A German friend, a former foreign editor, international affairs scholar and a colleague from my years working in Washington on arms control in the 1960s and '70s, e-mailed this week to ask what I thought about the passage of the health bills. He wrote, "I am dismayed by the international press which is eager to discount the health success by concentrating on other challenges ahead for the Obama team, as if this was just one of those usual tactical political ploys and not a seminal event, whatever the critique one might have on certain aspects. The journalists are thus contributing to a public sense that politics is just another game with fake money."
Here is my off-the-cuff reply:
I have mixed feelings about Obama's health care victory. It was wonderful that he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (whose arguments were clearly crucial in persuading him to press for action now, while he still has significant majorities in both houses of Congress) were able to pull it off, but now the challenge will be to keep the focus and energy on improving the situation so that some day the US will have a health care system comparable to that existing in every other civilized country, instead of the costly third-world model we have been pretending is modern and efficient.
The measures approved on Sunday, though applauded (or deplored) here as a huge march forward, were indeed seminal (Vice President Biden rightly called the accomplishment "a big f***ing deal") but they are only a first step in the direction of affordable, universal health coverage. They still leave the private insurers and the pharmaceutical industries very much in control of how health dollars are spent in the US. But they open the door to more significant measures if the political will is there.
The more immediate concern, and a serious obstacle to further progress, is that the debate and the passage of the bill have become such a polarizing event that there is a growing, unsettling atmosphere of hatred and suspicion in this country that is reminiscent of the days of McCarthy and the red scares that were so pervasive in the US in the 1950s.
Congressional Republicans have contributed significantly to this mood by their conscious decision to maintain a unified front against almost every Obama initiative, but they have been backed up by a barrage of manipulative, shameless, deliberate lying on the part of the right-wing media, led by Rupert Murdoch's Fox News but by no means limited to it, that have led to a broad-based mistrust of everything the Obama administration and congressional Democrats put forth.
It's undeniable, too, that the people most susceptible to these misrepresentations are the less-informed Americans who tend to believe every conspiracy theory put forth by people like Dick Armey, Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck, who know how to throw red meat to hungry animals.
Worse, there are the beginnings of real civil (or uncivil) unrest, exemplified by the so-called "tea party" activists, encouraged by some Republican politicians, who have engaged in racist and ethnic slurs, hate mail, spitting, brick-throwing and death threats directed at Congressional Democrats, both during and after the House debate. Missing in action are almost any outspoken Republicans who recognize that this angry polarization will be a disaster for their own party. They, not just Democrats, must be the ones to speak out publicly against volatile speech and behavior.
Anyone who has studied more distant history, even superficially, can see the parallels between now and past periods of economic hardship, with opportunistic politicians seizing on public unrest, ignorance and misunderstanding of facts.
A major difference between now and more distant history is that television, which has encouraged simple sound-bite solutions to complex problems, has conditioned so many people to seeing everything as a battle between good and evil, and to accept as truth all sorts of misrepresentations, about the contents and consequences of the health care legislation, and about the motives, intentions and even the legitimacy of the Obama administration, and of Obama himself.
Latent racism clearly plays a role, but it is frightening to see the results of recent opinion polls, reflecting such broad scale public ignorance. So many people apparently believe that Obama is a Muslim, a Socialist or Communist, that he was born outside the US and is therefore ineligible to be president, that he will take away their guns, and that Obamacare provides for "death panels" to decide whether to euthanize poor old granny.
A majority of Americans now do not believe in evolution, are convinced that global warming is a hoax, and are deeply suspicious of science and scientists, and all the other people they denounce as "elitists." It's scary. I hope it doesn't lead to widespread violence or political assassinations, but could easily imagine both happening.
I am saddened by the present trends in Washington and the country as a whole. I remember (perhaps more fondly than the times deserved) how much more civilized Washington was in the 1960s and '70s, when I was working there. We may have thought the country was being torn apart, first by Vietnam and then by Watergate, but in many ways the situation today is worse.
Then at least Republicans and Democrats worked together, socialized with each other, and seemed far less ready to mistrust one another's motives. People gave speeches or wrote editorials and articles declaring that things were not always black or white, but that there was room for shades of gray. And they were listened to.
In the present atmosphere there's little hope for meaningful and needed environmental legislation, financial regulation, or significant arms control progress. We don't yet know all the details of the new START agreement, but the modest improvements that appear to have been negotiated may be meaningless if there's no way to muster the 2/3 Senate vote needed for consent to ratification. And the same is true, of course, of renewed efforts to ratify a comprehensive test ban treaty.
I may be overly pessimistic, but at this point I see few grounds for great optimism. To be sure, the passage of the health care bill must indeed be viewed as a seminal event, but seeds for what? What's needed most right now is reconciliation, but the mood of too many players now is one of intensified confrontation instead.
Lionel Shriver: Healthcare Reform: Fiction Goes Where Congress Fears to Tread
I think fiction is the only form that can animate the current healthcare debate, which otherwise gets lost in the dulling details of tax credits and Medicare fee structures.
I see three priorites: the economy; financial reform; Afghanistan. If those three are competently handled, the GOP will not have a good case.
As for Fox, I do not watch TV. Any TV, have not for years.
Quick editing without regard to content, programming scamming for viewers at any cost, the list goes on. The blames lays at the feet of tabloidista Murdoch as much as it does MTV.
The spike in President Obama's Gallup approval ratings seems to have disappeared. As health care reform moved toward its denouement, the President's approval briefly moved upward, from an upside-down 46%-48% in the March 15-17 sample, to a 50%-43% rating on the eve of the vote. It went as high as 51%-43% during the previous week. In today's report, however, the President splits 46%-46% in the poll of adults, tying the lowest approval rating of his Administration.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/105841/gallup-daily-obama-now-52-clintons-42.aspx
I think you've just exposed yourself as a lying shill for the Republican Party. You people really should get a bit more sophisticated with your lies. When anyone can cross-check your claims in 10 seconds on Google, you should be more careful.
I am sick and tired of Democrats telling these personal anecdotes about how people can not get health care. It is not that I am heartless. I am just aware that many people in this country do not care. Republicans have been hitting Americans where it counts, their wallets, for the past year of debates.
They could be completely wrong about the costs in saying it'll bankrupt the country or ruin someone's business or career, but that doesn't matter. The public's ears perk up when they hear the simple phrase, "it'll cost ya."
Dem's need to severely change their rhetoric if they hope to win over public support for the midterm elections. Explain the savings, explain why it's necessary, explain the advantages of an increased risk pool. Do anything other than saying that little Timmy can now get healthcare despite his preexisting condition because most people are thinking, "that's great for Timmy, but what about me?"
The mean-spirited Republicans need to understand that now Timmy can smile like never before. That the program will destroy the finest medical facilities in the world and bankrupt the world's protector and economic engine, such is paranoid fantasy.
Government programs always end up costing less than anticipated, and providing more benefits than anticipated. This is a proven fact.
And just in case any of you doubt that the Tea Baggers are not fundamentally violent, just take a look at selected phrases from one of their adopted "poets":
Song:
"oer the ramparts we watched"
Note the reference to military. All the Tea Baggers think about is war. This favorite song of theirs proves it.
There's more:
"..the rockets red glare".
Note more military imagery. Man, these Tea Baggers are nu*ts, obsess*ed. And that "red glare" image. The Tea Baggers see a com*mie behind every bush.
"..the bombs bursting in air..."
Again, the Tea Baggers are way too worried about bom*bs. It is obvious they just want to bom*b everything.
"..oer the land of the free..."
Land of the free. Yeah, right. All the violent Tea Baggers want are free gun*s.
It is so obvious from this song that the Tea Baggers are latent bom*bers, assassin*s, and are totally paranoid about communist*s. When is the Republican leadership going to do something? They should denounce the Tea Baggers and this song, immediately.
The simple facts are adequate to make the most informed individuals concerned about the direction of our current leadership. From publicly insulting the Supreme court's decision to protect free speech, to having recess appointments unpopular with the majority of senators, to acting unpresidential after winning a controversial vote, and much, much more, the current leadership is actually doing everything in its power to create unrest. And then to accuse the other side of getting restless? All this is so unnecessary.
Freedom of speech is a right of everyone - including the President. To disagree with someone is not insulting them. Most of my neighbors and if you read the blogs - liberal, progressive, conservative - as well as members of Congress themselves where not happy about the Supreme Court's decision and was very vocal about it.
As for the recess appointments - no Senator has the right to complain. The Constitution - Article 2, Section 2 - gives the President that authority. Those Senator's complaining about recess appointments now, backed former President Bush's use of them. To say that they oppose recess appointments now is hypocritical.
The "other side getting restless" is due to several things - racism on the part of some (not everyone who opposes the President's agenda is a racist), greed, a grab for political power, people not liking change, and what I consider to be the worst - people not willing to work together with others who don't agree with their point of view. The problem with Americans today - if you don't agree with my point of view - your un-American, un-patriotic, a liberal, a Rethuglican, etc.
It's time we grew up.
If you are not in the "restless" camp, you assume that those that are must be somehow of inferior intellect, lacking reason, or evil. That is simply not the case, nor the way to better understand and come to a common ground with reasonable people with a different view.
So why should we work so hard to get MORE Democrats elected?
There are political realities at work here. The bill is only a start, but it is a START! That is much more than this country has ever had.
Here is a partial list of changes that go into effect immediately or within a year:
SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDITS
Offers tax credits to small businesses.
BEGINS TO CLOSE THE MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE
Provides a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the donut hole in 2010.
HELP FOR EARLY RETIREES
Creates a temporary re-insurance program.
ENDS RESCISSIONS
Bans insurance companies from dropping people when they get sick.
NO DISCRIMINATON AGAINST CHILDREN WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS
Prohibits health insurers from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.
BANS LIFETIME LIMITS ON COVERAGE
Prohibits health insurance companies from placing lifetime caps on coverage.
BANS RESTRICTIVE ANNUAL LIMITS ON COVERAGE
Tightly restricts new plans’ use of annual limits.
FREE PREVENTIVE CARE UNDER NEW PRIVATE PLANS
Requires new private plans to cover preventive services.
NEW, INDEPENDENT APPEALS PROCESS
Ensures consumers in new plans have access to an effective appeals process.
IMMEDIATE HELP FOR THE UNINSURED UNTIL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE
EXTENDS COVERAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO 26TH BIRTHDAY THROUGH PARENTS’ INSURANCE
INCREASING NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS
Provides new investment in training programs.
PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SALARY
Prohibits new group health plans from establishing eligibility rules.
See http://www.speaker.gov/blog/?p=2199 for a full list. There's more!
"What's Happening to "WHITE" America? Lies, Threats, and the Health Care Vote"
Other than that "minor" inaccuracy, I agree with many of your sentiments.
Do you see Latinos or African Americans?
Do you see native American's?
A political party that does not represent it's population can not be legitimate.
This country is not lily white. Whites are a minority on this planet in terms of population but they think they have some moral authority to tell everyone how to live, what to feel and what to think and it is not working anymore so they are resorting to lies, hate, obstructionism and anger.
Conservative whites in this country are acting like a petulant child that can't have its way.
We should have a litmus test: no one should be allowed to run for public office, or hold a job, or have children, unless:
1) They believe in Evolution; 2) They believe in Global Warming; 3) they swear allegiance to Science.
Finally, I agree, the 60s and 70s were a time of peace and unity in US politics. We need to get back to the days of Nixon, Watergate, the glorious end to the Viet Nam war. Man, those were the days. The Happy Days.
This is a joke, right? The last place I would go looking for civility is in German history.
No but they do listen to it. I know what you're saying but "pledging allegiance" to anything in Germany is likely to get you suspicious looks. The loyalty oaths of the Nazi era and the East German Commun!st era have made many Germans cautious of the whole concept of swearing fealty to something.
We should have a litmus test: no one should be allowed to run for public office, or hold a job, or have children, unless:
1) They believe in Evolution; 2) They believe in Global Warming; 3) they must listen to Science; 4) They must not listen to outdated ignorant religious superstition.
So I'm celebrating this landmark achievement. and look forward to the day this country is finally ready to accept single payer. I might be long dead, but change is a-coming. It's inevitable.
Secondly, the Democrats are the ones who deregulated the newspapers and the TV and radio stations allowing the consolidation of our media into a few corporate hands. Clinton has much to do with this.
So before you all go pointing fingers at the GOP (which is fun and easy to do) you need to recognize that the Democrats are JUST AS BAD. Until you realize that we will just keep switching parties will little to no difference in policy.
Yes, while the tea partiers were calling and emailing, so were we.
Finally, I say finally, because we made a mistake, Democrat voters.
We thought we had elected representatives and Senators who
would vote as Democrats. Not as a fake Republican raised mob shouted at them to vote.
I am just amazed that people think this bill is anything but corporate welfare. Didn't you know the GOP passed Medicare Part D in 2003? Its not like the GOP is against giant health care bills.
interestingly. GOP is better when it comes to business, with numbers, analytical areas.
But, wait, the insurance companies are going to self destruct flailing against the tiny consumer benefits included. The public will demand a public option before the ink is dry on this law.