So the full-court press is on to label the Republican opposition to the Rush-to-Health-Care as political obstructionism is on. This is a bad move and an advertisement to anyone watching that the democrats are playing a weak hand. Just like the Bush administration couldn't get any of the democrats to participate in their attempt to reform Social
ist Ponzi Administration Security Administration, the Republicans are wisely (per their constituents) dragging their feet on the federal health-care takeover (which may or may not constitute "reform", depending on one's
faction of choiceperspective). The Democrats promised up and down to reform the way health-care is provided in this country, and, since they own both the Legislature and the Executive, have no excuse not to pass such a reform. But the thing is, they know it'll suck: until money and stethoscopes grow on trees, such reform will include all manner of rationing, and is liable to have the kinds of customer service made famous by Marge Simpson's twin sisters. If the "reforms" pass by a party-line vote, then the Democrats get all the credit or blame for however it shakes out, and those in power know this'll mean a lot of blame. Such a party-line establishment of nationalized health-care would constitute electoral red-meat for the Republicans, and everyone on the hill knows it.
And Obama & his aides just admitted they don't know what to do about that -- on national TV.
The left-wing will fall in line behind the repudiation of the Republicans for being "political" (OMG,
Legislators being political?! How shocking!), and this will work to stave off their constituency temporarily, but in the end they'll either have to gut their program sufficiently that the Repubs can take that home to their 2010 campaigns as a legislative victory, or they'll have to take the larger risk and completely own their health-care program forever-and-ever-amen.
While ex-President Bush could claim that he couldn't line up enough votes to defeat a filibuster (which is the normal way a faction advertises that it hasn't the balls to sign its own checks), President Obama owns his Congress, so if he tarries too long he'll risk being branded a coward, to boot.
If I were a Republican congressman, I might even risk smiling.
6 comments:
Heh, only one problem. Palin just got named in an ethics probe. Nice timing and nice smoke screen.
Palin's going to be named in everything under the kitchen sink. But she's irrelevant to this contest -- it's not 2012 that's at issue here, but about 2010.
The problem with running a "who's the rube rope-a-dope" campaign like Obama did, is that lots of folks actually thought he was a moderate, and are freaking out now. Given that *some* of the Dems' successes were built on structural advantages over the past four years (though the Reps' general-purpose trashing of their own constituents gives them no room to sulk), the smart money is starting to look like a 2010 bloodbath.
GREAT time to be a Blue Dog. If I were going to run and wanted to go major party, conservative democrat would be the winner's choice.
Oh, I'm not saying the Repubs have a chance, but that they can hurt the Dems.
IMHO, the Repubs haven't been spanked nearly hard enough yet to get back into office. Maybe when the term 'RINO' disappears...
I was surprised to see my insurance company (BCBS) send out a "grass roots revolution" email, complete with web site and some hokey news feed..
Surprised, because I would assume that private insurers would "somehow, someway" find some of that juicy government gristle dripping from the bill somewhere. Apparently they're really concerned, and that's good.
But the real problem ISN"T INSURANCE... No, it's $25 dollar aspirins, $95 dollar band aids, and $1,800 stitches! Japan regulates health care pricing and insurance is universally cheap and affordable.
Yes, they have government insurance pools (as do the states here), but they live just as long, are just as healthy, and even though their Doctors aren't minting gold anymore, they're making a decent living.
I realize that's un-american, but people don't really have pricing choices in healthcare. Have you ever called ahead to find out how much it will cost to set a broken leg?? You pay whatever the doctor/hospital/billing dept says. They know it, and they demand *as much* as possible. They charge it no matter what their standards are, how well or bad the procedure ended, or how many people complain. They charge you double just for having insurance in the first place.
That's the message nobody wants to hear...
On this point I must fully agree - the largest reason for escalating costs is the fact that the costs themselves are completely unregulated. We (the US) just about subsidizes the cost of drugs world-wide because they know the drugs can be charged for just about anything here vs. much lower costs world wide. Same chemical compound, same manufacturing process and we pay about 100-200% more than everyone else.
Since I have handled some workman's comps forms in my current job I've seen itemized bills for some things that get charged and it really is outrageous, so reform and regulation of said industry is really needed since no one infected by greed will ever self-regulate. The great amount of money being given up by the various industries lately that they've been promising publicly is very likely the excess profit they've been making. They'll still make money in the new scheme, just not as much.
As for our wonderful two party system. I can only hope and pray that the self destruction of both parties as they align themselves to their stereotypical extremes results in a party-free US government. Right now the parties only exist to destroy the other - they benefit the progress of our nation none at all.
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