One's head reels pondering the wrong-headedness and scattershot efforts of all three. The Democratic "Party", for one, is so fractured you would think they were several distinct parties: Blue Dogs, Progressives, Gang of This, Caucus of That - you name it. Dems in Congress - and, dare I say, the White House? - have forgotten the core values for which the Democratic Party once stood, the same values embraced by over 130 member nations of the UN, which adopted Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights way back in 1948:
"Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of himself and his family, including food, clothing, housing, medical care, necessary social services and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control."
It is not hard to see that in the intervening decades there has been little progress in social or economic rights in this country to match the clear gains in civil and political rights. The Democratic Party must go back to its glorious roots and become once again the party of the people, instead of the special interests.
Congress and the White House are controlled by Dems, yet all we hear about is the unity and determination of the minority party, particularly in their "majority" of 41 in the Senate. Republicans seem to have controlled the debate on all pressing issues, with their message amplified exponentially by their lackeys in the right-wing media and the Tea Party militia. Assisting them, too, are those treacherous Blue Dogs - holding sway in the healthcare reform debate while progressives were neutered, joined in the department of gutlessness by their "leaders" in the Progressive Caucus. Where was their collective voice that should have been pressing for H.R.676, the bill for an Improved and Expanded Medicare for All that had 88 cosponsors? Instead, their silence deafened.
H.R.676 would have created 2.5 million new jobs and delivered better healthcare at lower cost for all Americans, while reducing the national debt and finally getting healthcare costs under control. The majority of the nation supported a national health program, and a new safety net would have been born in the tradition of the New Deal and the Great Society programs. But instead the Dems started from a position of compromise - eventually only offering a "public" option that maintained and expanded the insurance industry while insuring relatively small numbers. Then they collapsed from even that weak position at the last moment, all while Nancy Pelosi continued to proclaim "public option, public option!" only days before the bill's signing into law. Yet the public option had mysteriously evaporated.
Obama's version of healthcare reform is a bill that was written with considerable assistance from the insurance industry and its hired lobbyists, all without a whimper from the left wing of the party, whom we can safely assume were also in the pocket of lobbyists and the corporate donors to their campaigns. A golden opportunity squandered in favor of the spineless philosophy of "something is better than nothing!"
Then we turn to the role - or, more accurately, non-role - of unions during those last weeks of the healthcare reform debate, when Richard Trumka, President of the AFL/CIO, met with our president to wheedle for those coming taxes on "Cadillac" plans to be held off until 2018. This union, with over 11 million members, supports H.R. 676 and could have been a force for change once again, lifting all boats as it did in the late 40's when it helped to create the middle class. Instead, it self-served its own small vision. They could have joined with advocacy organizations to build a strong movement for Improved Medicare for All (H.R.676). Their organizing skills and money and the pressure they could have placed on the Senators and Representatives in DC and at home could have been the game changer. Yet they sat on their hands, uninvolved. In the midterm elections we will see what - if anything - these unions are made of.
And finally there are the "Single Payer" activists, failing to raise serious funds to launch advertising and also failing to understand what messaging and branding are really all about. A lesson could be learned from the Tea Party, who certainly seem to know a thing or two about how to stay on message, much like their counter parts in the Republican caucus. And where was moveon.org?
If we are to have any hope of success in the midterm elections, Dems in Congress must unite and stick to their guns in the face of Republican opposition, and union power must show itself and unite with progressive activist organizations to move the Democratic base and other hard-working Americans to support legislators who will work for the people. It is time to lift those boats once again.
Additional content by Jon Stone
Check out the website at healthcare-now.org for the location and time of this important event .I intend to be there,
We no longer have a 2 party system, it seems (in my opinion)- just two wings of the Republican party. Very few "progressives" in the Dem. party. And those progressives represent what the whole Democratic party used to be. Tragic how things have changed. All most of our legislators seem to care about is getting re-elected- not daring to really take a chance and stand up for THE PEOPE! Stand up for what is right- from the only true solution to our health care problems- single-payer HR676, to the restoration of the Glass- Steagall Act, to public works projects (WPA style) and a moratorium on forclosures, with mortgages re-negotiated to keep people in their homes. Just as a beginning.
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Accordingly, Ms. Korn reminds us that, in order to decipher the pivotal matter of healthcare reform we must resort to the bedrock's pledge of the United Nations (UN): the UN "adopted Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights way back in 1948": "Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health...medical care..."
Though, it seems that progress has been held back. And, since the Democratic Party is controlling the White House, Congress, and the House of Representatives, I would like to address the healthcare reform's progress from that perspective.
Consider what Ms. Korn had to say in that regard: "The Democratic Party must go back to its glorious roots and become once again the party of the people, instead of the special interests." As well, Ms. Korn asserted: "A golden opportunity squandered in favor of the spineless philosophy of 'something is better than nothing!'"
In conclusion, the core issues of healthcare reform must not be trumped with empty rhetoric. Please consider one aspect of the healthcare reform's bill, namely, while Ms. Nancy Pelosi "...continued to proclaim 'public option, public option!' only days before the bill's signing into law. Yet the public option had mysteriously evaporated;" therefore, I believe that Ms. Korn is justified to raise the healthcare reform's issues!!! Rosario
It's great to have hit all of the right notes with you. Indeed that is not always the case, as I have been know to receive some sharp and pointed criticism in the past. get .But is important to say it and let the chips fall where they may.
The billion dollar question is how do we achieve all of the ingredients in the UN Declaration of Human Rights?? We must of course clean up D.C. and remove the toxic funding from legislators campaigns.
There is an old Italian's adage, which states as follows: "OGNI COSA A SUO TEMPO", that is, 'each thing has its own time (to excel.)' With that thought in mind, the time of reckoning WILL come! It is just matter of time, because sooner or later, conventional wisdom must prevail. At present, I would like to reiterate that you have highlighted quite a few matters that must be addressed. From my perspective, I have a simple approach to address matters that need attention. C'est- a-dire, with patience, persistence and perseverance (aka the P3's common man's basic rule) the SKY is the limit. You can BANK on that. Un caro saluto, Rosario
Most troubling: no Democrat had the courage to say the MA plan, model for Obamacare, was harming many as well as the state budget, and a serious look should be taken regarding what was being peddled in DC. Their failure was not for lack of facts such as: nearly monthly, disenrollments outpace enrollments in the subsidized plans - an important story.
Many in MA pay costly penalties enforced by the Dept. of Revenue because they can't afford the "affordable" insurance. Others struggle to pay the cheapest, state-approved coverage but can't afford to use it. Some intentionally lower incomes to get cheaper penalties or more affordable insurance - bad for morale and bill paying.
Obamacare will adversely affect millions. How many is it OK to exploit to benefit a few?
Under Obamacare, citizens eligible for expanded Medicaid have no choice. Many don’t want this plan, especially those 55 and up because of the federally-required estate recovery which takes assets upon death for some or all benefits received. Obama said all Americans would have choice. He also said mandated insurance, not a mandated collateral loan!
Under Medicare for All, everyone would have uniform benefits with access to all doctors and hospitals. No one would be subjected to insurer’s whims, Medicaid disparities, the toxic estate recovery provision or IRS harassment for inability to purchase insurance.
For more on the MA plan, visit www.masshealthlawtruth.org.
Your last paragraph certainly sums it up and the estate recovery aspects are particularly troubling. And folks reducing their incomes to pay smaller fines or opt into cheaper plans. Something is seriously wrong here that does a great dis service to the residents of the State as well as to the coffers of the state. A loss for both.
I hope folks will go to your web site which is informed and documented. No one else has displayed this courage in documenting the failures of the Mass. Health Plan.
Despite the increased power of the insurance industry from government subsidies and the insurance mandate, single payer is coming. The new health law will demonstrate that single payer is the only workable solution. The U.S. will continue to see millions without insurance, health bankruptcies, tens of thousands of preventable deaths and uncontrolled costs. The new law puts greater financial stress on government with the expansion of Medicaid and the insurance subsidies. Health coverage will be reduced while prices rise forcing many to go without health care or pay something they can't afford. The US will discover the new health law is financially unsustainable.
We'll also learn that the insurance industry is not regulate-able. We saw rapid rate increases in recent weeks and no price controls under the new law. Since the new law, insurance companies have designated administrative costs as medical costs to meet the requirement that more be spent on health care. And, the CEO of United Health received $102 million in income for 2009. Insurance problems will continue.
The single payer movement grew significantly this year and became more aggressive and vocal. The leaders of the movement are not stopping but organizing. The next time the health crisis comes to the forefront they will be prepared; while insurance is unworkable.
Agreed that the single payer movement will build and continue to grow. We must also work to bring moveon into the fold They have never supported single payer. Their three million members must become better informed so they understand that this is the only viable solution to ending health care disparities while delivering better health at lower costs.
I worry that the expansion of Medicaid will increase our class defined health care system, as a system for the poor. Of course Improved Medicare for one and all would remove that stigma.
We have learned a great deal as the health care bill unfolded and worked its way through congress. And the Supreme Court's recent decision has placed our nation on alert,
As we continue to work and build the movement for single payer we must also work for strong public financing of campaigns. Until then real health care reform and a host of other national issues will be less than we want or deserve.
Excellent article and very clear. Yes, the Democrats were (are) likewise in the pockets of the health industries who are profitting from the status quo and assisted in writing the legislation to their specifications. In the past decade, campaign contributions from the health insurance industry have risen by 73% for a total of $373 million dollars and half of those dollars went to the chairs and members of the committees that work on health legislation. It doesn't matter what party the members were, the industry gives to whomever is "relevant." This is according to a report realeased by Common Cause last summer.
Improved Medicare for All is the only solution that will both control health care costs and allow all people in this nation to have health security - to know that they can get the health care they need when they need it without placing themselves at risk of financial ruin. There is a strong movement for single payer, a concept that the majority of people already endorse, and it's growing. It is under the radar because the mainstream media is also in the pockets of the powerful health industries. Check out reports at FAIR.org to read about that. We will not be able to match their financial resources, but we will prevail because we speak the truth.
Of course, the single payer movement welcomes assistance from individuals and organizations such as MoveOn and labor.
I look forward to seeing you at the Teach-in! Onward!
Margaret
Since then Margaret Flowers has emerged as a leader in the single payer movement. For that we will always be grateful.
See you at the teach-in.
But here we had a major sellout by mostly the Democrats and Obama, who himself received $20 million from the industry. That we even allow cash to flow between our private interests and public figures is a crime in itself. Good bills do not require cash to flow; only bad bills do.
This Fair Elections Act is a bill worth fighting for. And along with it any loop holes that exists in the recent sell out by the Supreme Court must also be closed. Corporations are not people. Serious legislation must be engaged in now on these issues.
I'm a full-time Emergency medicine physician and long-time member of Physicians for a National Health Program, currently running for the 3rd time for IL's 15th Dist. seat in the U.S. House. Through a lot of hard work over the past few years, we've cut the standard 35-40 point GOP lead in this heavily Red district down to about 10-14 points, but there's still no help forthcoming from the DCCC, DNC, etc. Even the union dollars flow to my GOP opponent-- apparently the unions fear offending him. At an individual level, the single-payer activists are great... tough to garner the support of leaders of their organizations, though.
I'll keep plugging away, though-- the lack of support from some quarters is frustrating, but I'm re-energized with each shift that I work in the E.R.-- watching the abysmal state of our health care system provides me with all the energy I need to eventually take this seat in IL-15 and become a leader in the movement toward meaningful health care reform.
Your passion and dedication to winning that seat for the House in IL's 15th. district is inspiring. You see steady progress in your run, and how great it would be to see the DCCC and the DNC get behind you instead of those tepid Dems without a spine.The people's agenda can only be served with candidates like you, and so the Dem party must refocus the meaning of what it truly means to be a Democrat as.Its priorities need serious revision.
And indeed shame, shame on the unions for supporting your GOP challenger. I am glad I have focused on their failure and the activist community ,and the party. All three should dedicate them selves to moving a Dr. Gill into his office on Capitol Hill in Jan. And if activists are looking to support a candidate join Dr. Gill's campaign if you are in his area.
Pearl
Admittedly I am not a supporter of the bill, though I do accept that there will be some good that comes out of it. But I'm not prepared to put lipstick on it quite yet.
Clearly, with all of the added and unnecessary administrative costs I think it makes the state efforts for single-payer that much easier.