General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: This message was self-deleted by its author [View all]cheapdate
(3,811 posts)any viable system will include cost controls. Even a not for profit public system will have cost controls. That's reality.
As it was, the health care reform law passed without a single vote to spare -- including all 58 Democrats and both independents (Lieberman and Sanders). Robert Byrd had to be wheeled onto the senate floor in his wheelchair to cast his late-night vote for cloture to move the bill for a full vote.
The Democrats had a 60-vote majority in the senate for only a window of time -- between the time when Sen. Al Franken was finally seated and the time when Scott Brown won the special election to replace Ed Kennedy.
It's easy to call the health care law "inexcusable" but it could have just as easily fell short by one or two votes and died -- just as the DREAM Act did.
We would have completely blown any opportunity to make any positive change. Insurance companies would be free to continue dropping policy holders when they get sick, denying coverage to the very people who needed it the most, etc. There's no telling when, if ever, there would be another opportunity. Certainly not now and not in the near future either.
It's easy to call it "inexcusable" when you're not the one counting votes in the senate and weighing chances for winning or losing while the window for action is closing.
I think the law does a lot of good and is a good start. The SCOTUS decision on Medicaid expansion was a big blow, but in the long run it may help to turn opinion in some red states where governors and legislatures have refused the expansion, so it too may wind up being a positive.
One day we may have a congress ready to work again to improve health care. Obviously, that means a Democratic congress because as long as the Republicans have any control at all it's not going to happen.
Vote for progressive Democrats.