By now most of us have heard what we need to about health care reform. We have heard the Republicans - and some centrist Democrats - deride the Public Option as "socialize medicine" and "bureaucracy." On the other side, we have heard Obama call the Public Option a sensible way to keep the health insurance industry honest; though he refuses to "draw lines in the sand" about health care reform.
Beginning with his Weekly address (see video) Obama has taken a stronger tone. Tonight especially, President Obama emphasized the need for a public plan. Too many people cannot afford private insurance. The new Public plan will provide needed coverage to millions of Americans and help to regulate the Health insurance industry: it will have to compete with the private plan (which is better for Americans) are cease to exist. Importantly, President Obama explained that in addition to a public option, there must be strong regulations on the health insurance industry to prevent their usual tactics of denying care, such as pre-existing condition clauses.
I confess that Obama did not provide us with any new information about what he wants in a health care plan or when he wants it. Although he also explained why he can't wait longer for the health care reform. But the President has become firmer in his support for a public health insurance option - he is beginning to draw that line in the sand.
The media, as usual, was something of a farce. They started from the point that privatized care is the norm and there is nothing really wrong with it. From most of the media questions you would think that health care reform is radical idea and a Public option a strange notion. This is, of course, absurd. Polls have shown us over and over again that the public want reform and most other countries have public health care plans. In fact, we have an excellent public health care plan here: medicare. Our media showed tonight, once again, that they are out of touch with the American people and merely speak for the Washington and corporate establishment.
The prospects for reform remain very scary. My prediction is that there will no republican votes in favor of Health reform. There will, however, probably be over 50 democrats voting for health reform. But two problems remain. First, the bill voted on may be far to weak to really matter. But even if the bill is a good one, we have another problem: The Republicans will attempt to filibuster Health care reform. The fate of health care reform will then lie in the hands of the so-called "centrist" Democrats. These democrats could make or break health care by lining up with their part to overturn a Republican filibuster or refusing to do so. We shall see what these "centrist" do.
My Matt Wion
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
