We do more to avoid fear than gain pleasure
Even since the campaign Obama's principles always seem open to influence. How many times has he accepted less than what he campaigned on? How many times has he quickly corrected himself, his staff or cabinet after they misspoke? How many times has Obama said in speeches and pressers "Let me be clear on this..."?
He does well to present himself as calm, cool and collected but his language and actions give him away. I think he's so caught up in preserving some sort of bi-partisan agreement that the republicans have wisely realized that and are using that against him. The more outrageous things that are said the more he is willing to go further to their side. Now with the unofficially announced agreement with Olympia Snowe, it seems he is willing to sacrifice yet again for an agreement with a single GOP senator, while supposedly counting on the support of the progressives to get the legislation passed.
Who exactly will be excited by this other than Rahm Emanuel? Let's imagine if it comes to be the proposed legislation, how much more vacillation will occur on the necessary conditions to engage the "trigger"? Then let's pit the legislation versus the insurance companies and however much time they have to "show" that they have met the conditions to avoid the trigger while of course also maximizing profits for shareholders. I'll bet my last penny the insurance companies will figure a way to beat the system and screw their consumers, cause that's what they are good at. One tell tale sign will be to watch the salaries of the CEO of PI after this "bi-partisan" trigger legislation is passed. Anybody think they will drop to try to cut costs? Hmmmm, maybe...No.
We rallied behind Obama last year because of the principles and ideals he spoke so eloquently of and no matter how much he deviates from them they are still there and still worth fighting for. Maybe it's still not the time or maybe Obama's not the leader for us but let this be the time that progressives show their mettle to Obama and the country and not yield another inch. How will he be able to vacillate from that if we don't support his latest concession? I'll be interested to see what he will say next week but I'm not planning on putting any tissues on the table near the TV.
Life after HC legislation (or not) will continue and we have to work hard again for 2010 and on. A loss for the right reasons is better than a win for the wrong ones. And we must keep in mind that what goes around comes around, and one day there will be a reckoning not only for the behavior we are seeing, but also for the behavior we are exhibiting, through this crucial point in our country's evolution.
See you at the March in DC on Sept. 13th