Reply #234: Thank you for your explanation and it seems we both heard [View All]

[sabrina 1]

him differently. I was difficult to interpret all of their positions on Healthcare, but in the end, having heard Obama make statements such as the one I linked to above, I and many others felt that he had a more compassionate view and understanding of the real life problems of the working poor, than Hillary who as I saw it, was pushing Romneycare, a Republican plan which gave more consideration to Big Business than to ordinary Americans. It wasn't the only deciding factor for me, but it was an important one. Hillary's war vote and her refusal to admit it was wrong, was another.

I would probably be more willing to give Obama the benefit of the doubt on having to compromise, were it not for the fact that from the beginning, those in support of a Single Payer system were banned from participation in the process. And furthermore, Rahm Emanuel's directive to liberal groups to stop criticizing Blue Dogs and to basically be quiet, was another indication that we never had a chance, not only of a Single Payer program, but even a choice from being forced to further enrich the predatory Health Insurance Industry. Obama has not explained his close association with these people, or his refusal to allow those who elected him to have a place at the table. We were completely shut out of the process.

As a result, he is losing support from his base. His poll numbers on Healtcare reform are down to 42%. Whoever is advising him probably thinks the base will vote Democratic no matter how badly they are treated because they have 'nowhere else to go'. I think they better rethink that strategy now, we've already seen what a Dem. majority means, and Bush is no longer around. Those two factors played a big role in an often disappointed base, sticking with the party up to now.

I guess we disagree on your last point. I do not believe that the Dems had to compromise from the beginning. I now believe that this was the plan all along, due mainly to the fact that this government is far more beholden to the Corporate world, than they are to the people who elect them. To change that there would have to be strong Campaign Finance legislation and a big change in who gets elected calling themselves Democrats.

In the end, bailing out the Insurance Industry appears to be the real goal of this legislation and once accomplished, I suppose they hope we'll 'move on' to other issues, in time to attract the base back for the next election. With the choices we have, that may well happen, but this was an issue that would have made this presidency one that would be remembered in the history books, as FDR is remembered. A President of the people. Now, it's just another president, who for whatever reason, bought into the Status Quo position that Corporate control of government is the best thing for the people. Even if the people don't agree. We'll have to wait for someone in the future, far more willing and able to take on those corporations I suppose. Meantime people will be punished once again, for being poor.