Time for a reality check on health care reform.

[garybeck]

I am as disappointed as the next guy that the "public option" appears to be less than "robust." I favor a single payer system.

I am not happy about the "mandated coverage" that could force some people who can't afford it to purchase insurance.

This whole debate has been frustrating to me, as the best solutions don't even seem to be on the table, and disinformation is filling the airwaves.

The bill as I understand it, is pretty disappointing to me.


HAVING SAID ALL THAT, I would like to have a reality check.

For a reality check, let's look at what just happened in Breckenridge CO yesterday, where they voted to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

Just 15 years ago, there was virtually no such thing as medical or industrial marijuana in the USA. Starting about 10 years ago, states started enacting legislation for medical use. In the last decade, penalties for marijuana use across the nation has declined. Many states now have legal medical and industrial use. A town in Colorado just legalized it completely, and there is a possibility that the state of CA will vote on this next year.

So in about 12 years, things have changed drastically. It didn't happen overnight. But it all started somewhere.

Now taking this into account and looking at health care, I can see how this bill can be a starting point. Who says it's the end all? If they seriously eliminate "pre-existing conditions" and stop companies from denying health care, and provide some kind of financial assistance or coverage for people who can't afford it, I think that is a pretty good first step.

I don't think this will be the last health care reform bill/law. If we keep the pressure on, and some of the problems persist, there will be more debate, more bills, and more laws, after this one is done.

If it takes 12 years to go from what we have now to something radically different like a single payer system, I'll take it.

Conclusion: If this bill is seen as the end all-of health care reform, it basically sucks bigtime. But if taken in prespective as the first step towards real change, it's not a bad start. And we'd be stupid to not support it just because it "isn't good enough." Now let's just make sure that we don't allow it to be the end-all.



i know many will say, it's a shallow comparison, between marijuana rights and health care reform. there are many reasons these things are different, that is true. but just look back at history; most significant changes take a few years to unfold. and since compromise is at the heart of our system, it is more possible to make significant change by doing it in steps, than to hold stubbornly to the ultimate goal, rejecting partial steps towards it.

[dflprincess]

1. I wish you were right, but nothing in the bill indicates that it is "step one".

and Obama has said he wants to be the last president to deal with health care. If this scam is made law Obama won't want to hear about anymore work that needs to be done.

Congress will spend its time patting itself on the back for passing "something" while expecting us to be greatful for a bill that really just reenforces a failing system. And if anyone dares suggest there a lot of room for improvement, they will be ignored. (Just look how they're crowing about "starting" to close the Medicare donut hole. We're suppose to be impresesed even though it will take 10 years to close something they created overnight.)

But those campaign "contributions" will keep rolling in - and that's what they really care about.

[garybeck]

2. well if he wants to be the last president to deal with health care, that gives us 7 more years.

n/t

[MNDemNY]

4. 3

[Laelth]

3. This bill is worse than doing nothing.

... unless the Kucinich Amendment (allowing states to adopt single-payer) is included in the final law. Here's why:

California will pass single-payer on its own in 2011. All they need is a Democratic Governor. The legislature has already passed the bill. Schwarzenegger vetoed it. Once California has single-payer, most (if not all) states will follow suit.

It's likely that if we pass a new law now, the new law will preempt single-payer, i.e. the Federal law will preempt state law and prevent states from enacting a single-payer system.

THIS is what the health insurance companies fear. THIS is what brought them to the bargaining table. THIS is why they are not fighting Obama's tepid reforms, and THIS is why it is extremely important that we do not pass any health insurance reform bill this year.

Let's not settle for a bail-out of the health insurance industry. Let's insist on the eradication of it. In all likelihood, California will lead the way in 2011 ... if we can just give them time.



-Laelth

[MNDemNY]

5. +1

[jacksonian]

6. really, with this single amendment i can support

all the other wimpiness in the bill. Without it, i take a pass.

And what, pray tell, is the downside? Where's that states rights argument when you need it?

[MNDemNY]

9. The downside, of course, is to the insurance industry profits.

But, alas, the insurance industry is being protected by both houses of congress, and the White House, as well. LONG LIVE UHC, BC/BS, Aetna............(this is the rallying cry of BOTH parties, it seems.)

[dflprincess]

7. Minnesota also has proposals floating around for single payer

and a few of the DFL candidates for governor have said they would push it. A few weeks ago I was speaking to one of them who said the insurance companies had already stepped up their contributions in MN to legislatures and candidates who would probably be against such a move.

It's no accident that amendment was dropped from the House bill, I'm sure plenty of money was spent seeing that it was.

[SammyWinstonJack]

8. Interesting.

I did not know this.

SNEAKY BASTARDS

[ramapo]

10. Better than nothing but not much

The bill basically sucks. It is a give away to the insurance companies. Significant portions don't go into effect until 2013. Full implementation is like 2018 or 2019.

I call bullshit on the whole mess. Yes I'd rather see it enacted than to just walk away but the bill sucks.