A “Compromise” on Health Care
Here’s that brand new shiny Ferrari I promised you. Actually, we compromised a little. The car doesn’t have an engine, and the body is shaped more like a Nash Rambler.
The Senate has offered a “bipartisan” “compromise” — a new reform bill that has everything Obama asked for. Oh, except that the new bill doesn’t require large employers to provide health coverage for their workers, and there’s no provision for a government-paid insurance option.
But hey, other than that — it’s got everything. Is this progress or what?
Max Baucus said: "We're going to get agreement here. The group of six really wants to get to 'yes.’”
“Yes” on WHAT??? If any insurance company refuses to pay for medical treatment or raises the premiums, a committee might look into it. And if an HMO is found to be repeatedly canceling coverage and/or jacking the premiums sky high, they might get a letter of reprimand. OOOHHH!!!
It sure is a good thing there’s a Democrat in the White House and a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress. What would we do without them?
If this lame-ass toothless “reform” bill is what we get, millions of Democratic voters will “compromise” on the next election day by staying home.
cross-posted at Bring It On!
Labels: health care compromise, Max Baucus
posted by Tom Harper @ 10:51 PM
17 Comments:
Obama put some things in the bill to try to appease the Insurance companies and the Republicans in the first place, which means it was already flawed. I wish someone would talk about the Bush Medicare Plan, which lets Insurance Companies charge what they want to the Government for Drugs which the law FORBIDS Medicare from trying to get the same discounts that their own Congressional Heath Plan or the VA and the DOD get to do. Also no Money was set aside for it so the money comes STRAIGHT out of the taxpayer’s pockets. This contributes heavily to the deficient carried by Medicare with is almost 60% of the budget.
The Fiscal Conservatives sat there and cheered as this was being passed, but now they want to discuss cost!
What Obama is trying to say is the money we flush down the toilet for the Bush plan can easily fund a better plan.
Any compromise will put the Insurance Companies back in the throne!
Erik
This saga is just like the discussion around the green bill. Half of the country wasn't happy with it cos it was too strict, the other half because it wasn't strict enough.
Too sad it's happening again with this health care reform bill. (Or so it seems by by-standers.)
Julie
As a general rule, I'm firmly against waterboarding, the rack, the iron maiden. But I think in the case of Max Baucus (and certain others), I'm willing to make an exception.
Wonder if we could get a nation referendum to suspend the good senators healthcare until they come up with a good plan?
I'm with Randal, thumb screws are just to kind for these guys.
Erik: That's exactly it; Obama's been compromising from the beginning. I'm glad he's not rigid and closed-minded like Dumbya, but the Democrats have compromised enough already. The Right will never be satisfied with any compromises. All they want to do is keep delaying and obstructing so the bill will never pass; or it'll be so watered down that it'll be useless.
Randal: Damn right, break out the waterboard and the iron maiden. These "moderate" (i.e. bought and paid for by the HMOs) Democrats are the biggest villain of all.
Demeur: When John Edwards was running for president, he vowed to suspend Congress' health benefits until all Americans had health insurance. I wish Obama would take that same approach.
Break out the thumbscrews.
Does Obama have the power to suspend health care for congress? Hmm.
Does Obama have the power to suspend health care on Capitol Hill? Hmm
Those bastards. I've said before, I want a plan in place, it doesn't have to be perfect. But dammit, they're going to keep up until they fuck it up beyond all recognition. Where's that can of gasoline, those empty beer bottles I've been saving and that book of matches...I know they're around here somewhere...
Holte: I sure wish Obama would do that. John Edwards promised he'd do that, when he was running for president. It probably wouldn't have much personal effect on congressmen and senators since most of them have more money than God; but it would still send the right message.
Bee: Funny how Republicans and moderate Democrats insist that any health care bill has to be perfect before it can move forward.
A few years ago, a rightwing blogger was defending the Iraqi war, with all the mistakes and deceit, saying that every war has had bad planning and miscalculations. So that's the logic I'm using with health care reform. Let's get something passed NOW; they can tweak it and adjust it later.
Otherwise I'll help you look for that gasoline and those matches :)
TH - I have read you can't leave a comment on my site, if I have a problem I'm not aware of it. Please keep trying. Love to hear from you.
Holte: I'll keep trying. There's one other blog that has the same comment setup as yours, and I can't comment there either. Maybe there's a plugin I need or a Firefox update I haven't downloaded yet, or something. Anyway, I do visit your site regularly and I'll keep trying to comment.
Tom, you nailed it in your last paragraph. That's exactly what Obama needs to hear and to take very seriously. He's standing by while people like Baucus and the blue dogs play with matches in a dynamite factory.
I think a bunch of reps and senators are out of touch with middle-class and working-class families in their states and districts. They look at some polls, probably, see hometown newspapers full of Ramirez cartoons and (gack) Cal Thomas or other rightwad columnist blather, and think they know what people are thinking. They get lobbied constantly, and see, or will soon see, expensive TV ads against a public option or any other real, meaningful improvements, and they're impressed their constituents are being swayed by those ads.
What's needed here is for President Mild to put on his big-boy britches and start using carrots and sticks, and playing hardball — on a bipartisan basis. He needs to go back and learn a little more about how Roosevelt, Truman and Lyndon Johnson worked Congress and put up a fight, when necessary.
"It sure is a good thing there’s a Democrat in the White House and a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress. What would we do without them?"
I'm thankful that the "Blue Dog Democrats" are putting public interest ahead of party unity and have been kicking the sharp teeth out of Obama's health care plan.
So much for change when it comes to our national health care crisis. Looks like those who put the almighty dollar above the welfare of the people are going to prevail yet again.
SW: "President Mild" -- accurate description, unfortunately. I keep hoping Obama has a method to his madness, that there's a reason why he backs off when he should be barging in. If he doesn't want to be a one term president, it's definitely time for him to break out the carrot and stick, play hardball, do some armtwisting, whatever it takes.
dmarks: I might have some respect for Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats if they walked the walk. If they're so appalled at "socialized medicine" then they should forfeit their own taxpayer-financed health benefits.
Snave: I hope the health care outcome will be better than it looks right now. For now it looks like the Almighty Dollar is winning.
S.W. Anderson,
We now know that Roosevelt, Truman, Johnson and even Nixon wanted to take on National Health Care, but backed down knowing it would be a huge fight!
This is basically new ground for a president!
Erik
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