Republicans and Health Care Reform: Who's Divided?

Republicans criticizing health care reform efforts are beginning to sound as principled as Groucho Marx, who once quipped: "Those are my principles, and if you don't like them, . . . well I have others." On the one hand Republicans complain that health care reform will cost too much money. On the other hand, they complain that Obama will ration care, killing your grandmother if he has to, to save money.

These two arguments are as consistent as what British people call pudding, about as coherent as a Sarah Palin resignation speech. And yet, it is the Democrats who, according to common wisdom, are divided over health care reform?

In fact, the battle over health care reform nicely summarizes the state of the two parties. The Democrats are deeply engaged in this important issue, struggling to find a way to pay for the health care our country needs, stumbling along the way due to the incredible complexity of our health care system, but nevertheless trying to move forward.

Meanwhile, the Republicans (except for a small number of moderates) refuse to acknowledge the importance and seriousness of this issue. All they care about is to oppose whatever plan the Democrats come up with. Hence, they throw out inconsistent criticisms without regard for their inconsistency.

The sad thing is, some Republicans really are concerned about the cost of health care reform. And others really are worried about how government will try to set limits on medical care. But to simultaneously complain about the financial cost of health care reform and about the cost savings that will follow from health care reform? This strategy merely reveals the current Republican Party as being uninterested in solving important social problems.

It is easy for a Party to be unified if its members are allowed to make incompatible claims about crucial policy issues, without acknowledging their own internal inconsistencies. If Republicans were honestly trying to help shape legislation, they would be every bit as divided as Democrats. Their current unity is merely a sign of their political self-marginalization.

We should all be concerned about the current state of the Republican Party. Health care legislation will be better if Republicans try to shape it, rather than merely trying to sabotage it.

We should all be thankful that the Democrats care enough about health care reform to have honest disagreements with each other. A Party divided is the sign of a Party deeply engaged in the issues. We can only hope that Democrats will come close enough together in the near future to begin fixing our badly broken health care system.

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Comments

[Zen0469]

We should put the repug party out of it's misery. Then charge them for the bullet.

[JustBNice]

We need a march on Washington for Single Payer.

Unfortunately too few even understand it and too many fear it for weak reasons.

It makes so much sense. It would save everyone money, help the economy, create jobs, no more business and personal bankruptcy due to health insurance or medical costs.

Everyone would pay into the system, including illegal immigrants if just a tiny consumption tax was part of the plan. Buy a product, you just made a contribution. There could still be health insurance for the rich. There are many ways to make it simple and make it work.

I hope those who oppose a government run plan will refuse Medicare when they turn 65.

And tell their parents or grandparents to get off it since it's evil socialized medicine.

[dynwit]

The really silly thing is that this is a bill that the Bush administration might have come up with. It props up both the insurance and the pharmaceutical industries, and will probably eliminate a public option, leaving us with mandates, and shoving real healthcare solutions far into the future. But the Repubs simply cannot bring themselves to support what is essentially a Republican bill and instead they have gone off into lo0ny-land. The sad thing is that the Dems feel obliged to support this sorry bill simply because the Repubs are against it.

I can't decide if Obama is brilliant for making the Repubs look like they have mental issues, or if the Repubs are brilliant for getting the Dems to act as corporate shills.

Someday historians will look back at this moment and use it as comedy in their classrooms.

[timhere]

The Republicans do not care about health care reform. That much is obvious. Their game is to try to hurt the President. It does not matter what the reform entailed, they would be against it as they are against the kind of mustard he likes on his hamburgers. This is a struggle for power. Power is the only thing the Republicans want. They do not care about anything else. They want power so that they can reward their corporate masters and their friends. The same way the previous president did. They do not care about your life or your health.

[plasma]

look you little worm your side owns the government, if you can't "get it up " as it were, it's on you stop blaming republicans

[PhilipB]

Huh? What? Oh I am sorry i cannot hear you, what? what/?maybe you should rant and rave?.no still cannot hear you. bummer, dude.

[LordMoon]

It's interesting that your from Michigan, because there are so many parallels, between health care reform and the Auto industry.

The Auto industry influenced congress to give it a pass, on improving efficiencey. They also got congress to enable them so they wouldn't have to compete with foreign auto makers.

The same thing is happening now with health care, and if health care reform doesn't pass with a strong public option, then the HMO's will go under just like the auto industry. Mistakenly, just like the auto industry, they believe that American's don't have other options. But we do, medical tourism, alternative health care, and Alternative Health Care Membership Organizations, offer hope to American's hungry for change.

So if health care reform is destroyed by those that profit from the current system, I'm not that concerned, because it will only be a matter of time until they are gone anyway, one way or another.

[dynwit]

Yup, that's American trickle-down capitalism, destroying itself by destroying its own customers. First the financial industry, then the car industry, then the healthcare industry.

[notb observer]

If it wasn't for the overwhelming influence of the health and pharma industry on this "debate", I would agree. But the truth, as we have seen over the past several days is that too many of our elected representatives in both Houses have become the mouthpieces of their corporate masters. The Blue Dogs in my opinion are the worst, since they were elected to solve this problem. They are not dogs at all, they are wolves, in sheep's clothing.

[notwaff]

==========­==========­==========­========
Obama the DIVIDER
==========­==========­==========­========
Obama sold himself as the great UNITER but the implementation of his ideology is creating the worse division in this nation in decades.

[noneIn2008]

No need to shape the legislation. Everything is a play by the Dems and Reps to appease the masses while eventually they give us one of many bills already planned by big insurance and big pharma. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

[Katiebar]

Wait a minute. When it comes to Global Warming, we're told consensus is good. But when it comes to objecting to bad healthcare reform, we're told consensus is bad? Make up your mind!

[Carl Caroli]

They are united in the failure of anything substantial by this administration so that they can stage their supposed comeback next year. They could care less about the country, the people or the damage they are doing by inciting hatred and violence. They are, in short, a disgrace to their fore bearers and the country.

[fatbellieddragon]

Yes, but they're winning! Single-payer is off the table, and the best we can hope for is to get something, anything, passed, and try to change it later. Mandated health insurance? 2013!!! Worthless pablum to mislead the masses until such a time as they really need the stuff. Then you know what happens.

[Amplifryer]

What you are suggesting is that to decrease health care costs necessitates rationing care. Well that's wrong.

Most Americans are happy enough with their health care but believe there needs to be reform, this does not mean they want government running it however. But there's good ideas that have been put forth that would help reduce the costs associated with health care. And those you dismiss see that there's indeed rationing occurring in many single payer systems, further they don't want to be told what doctors they have to use like they do in France.

The CBO states the bills as they exist do not save money, and the American people see this. They also see that the inevitable course being taken will necessitate rationing or extreme tax increases, with the former being the likely scenario that would unfold as been evidenced in other systems.

It's frightening that Ubel is a behavioral scientist.

[LordMoon]

American's are not happy with their health care at all. Only those that make money on health care are happpy with it. That is just a big lie told over and over again.

No American's aren't happy with their health care. No American's aren't happy with their health care. Yes Republican's are happy with health care, and the money they get from health care.

[JustBNice]

American's are not happy paying $500-$1500 a month for health insurance. Maybe you are.

My 98 year old Mother passed away in January. She retired at age 62 after having a heart attack. She was on Medicare and then Medicaid. She received very high quality medical care and nursing home care. I visited her every day in the nursing home for the last year of her life, spoke with her doctors, nurse practioners, physical therapists, RNs, LPNs, etc. regularly and was very impressed with their expertise and thoughtful care.

We should have Medicare for everyone. Otherwise known as a Single Payer plan.

Sure other countries plans aren't perfect, but what we have now is terrible. There is no reason we couldn't have a good plan here, and maybe even great one. Right now the insurance companies are taking too big a bite out of the pie, money that could be better spent on health care rather than CEO salaries of $30 million a year and golden parachutes of $73 million.

I am a late in life 60 year old father with a family of four. What we have to pay out of pocket for those expenses not covered by our insurance is making it impossible to save for college for my two boys age 7 and 9.

If you like your health insurance company you are probably in the minority. Most begrudgingly pay for it because we have no other choice.

It's time to have another option.

[Synoia]

" The Democrats are deeply engaged in this important issue, struggling to find a way to pay for the health care our country needs"

Bullshit. Single payer was removed as an option. Leaving nothing.

Making anything from waht is left is a futile and unproductive struggle.

The enemy of perfect is not good. The enemy of perfect is nothing.

[JustBNice]

We need a march on Washington for Single Payer.

It makes so much sense. Would save everyone money, help the economy, no more business and personal bankruptcy due to health insurance or medical costs. Everyone would pay into the system, including illegal immigrants if just a tiny consumption tax was part of the plan. Buy a product, you just made a contribution. There could still be health insurance for the rich. There are many ways to make it simple and make it work.

I hope those who oppose a government run plan will refuse Medicare when they turn 65.

[dignityforall]

Healthcare reform is needed. There are at least three problems. How would you resolve each? First, attorneys.­Unnecessar­y tests and procedures are done to cover the doctor's behind. There's more, but let's move to point two; government programs are inefficient and wasteful. Evidenced by the inefficiency and horrible results of the VA medical program and the fraud inherent in the Medicare system. Third, no country on earth can afford to provide every possible treatment for every person. Why give healthcare over to the very people who have screwed up Medicare, Medicaid and the VA? Honestly, you do not see the wisdom in that argument? Yes, healthcare needs reform. But not the one-solution wonder being trotted out. One is not problem-solving if married to only one solution. What is presently being considered is the wrong solution. In no way does that mean we don't agree there is a problem. Can you not make the distinction?

[peterg76]

Reaganomics was self-contradictory too, and Reagan won two elections.