Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Follow Dean:When it comes to evaluating the pending health care legislation, with all its complexities, it's nice to have someone experienced with legislation and health care as a guide. For me that person is Howard Dean. And here's his latest: Howard Dean: “Kill The Senate Bill” So that's where I am as well. MORE: John Cole: As far as I can tell, the Senate bill has been neutered down to the following changes:
1.) No more recission
2.) No more denial because of pre-existing conditions.
That pretty much is about all I can think of… The bill does nothing to curb costs, allows insurance companies to place caps on payments, bans drug re-importation, does nothing to foster competition.
Basically, unless I am missing something, this is basically the gift of 30 million or more customers at the cost of, well, very little. Maybe Dean is right.
posted by Quiddity at 12/15/2009 01:13:00 PM
3 comments
If the party follows Dean's advice, it'll be committing political suicide - 1994 redux. Pass the goddamned bill. I'm sorry, but it's the best it's gonna be for now. It'll have to be fixed later.
Starry-eyed progressives who expect perfection need a dose of reality. They're not going to get what they want. Social Security covered almost no one when it began. But we fixed it, as we fixed Medicare. If we lose the majority, we'll lose any opportunity to improve HCR. But the Jane Hamshers of the world would rather see the Republicans take over Congress than compromise their ideological purity.
death panel truck,
problem with your analogy. social security and medicare didn't amount to corporate welfare, like this bill does.
That's why I said it'll have to be fixed later, omen. Social Security and Medicare were fixed. If this bill fails, the Democrats are done. Guaranteed. It's sad some people are so committed to maintaining their ideological purity that they'll gladly stand by and allow the Republicans to take over Congress. That'll show 'em, won't it? The GOP will enact the perfect progressive HCR bill for ya, won't they?
(rolls eyes in disgust)
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