Yes, I know that HCR won't be perfect. But it's a start... and start we must

[MrScorpio]

In two years or two decades from now, what we will have as health insurance will be better than what we have now.

It's a process that will continue to grow. And yes, I'm still calling for the public option to be the bare minimum.

The key is getting a law passed this year to get the President to sign it.

The key is making it an unstoppable force that would make any opponent to it asking for political suicide. No Republican will stand against Medicare or Social Security without looking like an idiot who's throwing his or her career away.

Once a public health care initiative gets its foot in the door, there's no stopping it.

We stand at the birth of bringing our country in with the family of nations who believe that health care is right and not just a privilege.

We are hurting ourselves if e continue to allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good.

[FiveGoodMen]

1. I don't think it's a start. I think it's a trap.

The fine print will make things worse than they are now (!) and preclude fixing it later.

Listen to the players in this game and tell me they'd never do that.

[MrScorpio]

2. It's never perfect from the beginning

Expect lots of Amendments

But we need something to amend.

[FiveGoodMen]

3. Hope you're right, but don't share your optimism

Both sides of the aisle seem to be working against us deliberately.

[Joe Fields]

4. I strongly disagree, Scorpio.

Maybe 20 or 30 years ago, when men who ran corporations had at least a shred of morality. All they know how to do now is take, take, take.

Just a couple of days ago, the insurance industry lobbyists reamed Max Baucus, because the penalty for ducking out on MANDATORY insurance wasn't nearly high enough.

I may not be right, but I strongly feel, and with good reason, that we are fucked truly on this issue. I want no bill at all, if what comes to the White House and is signed by the president looks anything like the Baucus plan.

The insurance companies are writing the bills, and Rahm Emanuel is spearheading the White House effort.

Sorry, don't have near as much faith as you do.

[MrScorpio]

5. I have to think positively on this matter despite the assuredly less than perfect outcome

The opponents want to destroy all momentum for HCR. At least we have a path to something.

Our biggest problem, of course, was that we have DEMS who were all too willing to negotiate from a compromised position.

In spite of that, I believe that it's better than the alternative of doing nothing.

I still believe in painting the insurance companies in a corner to provide decent care, even if it is one inch at a time.

[Joe Fields]

10. I would love for you to be right.

:toast:

[Ineeda]

6. most of the time I agree with you and am optimistic

and then I get discouraged, and then I'm optimistic again. It's a roller coaster, and I never liked roller coasters much. :crazy:

[MrScorpio]

7. The biggest tool that our opponents have is to discourage us through obfuscation

Just because it won't be a perfect product should not be a reason for us to abandon the fight.

We should look at the passing of HCR as the beginning and not just a Pyhrric victory

[Ineeda]

8. Agree

and it seems that so many DUers use that same tool. Thanks, MrScorpio. I'm going to try not to get on the roller coaster again.

[Bluenorthwest]

9. The thing they have now is not even a Pyhrric victory

it is the opposite of what is needed, it is a failure. Mandates, burdens, discrimination. And you know, this is a large and useful language we have, and it is possible to describe a thousand particular places between 'perfect' and 'doing nothing'. It is a rhetorical device of dubious worth and extreme laziness to pretend other wise.
Pretending a bowl of poison is being rejected for lack of perfection is silly.

[MrScorpio]

11. So, your point is that it's all bad?