*This is historic. I almost hate to write that, worrying that Joe Lieberman will suddenly feel his id erupt again and block final passage. But when this legislation passes, it will become the greatest progressive achievement since Medicare. Think about that for a minute. Liberals have been fighting for this since the mid-1930s and, yes, this legislation is flawed, but tis a far, far better thing to go back and fix something than it is to have nothing at all. I'm reminded of my constant refrain to graduate students: Give me a draft. I can't do something with nothing. Put it on paper. Health care is about to be on paper.
*But a public option won't be. That is the greatest disappointment. I expect to see it again. The United States needs to lower its health care costs. Competition in the market is the most efficient means to reduce costs. Some kind of public plan will appear down the road as a means to make dominant insurers (there are effective monopolies in many states) face the discipline of the market. Something these "conservatives" want to avoid at almost any cost. It's always hilarious to see how many conservatives truly hate the free market.
*For his work in the short term, Harry Reid, almost universally the object of scorn for months, will deserve a lot of credit. It may well cost him reelection. Evidently, Nevadans think its fine to commit adultery and pay off your mistress and her compliant husband, but it's just wrong to save tens of thousands of lives with health care reform. But Harry Reid will deserve a chapter in any updated version of Profiles in Courage. Speaking of which, let's all remember the long term efforts of Edward Kennedy in the Senate. 1962. He started on this project in 1962. RIP, Teddy.
*Seldom has a political party performed as badly as the current Republicans on this issue; only antebellum Democrats and "popular sovereignty" come to mind. Two key points. First, nothing could be more ludicrous than conservative complaints that Democrats are "rushing" the legislation. It's been debated since 1936 or so. This version has been out for a full year in Congress and for another couple of years on Barack Obama's campaign website. It was debated throughout the 2008 election. For Olympia Snowe to whine that it's been "rushed" while Democrats have spent the last year trying anything to make her happy (including another presidential meeting on Saturday) is the height of dishonesty. For Republicans to complain about Christmas Eve votes is yet more ludicrous; the votes could be held at any time, if only the Republicans would let them happen. Given what Tom Coburn said yesterday, they're clearly hoping that Robert Byrd will die before it's done. Nice. Very nice.
Second, it's difficult to remember such a policy failure on the part of a major party. President Obama was eager, nay, desperate, to have Republicans. Seldom has the opposition had such leverage. And they blew it. For instance, they could easily have had major tort reform, increased budget cutting, new cost control mechanisms, virtually everything was on the table. They didn't get a single thing. Zero. Zip. Nada. Compare that to Edward Kennedy's masterful performance on, for instance, No Child Left Behind, and you'll see the difference between adults and children.
*Republicans and centrist pundits are sure this is electoral suicide for Democrats; Democrats themselves are nervous. Nonsense. Sure, if historical patterns hold, Dems will lose some seats next fall. Incumbent parties generally do in off-year elections. But a disaster?
Think only about the next few weeks. Health care rolls through. Huge, triumphant signing ceremony, televised on all the cable stations, with Victoria Kennedy tearfully accepting a pen from the president. People perceive the president has beaten conservatives. America likes winners. Big State of the Union. Focus on jobs, jobs, jobs, with climate change thrown in. Some Republicans are onboard with climate change, so that starts moving faster than health care. President looks tough and strong. Gives another great speech doing so. America likes winners. Winter Olympics roll into town. Our part of the world. Prime time victories. Lots of coverage of happy Americans. America likes winners; feels better about itself and its president, even though this has little to do with him. Umemployment drops back down into single digits. Suddenly, President Obama starts to look, well, presidential. Really presidential.
The key to all of the current health care yammering? There is no substitute for victory. He's about to get a big one. A 3 or 4 times a century one. Good for him.
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Posted by: Term Papers | March 11, 2010 at 03:52 AM