It is very sad to me that...

[Writer]

between all of the heated rhetoric, political posturing, procedural maneuvers in Congress, and the back and forth complaints about what is or is not in the bill, or who is or is not benefiting politically from the process, that...

...lost in the fray is the ongoing reality that Americans are suffering because of skyrocketing health insurance premiums and a lack of access to quality health care.

[mr715]

1. Politics and Purity

Its devastating.

The left wants the perfect to be the enemy of the good.

The right wants the left to fail to regain profane power.

In the middle, people are suffering and dying.




MR

[QC]

2. Yes, both sides are equally guilty.

:eyes:

[mr715]

4. Not both sides are equally guilty

But both sides deserve some blame.

[quakerboy]

3. I challenge that assertion

First, i suppose it would be best to have you define "the left".

I tend to think of myself as part of the left. And I am rather annoyed with this, in my opinion, played out "perfect/good" cliche. I would settle for the good in a heart beat. I do, however, have a problem with the inadequate.

[QC]

5. Why must you people make the corporate sellout the enemy of the mediocre???

Why???

[mr715]

6. I have a problem with the term inadequate

I, too, would take good in a heartbeat but its human nature to play politics.

I think its pretty obvious that Democrats, had they rallied together, could have passed HCR. They didnt because they had their own little interests and it tore the whole apart.

[quakerboy]

8. Democrats yes.

But democrats and "the left" are not, in my understanding synonymous.

I qualify something as inadequate if it would not significantly help the truly destitute, while at the same time causing trouble for the lower middle class. And that was what I saw/see on the table.

[mr715]

9. Sophistic difference

Sorry for not defining my terms. I meant Democrat to equal Left, just because thats how I do things in my head. I know its not a perfect alignment and I know the Democratic title is a broader spectrum than is "left".

I just think, with regard to health care, even a wildly conservative plan that provides coverage is better than nothing. Some pills cost $40 a piece or higher. ANYTHINGS gotta be better than that! Hell, I'll give big pharma an extra billion a year if it drops that price down one nickel.

But I'm an incrementalist.

[quakerboy]

10. Not so, and not fair at all

It is a difference with huge importance. With the radicalization of the Republican party, self describing Democrats range the spectrum from at least middle right to hard left.

As to the rest of your comments.. If the proposed reform does not help my aunt on welfare, and does not help my MIL living on the edge, but does cost me my financial ability to see a Dr, how is that incremental improvement?

I would happily take incremental improvement. I just do not accept a private pay mandate without any real accountability as improvement, incremental or otherwise. I think we are due for single payer. But bring back the current plan, sans private pay mandate, just some squishy reforms, and I would call that a success. An incremental start. Bring it back with a public option, and much as I think single payer is the way to go, I would be jumping for joy.

I have ideals, but I also see the value of pragmatism. I do not see the value of a victory in name only, selling the farm to pass a bill that fails in accomplishing any of the necessary goals.

[truth2power]

14. Slam dunk post!! That term is most often used

to invalidate and to shut down discussion, while foisting off on people what is clearly INADEQUATE.

Excellent point!

[Quantess]

7. No. I mean, it is "devastating" but I disagree with you otherwise.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. You claim that only those 'in the middle' are suffering?

Now that is a new level of BS from the pro mediocrity set.

[freddie mertz]

11. So we should just applaud them if they manage to pass ANYTHING, no matter how screwed up it is?

That is just silly.

[QC]

13. We should always applaud them, period, whether they achieve anything or not.

GO TEAM!!!

[vaberella]

15. I don't know. Many on DU share views like Kucinich that the bill should be scrapped.

Even if said bill would help millions. So what do you say to them?