I admit the only reason I grudgingly support the health insurance reform act going through Congress now is that I hope it leads to single payer, or the Swiss system TAO has explained eventually. As far as bills go, this thing is a freaking ridiculous.
Only God and Harry Reid know how much in pork bribes went out to get the 60 votes just to bring it to the floor for debate. Only God knows how much more in pork bribery will be promised just to get the votes for a watered down, 2,100 page roll of toilet paper this will end up as. (I know my right leaning friends think it already is a 2,100 page roll of toilet paper.)
We're talking about making sure our own Citizens have access and are able to pay for quality health care and the only argument the right can make is to call it socialism. The only thing they argue for is malpractice reform. Even though they all agree that health care and health insurance costs are too freaking high and something needs to be done about it.
The republicans, every one of them even admitted government had an important role in getting flu vaccine to the American People. But not health care in general?
Now listen up you inconsistent hypocrites. Put your alternative bill up alongside the monstrosity going up now. You only need a few things:
Carriers allowed to sell across state lines.
Guaranteed acceptance.
One set of rules that all must follow.
Related groups of people allowed to form as a group for group coverage, like credit unions.
An arbitration committee appointed by the President and the leader of the party in Congress of a different political party. This would decide coverage disputes and merit of malpractice suits. Not judgement of them.
Now I admit that this isn't as easy or as fun as just calling us socialists. But as a fan of Abe Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt, I thought I owed it to their legacy to offer something to their party instead of the lunacy and vitriol it offers America.
12 comments:
Truth,
An arbitration panel and one set of rules not so much. Too much government control. I do agree their has to be rules.
How about a group like the Fed, only they do their business out in the open for everyone to see? As for who appoints them, how about the prez with advice and consent by the Senate. All out in the open.
I hate giving power to congress, but they're the only ones we can watch. They mostly work with justices and judges, regardless of ideology. The panel should be filled with doctors and nurses not government bureaucrats. Don't like them or trust them.
Most everything else I like, especially the toilet paper reference. The Repubs don't have much to offer either, so both are on the wrong path.
I posted some thoughts on my site.
sorry should be "there"
Here's step two LaOT. Have the republicans drop the bullshit about socialism and sell this plan with your tweaks.
They fell all over themselves loving America and our way of life with the lead up the the Iraq invasion. It would be nice if they could show the same patriotism and help insure America instead of wrapping themselves in the Flag demanding heads.
"Not too much government control..."
Yes, Yes....unless its a republican...
"Free markets" are the answer for everything....unless of course its defense and then we don't even care about competitive bidding.
Yes, the Fed should do their business out in the open! But so should the Vice President!
This country is doomed! Doomed because its leaders and its people care nothing about anything except POWER!
Our motto is now "To The Winner Goes The Spoils"
Republicans say they don't want a government takeover of health care and I say I don't want corporations/employers running health care.
So it comes down to your employer, who could lay you off in a heartbeat, having control along with corporations, who could turn you down because a pre-existing condition or just flat out refuse to pay for certain treatments, or
A single payer system, modeled one of the many fine plans that exist in the world.
Holte,
Yes, lament the control that big business has over our lives!
Have you heard on politician bring up the idea of doing away with the tax subsidies to businesses to provide healthcare to their employees?
Nope, because health insurers want the current system! Its easier to sell a group policy than it is having to sell to individuals!
Companies like it because it gives them control over their employees (just one more thing to lock people into their jobs!)
Its like the folks over at Swash Zone have just realized that big business is dominating their information flow and will eventually control our beloved freedom of speech...
But we fight over big business, nanny state, and statism...
Yet the whole time we are getting trapped within a corporate nanny state..which I believed was once referred to selling your soul to the company store...
You load 16 tons and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don't you call me cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store.
Truth,
It seems as though we are on the same page mostly. I think your confidence in government is misplaced, while you think my confidence in the free market is naive. Like an umpire, if both sides are pissed he's probably calling a fair game.
TAO,
I'm sorry you don't like Republicans, but I don't have confidence in them either. I would describe myself as a constitutionalist or a conservative.
Party doesn't matter anymore because they both spend our money without control. As for the VP, he's out of office.
I don't think we're doomed, but we are on the ropes. Something needs to be done about government in general, not just health care. It's all out of control.
It's time for the people to rise up and demand a redress of grievances. People in tea parties aren't right wing nuts, they're people who are concerned about spending. Obama has spend over $3.5 trillion so far in his first year in officer, more than any president in history. Bush spent $1.8 trillion and I thought he was crazy!
Good day sir.
I'm not a fan of the right wing solutions I suggested LaOT. I've just ahd my fill of a lifetime of listening to clowns bash every idea that comes their way. Then, when asked "what would you do?" They answer "I don't know. I just know that won't work." This is the response we get from the republicans on every issue. Along with their silly accusations of socialism.
I hope you can set an example in discourse and idea exchange for these jokers LaOT.
LAOT,
I pretty much see things the way you do except for one critical point: I do not believe that our politicians are aliens from some far off land but rather that they are representative of the standards of our society as a whole.
They TRULY do represent us!
Politics is no longer about seeking answers or solutions, nor is it about striving to make this country great or better...rather we find in politics a way of entertaining ourselves: Think of the whelm of politics like the Colesium in Rome, where we sit up in the stands and we allow our politicians to battle and then we sit in our homes on the internet and cheer one side or the other on to victory...or death.
Thats pretty much how I see politics and how I see 90% of the blogging world.
We talk about taking back our country and the disgust we all share a disgust in our leadership...but when given the chance to take the lead, like in the healthcare forum you and Truth tried to start...what happened? Everyone would rather entertain themselves by beating each other over the head with stupidity.
Realistically we are citizens of a bankrupt corporate welfare military industrial complex. If our borders were shut down today and we could no longer import anything we would die...
Truth and TAO,
I am a little frustrated too. I wish we got more response, but we need to keep plugging. There is a great amount of work to do here. We can just attack each other or we can try to conduct a constructive dialogue. We can only try. Have a great holiday.
Truth101,
For me, you said it all with that first paragraph, and I'm with you on that all the way.
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