The Incredible, Shrinking Health Care Plan

[Better Believe It]

The Incredible, Shrinking Health Care Plan
By NORMAN SOLOMON
August 5, 2009

Like soap in a rainstorm, “healthcare reform” is wasting away.

Notions of universal healthcare are fading in the power centers of politics -- while more and more attention focuses on the care and feeding of the insurance industry.

Consider a new message that just went out from Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee, which inherited the Obama campaign’s 13-million email list. The short letter includes the same phrase seven times: “health insurance reform.”

The difference between the promise of healthcare for everyone and the new mantra of health insurance reform is akin to what Mark Twain once described as “the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”

Meanwhile, with a “mandate” herd of cash cows on the national horizon, the health insurance industry is licking its chops. The corporate glee is ill-disguised as the Obama administration pushes for legal mandates to require that Americans buy health insurance -- no matter how dismal the quality of the coverage or how unaffordable the “affordable” premiums turn out to be for real people in the real world.

The mandates would involve “diverting additional billions to private insurers by requiring middle class Americans to purchase defective policies from these firms -- policies with so many gaps and loopholes that they currently leave millions of our insured patients vulnerable to financial ruin,” says a letter signed by more than 3,500 doctors and released last week by Physicians for a National Health Program.

But what about “the public plan” -- enabling the government to offer health insurance that would be an alternative to the wares of for-profit insurance firms? “Under pressure from industry and their lobbyists, the public plan has been watered down to a small and ineffectual option at best, if it ever survives to being enacted,” says John Geyman, professor emeritus of family medicine at the University of Washington.

While the healthcare policy outcomes are looking grim, the supposed political imperatives are fueling the desires of Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill to produce a victory that President Obama can tout as healthcare reform. Consider this quote from “a prominent Democrat” in the August 10 edition of Time magazine: “Something called health-reform legislation will pass. The political consequences of not passing anything would be too great.”

Please read the complete article at:

http://www.counterpunch.org/solomon08052009.html

[Lorax7844]

1. K and R

[Autumn]

2. K/R

for all the good it does.

[PolNewf]

3. If only the progressives stopped whining and gave Dems some cover

Get out to those town hall meetings. Counter the birthers\teabaggers and demand a real public option. Bring video cameras!! Make news, get in the media.

I saw a report about a rally outside the capital yesterday, good to see people working but the capital isn't where they should be.

Whiners expect everything to be done for them without any effort on their part. If progressives spent half as much effort over the next few weeks as they did during the election campaign you would see at least a strong public option.

At the moment you are leaving the dems at the mercy of the birthers\teabaggers. From the perspective of this social liberal up north who already has universal healthcare (which both my social liberalism and fiscal conservatism sides supports) it isn't the fault of blue dogs or whimpy liberal congressman that the health care debate has been such a struggle. The democrtas are doing a fairly good job in my opinion given the almost complete lack of support from the people.

But please do continue to whine on message boards and pretend you aren't part of the problem.

[jefferson_dem]

5. Abso-fucking-lutely.

Correct.

Whiny purity progressives are an annoying lot - - and will bear a large burden of blame when policy compromises are the result.

[Better Believe It]

6. Please post the links to actions being organized by the Democratic Party ....

that you think we should participate in.

Can't find any?

If the Democratic Party, Move-On, labor unions and other progressive organizations wanted us to show up in big numbers for a real public option they would organize them, just as they did during the election campaign.

You suggest they want and need some sort of "cover". Really. If that's true, why are sitting on their hands instead of leading and organizing the kinds of actions you propose?

Effective and large demonstrations and protests never "just happen" because someone such as yourself on a discussion board advocates that strategy. I and many others on DU have also advocated demonstrations but the only groups that seem to be doing anything along those lines are the single payer advocates! And their actions have been publicized on DU.

[PolNewf]

11. Are you seriously asking a Canadian to post links for you?

FFS get off your ass and find your own links.

As to your whine about someone else not organizing things for you: if you think public healthcare is important get off your ass and organize yourselves.

[Better Believe It]

14. How can one find links that just don't exist? That was my point.

And your post had nothing to do with my point.

Tell you what, perhaps you can tell us what actions you are the big leader of.

Naw. Don't bother.

You're not here to discuss and debate in a civil manner.

You're now on ignore.

Bye Bye!

[PolNewf]

19. As a Canadian

There aren't really any actions I would want to be a leader of. I've been pretty happy with our governments since the early 90s when we started paying down national debt, allowed gay marriage, allowed gays in the military, allowed gay marriages in the military, decriminalized pot, kept conservative banking regulation that protected us during the banking crisis and expanded the economy with real production rather than make believe bubbles. Not much for Social liberal\Fiscal conservative not to like.

Hiding via ignore from a supporter trying to get you off your asses to fight for something better? I hope progressives have stronger willed people than this.

[Oregone]

18. Is a Canadian seriously asking people to stop whining about this "reform"

If this type of "reform" was so much as uttered in Canada, the jokers would have their asses thrown out of office in a monumental election. It would be DOA in Canada and laughed at. You must surely jest if you suggest that Americans should take it seriously.

[PolNewf]

20. You are right

We also aren't as set in a two party system as the US (we literally destroyed one of the 2 main parties in the 80s) so politicians are more scared of us.

But we are coming from very different places. You are not going to get here directly from where you are. It just isn't realistic even if it is the smartest thing you could do. So make the best of it, get the strongest posible public option, get your foot in the door then build on it later.

The way I see things going now I don't think any public option will survive, leaving you with absolutely no path to single payer.

[Oregone]

24. There is already a path to single-payer (and beyond) in the US

The foot is already in the door. There is Medicare in the US. You realize that, don't you? That is a REAL path to single payer (not some watered down entity with firewalls, that will only cover 11-12 million people by 2019).

The US already has a socialized insurance entity (Medicare/Medicaid). The US already has socialized health care (VA).

It is absolutely false and a complete lie (facade) to suggest the creation of some new self-funded, premium-sustaining, watered-down, firewalled entity that will cover few people (and thus, have no market influence) is the ONLY path to single-payer (it isn't a path at all). It is a lie. The US is completely positioned with the proper infrastructure already existing. They could cover so many more tomorrow (not 2013) by just expanding it with stream-lined legislation.

The entire public option is becoming a watered down distraction. 11 to 12 million is a drop in the bucket. The "reform" shouldn't be judged by this romantic notion that is being hacked away at. It is a selling point that will have a negligible impact in the long run. It was used as a carrot. This entire episode was all about a bait-and-switch, pulled off by the Democrats themselves (who should be ashamed).

All Americans should be demanding the ability to carry a Medicare card in their wallet, regardless of their age. Young people shouldn't have to run to Canada for that ability (as I have)

[PolNewf]

29. I agree

And you should be pushing for that BUT from everything I see I don't believe it will happen. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try, in fact you should have been doing so months ago.

The reality of today is the argument has been slowly won by conservatives. Your current reality because the argument has been shaped so badly is a public option, no public option or complete defeat.

Many here seem intent on the defeat option. I hope you realize the implications of such a defeat are pretty bad for liberals.

[Oregone]

8. You shouldn't whine at the whiners and expect anything to change

Why would they cover for a plan they don't believe in?

[PolNewf]

15. Then fight to make the plan better or as good as it can be

Politicians go where the people lead them.

You will not get a single-payer system right away but a strong public option would be a good first step. Even the public option which initially protects the insurance inductry is a good first step that you can build on\open up later. You need to get your foot in the door.

[Oregone]

17. If I sent you a piece of my shit and asked you to make it "better", wouldn't that offend you?

[PolNewf]

21. You are right

You should just accept the piece of shit as is and complain about it.

[Oregone]

22. Or reject it (flush it)

[PolNewf]

27. Which leaves you with the same shit

If Obama fails to get anything passed I doubt you will ever get another Dem president wanting to take on the issue.

There are only so many times the party will bang it's head against the wall before they realize they are hurting themselves for no good reason. Health care will go the way of gun control.

I'm only a spectator of this fight and I'm incredibly frustrated by liberal efforts. I'm watching people I would rank slightly above cavemen outsmart and outhustle you.

[Oregone]

28. Yes, it leaves the US with a real socialized insurance system that can be incrementally expanded

And thats not such a terrible thing at all. It should of been the starting point instead of this crap.


"I'm watching people I would rank slightly above cavemen outsmart and outhustle you."

Half the problem is what they are trying to accomplish. How can they expect anyone to stand with them on that hollowness?


Could the Liberal Party really accomplish much in Canada (with a minority government) by telling the NDP and the Bloc the fuck off, then infighting? Basically, those groups are what the Democrats in the US are, more or less.

[Engineer4Obama]

30. So reform dieing in its crib

Is not such a bad thing? I'm confused as to where this socialized insurance system is going to come from. Because we have our reform efforts squashed before and guess what took its place. The GOP didn't suddenly say oh wow how could we have been so wrong to stand against reform we're going to purpose something even more liberal now, or is it the blue dogs that will suddenly come to their senses and vote against their cash flow? What is crap about the current bill could you give specifics? Is it the end of the pre-existing condition insurance denials? What about providing subusdies such that millions of uninsured could get insurance?

Btw what is your insurance status I'm insured through work?

[Oregone]

32. "'m confused as to where this socialized insurance system is going to come from"

It already exists. Have you not heard of Medicare?


My insurance status? I have Medicare, from the British Columbian MSP. Its insurance I believe in. Ive never had such coverage in my decades in the states. My premiums are $108 a month for my entire family (no matter the size) with no copay or deductible

[Engineer4Obama]

34. I'm not 65 yet

So I can't get medicare. As a matter of fact I'm 23 I have multiple uninsured friends who are unemployed and therefor uninsured, what if something happens to them while we're waiting for the right time to pass single payer. Last time it took 16 years for health reform to come back into the public discussion how long do you think it will take this time?

[Oregone]

35. Im not 65 yet either...

Im not even 30. I had to move to another country to get coverage (though you won't hear me complaining, as I wanted to).

Until Americans get serious about real reform, does it matter how long it takes? All reforms in the meantime will still leave plenty bankrupt.

Maybe when someone comes to the table with something to believe in, theyll have a force of people sitting there with them. But all long as you are willing to settle for crap, hey, the floor is the limit.

[PolNewf]

31. Well

Nothing happens in Canada with a minority government. Which isn't a big deal these days as we are mostly content. I don't even hear much grumbling about Afghanistan since Obama took over (there was a quite a bit previously).

You seem to think if this current effort is defeated you can try again later with a better approach. I think if the current effort is defeated you will be lucky if you get the chance to try again 20 years from now, if ever.

The ghosts of "hillarycare" and "obamacare" will be huge.

[Oregone]

33. I want them to try now with a better approach, not later.

Try and keep trying. I judge success by results, not political capital. As far as I can tell (passing or not), they failed the moment they shut down all debate from the left. This preserved the private multi-payer structure for generations to come.

[PolNewf]

36. It may not be what you want

but it is what Obama campaigned on. It is also smart in my opinion because I doubt it is possible to get to where you want in one step.

Look at the electorate, you have a good third that are absolutely and unreasonably committed to oppose anything Obama does. You have 20% liberals.
The rest are easily scarable independents.

The healthcare fight is going badly now even with just this small public option, if they had come out with single payer it would not have gotten anywhere. You need to make that 40% not scared of public healthcare before you are going to get anywhere.

[Autumn]

37. Our politicians don't seem to want to

go where we are trying to lead them . They only seem to represent the constituents (insurance companies) who pay them the most money. The rest of us are shit out of luck.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. K/R

[Cha]

7. EPIC WHINE.

[grantcart]

43. not really just more of the 'run of the mill' whine from counterpunch

It can't be considered 'epic' when its done on an hourly schedule.

[BlooInBloo]

9. You people are united with the right wing against health care, and there's a good possibility...

that you people will win.

Congratulations.

[Better Believe It]

25. "You people"???? What kind of healthcare are you for?

Not vague generalities now.

Would any old kind be all right with you so long as it can be called some kind of healthcare insurance reform?

I've been crystal clear on what kind of healthcare I'd like to see.

I'm listening.

[Oregone]

26. Any that has flowery speeches selling it.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

38. You two ought to get married. You're perfect for each other.

:rofl:

[PurityOfEssence]

39. Allow me to explain

"You people" is a primitive nerve-net discharge against anyone who differs even slightly with the Administration, and particularly the president. It's a Nelson Muntz kind of discourse.

You're wasting your time if you expect orderly, respectful specifics from a drive-by taunter.

Obviously, there comes a point where a bill is hardly worth passing, but whatever watered-down version we get should be SOME improvement, and I'll bet the reluctant leftists will get behind whatever it is, even if it also buttresses the princes of privilege and costs a pretty penny.

This is our time to speak up and ask for something sensible; the thought-herders can shriek all they want that we're just hurting the administration by piping up, but we need to bring pressure to bear. Why the holy god of profiteering must be so debasingly sucked-up to is mystifying, especially when we have a sizable majority in both houses. Blue dogs can only do so much, and if the administration was really serious about covering everybody, they'd twist the arms of the vulnerable ones (ones in relatively "safe" districts who could be threatened with a primary challenger) and get a little party unity going.

The problem is that the administration isn't really all that hot on taking on Medicine Incorporated. Whether it's a misbegotten belief in the glories of corporatism or uncertainty in its own direction doesn't much matter.

Nobody ever gives up power; that's the dark truth about bipartisanship, and true change is risky.

[SpartanDem]

10. What disingenuous and dishonest piece

The WH has all but said that they want to emphasize insurance reform aspect of the bills because so much the debate has focused the uninsured "If you're an American with insurance, you're saying, 'Where am I in this debate?' " said senior White House adviser David Axelrod. "We want to make sure that people understand" the many items in the legislation targeted to such individuals.".

Funny how that inaccurate LA Times article get cited, but this info with refutes it doesn't. One would think this someone who has been following this issue closely, but I know facts like this can be awfully inconvenient.

House Compromise Would Let Medicare Negotiate Drug Prices
The government would be authorized to negotiate prices in Medicare’s prescription drug program under an agreement Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats struck Friday on its health overhaul bill.


http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=cqmidday-000003183702

[Better Believe It]

12. That "compromise" you applaud is what the "blue dog" conservative Democrats demanded!

And this concession to health care industry and their political whores in Congress was denounced by the Congressional Progressive Caucus!

You didn't bother to read their statement or are they just a bunch of wacko liberals in your opinion?

Honesty indeed!

[SpartanDem]

16. The blue dogs demanded medicare be able negotiate drug prices?

I don't think so. This is a major victory that you and author seems to ignore.

[Better Believe It]

23. That's exactly what the blue dogs demanded. It was a step backward from the original bill

You wrote: "This is a major victory that you and author seems to ignore."

Ya don't say.

Is that why 60 liberal members of the House signed a letter protesting that concession to the blue dogs and medical industry, because they saw it as a major victory?

Now let's deal with facts instead of fiction.

Before the capitulation to the conservative blue dogs, the bill provided for "reimbursment rates based on Medicare rates", not the government negotiating rates with the industry.

Read the original bill.

And read the Congressional Progressive Caucus denouncing this concession.

"Any bill that does not provide, at a minimum, for a public option with reimbursement rates based on Medicare rates - not negotiated rates - is unacceptable. It would ensure higher costs for the public plan, and would do nothing to achieve the goal of "keeping insurance companies honest," and their rates down."

Here's the link to their letter:

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/in-letter-house-progressives-object-to-blue-dog-public-option-compromise.php?ref=fpa

[KansDem]

13. But...but...let the screamers steal the floors of townhall meetings?

We can show indignation and (try) to redirect the focus of the forum on what the Senator/Representative has to say. We can say stuff like, "Excuse me, but I'd like to hear what Sen/Rep has to say..." and "Sir/Ma'am, you're being rude and I can't hear..."

You know, stuff like what we said when they stole Election2000 and got us into Iraq...

[MarjorieG]

40. No guarantees on anything that passed the House to make it through.

[paulk]

41. posting crap from "counterpunch"

hurts your credibility.

just my advice....

[AzDar]

42. K & R