I hope the heath care bill finally signed into law will be a starting point for ongoing reform.

[Political Heretic]

That's what's probably not getting said enough by people who believe that the Senate version just passed is a disaster in the making. And I do think it is a disaster in the making.... but I don't want it to be a disaster. I fear it is a disaster.

Anyone out there so blindly entrenched that they want health care reform to fail just to see it burn has really lost perspective. Anyone that has gotten so caught up in the fights over the President's agenda or the administration's actions that they forget why they were arguing in the first place - and instead have allowed it to degenerate into I hate Obama/I love Obama have really lost perspective.

If people are out there scouring the internet(s) and lapping up fresh news just to look for something that they can spin into something negative about Obama the man (since for some it is persona) or about the administration in general - then those people have fallen victim to the confirmation bias. Starting with a premise accepted as fact based on emotion, and the seeking out only evidence that supports that emotional proposition.

None of us gain anything by wanting Obama, his administration, or Democrats to "fail."

But having said that, here's something important to remember. If we are to employ logic and critical thinking, then we must start with a definition of what "success" or "failures" look like. We have to understand what it is that we ultimately want. Then, before we form a conclusion, we begin evaluating evidence.

So, I can tell you what I want, and this how I would define policy success or failure. And I've written this before, but it bears repeating.

I want policy that prioritizes the needs of poor and working class individuals and families ahead of the wants and whims of the financial elite. That basic definition serves as a basis for examining all policy and political actions, in both the foreign and domestic domains. Before anyone react negatively to this basic premise, let me clarify something:

I did not say I wanted policy that exclusively benefits the poor and penalizes the wealthy. But the benefits for the poor and working class must sufficiently outweigh the problems for the poor and working class for me to support policy. As an example, consider the stimulus bill, which I supported. That was a very flawed bill, complete with inefficiencies and even some giveaways to business. But having done my best to read and understand the entire bill, I believed that the benefits to poor and working class individuals and families sufficiently outwieghed the problems in the bill.

So compromise may be a political necessity. But each of us should have a clear understanding of where the "line" is where a requested compromise goes beyond what we are able to give - the line where an additional compromise turns a bill with sufficient benefits into a bill with insufficient benefits. When you support party rather than people - there is no "line." Any compromise that results in a political victory for party is a "win." And that is bad for ordinary people.

When you start with analysis of policy, comparing it to your definition of what "good" and "bad" policy is, then that can lead a person to criticisms of administration, or congress, or even a President. If you feel that an administration or democratic controlled congress has delivered more "bad" policy (again, based on definition) than "good" then it makes sense for you to be very critical of the administration or congress.

Do some people get so wrapped up in the emotion of arguing over things that it becomes something "else?" Yes. I know that some people lose track of what matters, and it becomes personal - and becomes about "hating Obama" or "hating Democrats" without any reason connected to it.

But that's not everyone.

I simply believe that policy must prioritize the needs of poor and working class families ahead of the wants and whims of the financial elite. And I believe that the measuring heuristic for supporting a bill should be this. Does this bill:

- have sufficient benefits for the poor and working class
- have no critical (show-stopper) defects that harm the poor and working class
- the benefits sufficiently outweigh any remaining problems for the poor and working class
- All things considered, further effort to improve the bill be more harmful than helpful

Obviously on the specific issue of health care, different people argue that this bill either meets those criteria or does not. As long as it stays focused on the issues, that should be tolerated and respected.

When it comes to a big-picture analysis of whether or not Obama is doing a "good job" or whether Democrats in Washington are doing a good job, as long as the opinions are based on evidence first - interpreted through the lens of one's definition of "good" or "bad" policy, that too should be allowed and non-threatening.

Finally - I don't want Obama to fail. But I don't want him to succeed either. Let me explain that: that entire way of talking about and thinking about the President seems utterly bizarre to me. The office of the president isn't about him. I think our tendency to get all enamored with the glamor of either political or Hollywood celebrity is really dangerous. People start acting like their on first name basis with Obama, and his wife and family and involved in his personal life.

I couldn't care less about any of that, mainly because I don't believe I am supposed to. Obama is one thing to me and one thing only: a public representative. I don't care about Obama's personal success or failure. I care about whether or not the needs of poor and working class families are consistently placed ahead of the wants and whims of the financial elite during his tenure as President.

So far, in my opinion, based my best attempts to analyze and understand the policy and actions of this adminsitration to date - I do not feel that has been the case. But its not personal. I have zero interest and am completely dispassionate about Obama the man. I care about the Office and I care about what happens to the poor.

[salguine]

1. I wouldn't count on it. This bill will strengthen the stranglehold that the

insurance industry already has on our healthcare system exponentially. Which means that any meaningful reform will be even harder and less likely than it was before.

[madrchsod]

2. medicare took 11 months from signature to start paying claims

what ever form this bill ends up in it will take years to implement and not cover everyone. giving the republicans the chance to kill provisions in the bill is a failure to understand politics as they are played out in washington dc.
this is`t the senate in the state of illinois.

[blogslut]

3. Reforming an institutionalized system is a Herculean task

I'm personally amazed we've gotten this far. We've drilled holes through a mountain. That's a hell of thing.

[Hannah Bell]

6. Enrolling more people in Medicare isn't a Herculean task. "This far" in which direction?

Further privatization = "reform"? not to me.

[TheWatcher]

4. I respect your optimism.

And I must sadly inform you that it will be unfounded.

And by the time everyone figures that out, it will be too late.

But I wouldn't worry about it too much.

The Oligarchs will no doubt find PLENTY of distractions to misdirect us with before then, and even after.

The Shell game never ends.

As long as we allow it to go on.

[Political Heretic]

5. It cracks me up to read the response - like all of you didn't read the post, then responded.

Awesome.

:thumbsup:

[FrenchieCat]

7. Kool Kids only read the first line.....

Then they unrec without mercy.

[TheWatcher]

13. Bobbleheads only repeat the Propaganda they hear

And don't bother to question it.

[TheWatcher]

14. Mock, giggle, and snicker if you like.

I did read it.

Some of it I agree with, some of it I don't.

I respect your point of view.

I was not ATTACKING what you wrote.

If you wish to mock my response, have at it.

I'm not returning the favor.

[laughingliberal]

8. I think it might be good now to try and get some of the House proposals into the final bill

Like the revenue sources and taking away the anti-trust exemption. After it passes we can look at how to revise it.

[cali]

9. just FYI

the repealing of the anti-trust exemptions is largely a Pat Leahy thing. He's been introducing it for years.

[leftstreet]

10. In what way did the stimulus benefit 'poor and working class' people?

As an example, consider the stimulus bill, which I supported. That was a very flawed bill, complete with inefficiencies and even some giveaways to business. But having done my best to read and understand the entire bill, I believed that the benefits to poor and working class individuals and families sufficiently outwieghed the problems in the bill.

:shrug:

[Political Heretic]

12. Seeing as how I am poor, I can tell you. Or seeing as I wrote a policy analysis paper on ARR Act

First it extended unemployment benefits.

Second it granted one time relief in the form of payments to people receiving social security.

Third, it delivered massive, massive money to education, a very substantial and positive victory.

Fourth, it lowered taxes taken out of my paycheck, putting more money in my pocket each week. Wasn't much to someone with a lot of money, but to me it made a difference.

Increased funds for COBRA

Included over 10 Billion additional Dollars for housing

Approximately 5 billion dollars of additional money for job training services

Approximately 20 billion additional dollars for state and federal hunger programs

While spending on infrastructure was not nearly enough, what spending there has translated into state projects in my home state that have employed my neighbors. My state has some of the highest unemployment in the country, so clearly it's not enough. But it was more helpful than harmful, part of the criteria I used in evaluation.

The bill was far from perfect. But I use the criteria I describe in my OP, and conclude as I have.

[mmonk]

11. I guess I finally understand hope now.

[TheKentuckian]

15. I pretty much agree except I'd like to see Obama succeed

and I think he'll do very well if he takes care of the poor, workers, and the middle class.

[Political Heretic]

16. Hmm... "except" you'd like to see Obama succeed? So would I.