I have had quite a bit of a back and forth over whether or not progressives trying to kill the bill is a good idea. As I stated earlier I think the best idea is to do it now, fix it later or through conference. I am sticking to the John Cole, Kevin Drum, and Steve Benen line of thought on this one. It does us no good whatsoever to walk out with nothing. The political climate of 2010 will be even more heated. Jobs are going to continue and the GOP will continue to throw temper tantrum after temper tantrum. Anyone thinking killing the bill will be triumphant in any way is in the words of John Cole, "smoking rock."
I find it rather disconcerting that people don't get this. Principal and ideology aside, progressives should be aware of history and what it tells us. It tells us if some kind of health care reform, like or not, does not pass the American people are screwed. The Democrats do not pass go, they don't collect 200 dollars and any piece of legislation thereafter will be treated with the same lies, corruption and Senatorial self-masturbation we have loved to loathe this past year. I am not suggesting 2010 will be 1994, however I do believe once the GOP and teabagger mob get a taste, they will want the whole fuggin shit sandwich. Heads will roll and the media won't help the progressive agenda or America in anyway. Iraq is a prime example of how the media will foam at the mouth with the idiotic and maniacal just to maintain their Village status quo. What's not to understand? You don't forfeit the game ahead 1 run in the top of the 9th inning. (oh yeah I threw in a sports metaphor, suck it Olbermann, two can play that game)
I get the bill in the Senate is crap compared to the purpose of progressive reform. I get that Lieberman is a douchebag as well as Nelson, Landrieu, Collins, Snowe, Baucus, the whole fuggin lot of them. I get that we are talking about people's lives, homes and livelihood, but that is why killing the bill is a terrible idea.
Kevin Drum:
When big legislative efforts go down in flames, they almost never spring back onto the calendar anytime soon — and that's especially true when big healthcare bills fail. It didn't happen in 1936, it didn't happen in 1949, it didn't happen in 1974, and it didn't happen in 1995. What makes anyone think it will happen in 2010?
If healthcare reform dies this year, it dies for a good long time.
Our foot is almost in the door, we shouldn't be closing it on ourselves.
I am Frank Chow and I approved this message.
1 comment:
It tells us if some kind of health care reform, like or not, does not pass the American people are screwed.
What is set up to pass the Senate is not reform. I'm sorry, but forcing people to buy insurance is not reform. It's a tax, and a regressive one at that. With a public option with actual competition against the health insurance industry, it's workable. But without that, it is not.
he Democrats do not pass go, they don't collect 200 dollars and any piece of legislation thereafter will be treated with the same lies, corruption and Senatorial self-masturbation we have loved to loathe this past year.
How does passing this bill change that dynamic? If anything passing this bill will make things worse because it will be clear that progressive policy goals can be dumped without consequence but conservative ones must always be heeded.
When big legislative efforts go down in flames, they almost never spring back onto the calendar anytime soon
Which is all the more reason to NOT pass the bill. If we pass this bill, we don't get the full effects of it until 2014. Then we're talking what 4-6 years after that before we come back and address it. In the mean time, what if Republicans do gain some seats back? What if concerns over deficit spending cause a pull back on those subsidies?
If health care is the crisis we all know it to be, then they will come back to it sooner if there's nothing than if there's some bad attempt at it.
Also, for the record, what I really support is passing that bill as it is, but passing a public option through reconciliation. That requires some coordination, but this bill without a public option does more harm than good in the long run.
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