We need to be happy about the progress we have made in our health care reform battle

[proud2BlibKansan]

While we have been fighting for single payer, a revolution has taken place and I wonder if many of us have noticed.

I realized this today when my 30 year old son asked me if I thought we were really going to get health care reform. I said yes we are going to get something and it should be better than what we have now. And he asked well look at what happened to Hillary in 1993. Didn't she think she was going to get reform too?

And I realized we have already gone way past where Hillary got us in 93. The wingnuts crucified her almost immediately. The national dialogue we have going now never happened. She was shot down, but we have not been shot down this time.

There is a discussion going on all over the country. And the wingnuts realize they have lost. They are slowly changing their talking points from 'we have the best health care system in the world' to 'yes we need to fix this but socialism isn't the answer'.

We won a major battle already.

Are we going to get the ideal - single payer? Probably not and that is disappointing. But the prospect of having affordable health care for 50 million people who don't have it now is pretty darned exciting to me.

Like so many other social changes, this is a process. And we have made progress toward our goal. I thikn we need to celebrate at least a bit.

Yes lots of work to do still but we are on our way to some really important and significant change. So let's stop for a moment and celebrate.

Then back to work lobbying for the real change we need. :patriot:

[babylonsister]

1. Geeze, louise, a positive post? Are you nuts??1!

Rec'd with pleasure! :fistbump:

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. If you are just now figuring out I am nuts

You haven't been paying attention. :)

[ejpoeta]

2. i think the reality is different then it was in 93. the cost of insurance is skyrocketing

and more and more people can't even get insurance now... they have lost their job and are working two or three part time ones if they are lucky, or get paid half what they did and pay way more for insurance that won't pay for anything. I think that a lot more people are in a bad situation then back then, and that is why we see a different mood about it. But I still worry that we won't get much out of this. except maybe a mandate. which scares me. I have insurance, but the idea that I can be forced to get it when there isn't much choice and the price keeps going up is ridiculous!! then they have you by the balls and they know it. it would be much worse.

I hope that we get something decent, but I'm not holding my breath. There are just too many monied interests that own our congress. They aren't working for us... they are working for those monied interests.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Oh I agree

But I think we have come a lot farther in the battle than the monied interests have. We are winning. And they know it.

[kentuck]

5. It was unrealistic to expect it to be quick or easy.

You are correct.

[Bluenorthwest]

6. So you say bow to the police in servile tones

and be happy for whatever premium burden is mandated, whatever expense is put on the shoulders of those who are the least able to pay? Just be happy with anything, kiss the cops, and then what? Give up the vote? Donate to the GOP?
You are celebrating. We are trying to get our Congressman to advise us on how to deal with the discrimination in the law without having our family torn apart. Just so you know. Frightening times in which Democrats support police abuse and discrimination against unpopular minorities.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Why mix up issues?

I am perfectly capable of being excited about health care reform as well as disgusted about racism issues.

[Bluenorthwest]

9. I think I mixed you up with another poster who is posting

other things. I try not to do that.

[rucky]

8. That's the thing about starting the fight with Single Payer

the Public Option is a good start and is now accepted as a decent compromise.

If we started with the Public Option, what would we have to compromise with?

[Union Yes]

10. Human evolution truly is slow.

[Gold Metal Flake]

11. Progress = signed legislation.

Everything else is a tease.

72 percent of Americans want Single Payer, but that is off the table. If there were real progress, SP would be on the floor now for a vote before the recess.

This battle has been ongoing since the 1940s. Progress does not mean opinions. It means a bill on Obama's desk with the ink from his fresh signature soaking into the fibers.

Sorry to be such a "downer".