Do not think that if a not-so-perfect bill passes that it is the end.

[ncteechur]

If we get some form of health care reform, it is a win for the President and more nails in coffin for GOP. Then in subsquent years, the President can tweak it further and further to what we ultimately want. This is a first step.

[John Q. Citizen]

1. Yeah, that's what Baucus said about medicare part d. That's what Clinton supporters said about NAFTA

I'm not buying it.

"Some form of health care reform..." that makes the insurance companies and big pharma richer and more powerful is a step backwards in my opinion.

Romney Care isn't reform. It's a better way to rip people off.

Enough!

[State the Obvious]

2. I agree...

Americans need to realize that healthcare is an extremely complex problem....that requires complex solutions. We cannot assume, like Republicans assume, that all problems are simple and easy to solve. Sometimes issues need to be addressed in stages.

I trust Obama, and believe he knows what he is doing. (Can you imagine what McCain would have done? ) Obama's healthcare solutions will be accomplished in stages....as long as Americans do not do what Republicans want....which is to help THEM bring him down.

We are smarter than that. Aren't we?

[jody]

3. It's not only Republicans who assume "all problems are simple and easy to solve." Lots of DU posts

implicitly make the same assumption ignoring the obvious, "Sometimes issues need to be addressed in stages."

[Better Believe It]

7. Right. Like Social Security, Unemployment Compensation and Medicare were extremely complex.

Oh it's so confusing and complex.

Let's live it up to the drug cartel, insurance and health care industry to figure this all out for us.

I'm sure that whatever bill they pass by Congress will be just lovely.

[dflprincess]

10. Exactly!

HR676 is 16 pages long and written so anyone can understand it.

HR3200 is over 1,000 pages long and written in legalese so most people don't get that it should be called "The Insurance Industry Protection Act"

[paulk]

4. I could care less about a "win" for the President

bad legislation is bad legislation, period. Unless we get a real public option this "reform" (which is shaping up to be health insurance reform not health care reform) is not worth supporting, and is actually a step backward from what we, as liberals and progressives, want.

[elleng]

5. You are correct.

I wish that more Dems, including DUers, would recognize the complexity of governing.

[HopeOverFear]

6. Progressives forget the meaning "progress"

it means "little by little".

Good post, I agree with your points.

[Hansel]

8. +1

[ProSense]

9. Some people actually think Medicare was negotiated, passed and fully implemented in a year

Some people need a clue.