I'll be honest, this diary is more for myself than for others. Like many, I've had to do a lot of soul searching on this health care bill. As recently as a month ago, I sincerely thought the best thing to do would be to derail it and start over. I'm now on the other side of that debate.
Passing this Senate bill would be an achievement. You can debate what kind of achievement, but regardless, it pushes the ball in the direction we need to move. It does exactly what the Republicans fear- opens the door for further reforms, so that we can move ever closer to Medicare for All or some other single payer setup. It gets government more involved in places it has allowed rampant corporate abuse for years. It is a step forward, and is not inconsequential.
I disagree with those who think it entrenches the current insurance system- once government is involved with regulating these biggest abuses, and with proper pushing for further reform, the rationale for further regulation of private insurance is established. To me, this bill has been turned into a referendum on government's place in health care. I want more government in health care, because government is a force for social good and in the context of health care, private interests have been a force for social evils.
Therefore, I want this bill passed, and then another bill improving on this one a couple years down the road, and another after that, until everyone has affordable access to quality health CARE, not just health INSURANCE. But the time to start that, it seems to me, is now.
That being said, I want to chronicle in this diary what the other side says about health care reform. I want to remember why I'm so disgusted with them, why what Congress is about to do is more right than wrong, and why everyone on all sides need to continue to push for more progress over time. Call it a chronicle if you will, a shit list of a kind, or a grudge list for those who openly defend the status quo. It's easy to forget when your 'friends' include people like Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman, but it's worth remembering, at least for me.
Anti Choice Activists Protest Health Care Reform
Opponents of the legislation, including members of Congress, are scheduled to take part in a national townhall at the Family Research Council's headquarters in Washington, D.C., Tuesday night.
"This national townhall webcast will mobilize tens of thousands of Americans for a final stand against a bill that would force Americans to support Planned Parenthood in the killing of unborn children, saddle families with higher insurance premiums, raise our taxes, and deny our parents and grandparents the essential health care they need," said FRC Action President Tony Perkins in a statement.
The lies contained in that one ridiculous run-on sentence is a whole diary in itself. But this is what these types of people are saying every day.
Corporate Insurers Try to Buy Congress
The health insurance industry has been rocked by allegations of profiteering and price gouging. In the past month, several major providers including WellPoint and Humana have come under fire for their proposed rate hikes on individual health insurance plans. Now, reports reveal the two companies spent a large chunk of change lobbying the federal government in the fourth quarter 2009 when the health care debate was particularly heated.
The news comes as no surprise to industry veterans. Health insurance companies spend millions yearly to try and influence Congress and the government at large. President Obama’s proposed health care overhaul would wreak havoc on the health insurance system as it is today.
Private insurers like WellPoint who owns Blue Cross Blue Shield in 14 states, would face steeper taxes, higher overhead and a larger pool of members who possess pre-existing conditions and poor health. For health insurance providers, sick people are more of a burden on them. They raise up costs, while medical care spikes up in tandem.
WellPoint alone spent $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Humana spent slightly more - $1.3 million. Critics charge that health insurance companies are merely playing for influence and have no legitimate reason to raise premiums on individual health insurance plans other than to profit for it.
I used to work for one of these companies. I sincerely regret it. Back then, as I am sure is the case now, health insurance companies had no issues with urging their employees to get involved in their political causes. For example, Health Savings Accounts. I was often asked to write my Congressperson to urge more cost-shifting to patients, more freedom for insurers to do whatever the hell they want, and for greater government support of screwing people over. They are fighting this, and we should remember after this week that they fought us every step of the way. This battle isn't over.
Dueling Health Care Rallies in Indiana
Speaking Monday at the rally organized by the Indianapolis Tea Party, U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., assured those gathered: "I've got news for you: They don't have the votes."
That brought cheers from people such as Russell Siler, a 56-year-old retired Chrysler worker, and Lynnette Hammond, a 44-year-old nurse, who had driven from Kokomo to make their opposition known.
"We don't need government-run health care," Siler insisted.
He and Hammond said they also fear the bill will provide funding for abortion.
When Mike Pence says something, for whatever reason, for whatever subject, I just like seeing him proved wrong. I don't know why, but it's kind of a visceral reaction. Reading this article, in this moment, I want nothing more than for Nancy Pelosi, in my opinion the greatest Speaker since at least Tip O'Neill and maybe even Sam Rayburn, to wipe the floor with him and his petulant friends in Congress. (Also, I have to laugh a bit at that old "we don't need government run health care" line out of someone who is probably going on Medicare in the next decade sometime)
Missouri House Revives Nullification Doctrine
JEFFERSON CITY | Missouri House members have approved a state constitutional amendment that seeks to block a government mandate to buy health insurance.
The measure was approved 109-46 on Tuesday and now goes to the Senate. Republican supporters say they are trying to "draw a line in the sand" to oppose a federal health care overhaul that would require most to get health insurance.
The proposed state constitutional amendment would ban penalties or fines from being levied against individuals and employers who opt out of insurance and pay directly for their own health care. Medical providers could not be penalized for accepting direct payments for health care.
Some Democrats say the state is trying to block health care changes that could help many Missourians.
Welcome to 1833! The Nullification Doctrine - at least in my mind - was thoroughly discredited in one of the bloodiest wars in our nation's history and initially discredited even earlier than that by one of the key people in the history of the Democratic Party, Andrew Jackson. Whatever you think of the mandate, whether it's good or bad, there is a higher principle at work here- the ability of the federal government to make positive changes in the lives of citizens of ALL the states.
Finally, a small piece of wisdom that I had learned as far back as 2001, but which has been hammered home during the health care debate:
BEWARE OF REPUBLICANS BEARING POLITICAL ADVICE.
"Democrats listening to Sen. McConnell on healthcare is like a chicken taking advice from Col. Sanders," said Rodell Mollineau, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
And now I remember why I got so up in arms in 2008. Feel free, if you are so inclined, to post your own shit lists in the comments. I left out Democrats here, but you're welcome to take that up if you are so inclined.