the House gets involved" Grass

always greener, sort of like moving goal posts.

In fact, some of the Senate bill is far more progressive than the measures in the House bill: the exchanges for one. Oh, and let's not talk Stupak, not that Nelson's amendment shouldn't also be scrapped.

[derby378]

5. I must admit...

...that I'm learning about these OPM-managed multi-state plans that are part of the Senate package, but I still need more details to see how they work and how they're administered.

[CitizenLeft]

36. so... the multi-state plans are, basically...

...people "buying across state lines." So that bullshit screed from McCain and his fuckwit friends is a lie - people WILL, essentially, be buying insurance "across state lines," right? Unless I'm misunderstanding the concept.

I hate these people.

[stevenleser]

2. "No, Virginia, at this point there is no sanity clause."

Effing brilliant!

:rofl:

[ProSense]

4. .

:rofl:

[4dsc]

6. Sell out..

[Cali_Democrat]

17. under the bus ya go, Krugman

It's getting awfully crowded under there.

:rofl:

[stevenleser]

18. Yup, Obama, Sanders, Krugman, Byrd, Feingold...

just the ones I can remember off the top of my head. We're going to have to order more busses!!!!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

21. It's really getting crowded under there.

[Cha]

35. No, Krugman is calling it like he sees it.

[Oregone]

7. Hey, after-all, its "simulated single-payer"!

From a bunch of cronies to corrupt to put real single-payer on the table. Its a good thing they are so altruistic and brilliant, Paul, to sneak it in the backdoor.

[inna]

8. A Big Win For PhRMA, Health Insurance Companies, Obama, Reid, Nelson, Lincoln, Lieberman; A Big Loss

A Big Win For PhRMA, Health Insurance Companies, Obama, Reid, Nelson, Lincoln, Lieberman; A Big Loss For The American People And the Progressive Movement: http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/12/24/a-big-win-for-phrma-health-insurance-companies-obama-reid-nelson-lincoln-lieberman-a-big-loss-for-the-american-people-and-the-progressive-movement/

[Hydra]

15. +1

Great article you posted, and so true.

[mzmolly]

9. KnR

I agree with Krugmann that this is a step forward, and while it's a big step, it's only a step.

[Thickasabrick]

10. Bite me Paul nt

[ProSense]

11. The problem a lot of people have is that

they think being pissed off means they're progressive. The fact is that there are a lot of progressives cheering reform. Yes, cheering.

[Donnachaidh]

12. nah -- lots of cult members cheering

true progressives never went near the koolaid trough.

[ProSense]

13. Nah, progressives are cheering. Here's one

Tomorrow, the U.S. Senate will vote on passage of the most sweeping health care reform in generations.

[impik]

19. Don't bother, man. You're not "progressive" unless

you pass the purity-test set by self-proclaimed "progressives", who are no more rational than right-win teabaggers.

[billh58]

20. +100 n/t

[ProSense]

22. "purity-test" Nope, that's not it

For most of the people spewing vitriol, this is personal. They hate Obama. They really don't care about policy. If they did, they wouldn't be making up crap while hiding behind the claim that they're more progressive than anyone else, including Bernie Sanders. It's all bullshit. They're phony and vindictive.

Look at what these so-called progressives are basing their venom on at this point: a public option, something that wasn't even all that strong to begin with. They're out in full forces touting its merit and claiming the bill without it is a complete sellout to the insurance industry, even though there have been things added to the bill that in many ways are more effective, especially in the short term, than a weak public option.

The public option is most likely dead, but I can guarantee that if it is restored in conference, these people would return to slamming reform.

[impik]

28. Oh, i know. Most of these guys were anti-Obama

From the get go. It doesn't even matter what he's doing. I've seen posts by "progressives" actually wishing for the economy to crash again, so they can say "we told you so". They're no different than the lunatics from the Right, and it's no surprise that now they find common ground with them.

What Hillary Clinton said about John Bolton ("If president Obama would walk on water, Bolton will say that he can't swim") is perfectly suited for those "progressives" too - Who, by the way, should open the dictionary and look for the word "progress".

[bvar22]

23. There is only one "purity" test:

Do you support giving MORE power and wealth to the Big Corporations?

...OR

....to the Working Class.

This bill FAILS that "Purity Test....miserably.



"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans. I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."---Paul Wellstone

[ProSense]

25. What a joke. "There is only one 'purity' test:" Let me guess

the one supported by your mischaracterizations.

Oh brother.

[Teaser]

32. you are only progressive if bvar22 says you are.

.

[bvar22]

33. No. You're only Progressive if THIS guy says you are:

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

The right of every family to a decent home;

The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

America’s own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for our citizens.---FDR Economic Bill of Rights

You probably don't recognize the above.
It is Franklin Roosevelt's Economic Bill of Rights.

Coincidentally, he was leader of a party also called the Democratic Party, though his party bears no resemblance to the party using that name today.

Progressives/Liberals DO disagree on some methods of implementation, but we ALL agree on FDR's Economic Bill of Rights. You should come to one of our meetings and join up sometime.
Economic Justice for the Working Class and Poor IS the unifying issue of the Progressive Movement.
It is also the biggest Social Issue in America today.

There are also those from the "Centrist DLC Wing" (conservatives) of today's Democratic Party who have "borrowed" the term "Progressive" to try to hide their filthy Republican asses, just like they "borrowed" the name "Democrat", but we KNOW who they are.

There really is a simple litmus test.

Big Business before People...NOT Progressive
Corporate Profits before People....NOT Progressive
Wall Street before Main Street....NOT Progressive


So spaketh bvar22,
Sheriff of the Progressive Movement
Chapter 12, verse 17
The Progressive Bible
(If YOU don't know that, then you aren't one.)

[Thickasabrick]

14. Well - any progressive that calls this "reform" is delusional. This is

simply transferring even more power (and profits) to our corporate masters.

[ProSense]

16. Maybe the critics are the ones who need their heads checked. n/t

[Hansel]

29. See, you don't get to define how progressives should think and what they should agree with.

You just get to give your opinion. Some progressives simply don't agree with you. That's all. You are not the person who gets to knight who is and isn't progressive.

[Thickasabrick]

30. Excellent point - and you are correct. nt

[Odin2005]

24. Go back to writing Macroecon books, Paul.

[ShortnFiery]

26. Eat Me Krugman. :P

[WhiteTara]

27. I hope I can stay well without health care

until 2014.

[davidpdx]

31. Que cartoon

With a picture of a bunch of Democrats in a room and a calender on the wall that says 2010. The caption reads "It's going to be a great year". They all have hammers and are hitting each other over their heads with them.

[applegrove]

34. Kick people off of private health plans if they have a pre-existing condition

or if they accumulte treatment costs over a certain amount is not funny. Private health insurance companies now have to spend something like 85% of their income on actual health care instead of bonuses for the CEO. This is all very important stuff. The bill is far from perfect but it is a start.