WASHINGTON -- Congressional Democrats are determined to show progress on health care overhaul by pushing President Barack Obama's top domestic priority through two critically important committees before they head home for their August break. Wednesday in the House, Democratic leaders gave in -- at least temporarily -- to numerous demands from rank-and-file rebels from the conservative wing of the party. The so-called Blue Dog Democrats had been blocking the bill's passage in Energy and Commerce. The House changes, which drew immediate opposition from liberal lawmakers, would steer away from using Medicare as the blueprint for a proposed government insurance option, reduce federal subsidies to help lower-income families afford coverage, and exempt additional businesses from a requirement to offer health insurance to their workers.
It's often been said that there are two things one should never watch being made: sausage and legislation. I have no desire to watch sausage being made, and if the clusterf--k surrounding health care reform is any indication, watching legislation is the equivalent of eating bad cannoli.
This country has been discussing health care reform since the Truman Administration. Now that we finally seem to be on the verge of something positive, reform is being nibbled to death by ducks. The ideas that went into the grinder at the outset included a robust public option predicated on the idea that health care is a right, not a privilege. After weeks and months of nibbling, kibbitzing, and tinkering around the margins, what seems to be left appears to be reform in name only. After all, what's good for the health care industry is good for America, no?
What remains is "reform" that leaves most, particularly Progressive Democrats in Congress, cold. I can't help wonder what good it is having a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate if Democrats never put it to use. I can understand wanting to achieve consensus, but at what cost? You have to know that if roles were reversed, Republicans would be forcing their agenda down our throats- after all, they spent eight years doing exactly that. While I'm not saying that Democrats should be doing the same thing as a matter of course- paybacks are a b---h, eh?- there are times when majority rules should mean exactly that.
I'm frustrated that Democrats have wasted so much time trying to pander to Republicans and the cowardly lions within their own party. While real change could be in the offing, Democrats are far too busy trying to get everyone on board- including those with a vested interest in killing health care reform. That the White House isn't being forceful in their pursuit of meaningful change is as unconscionable as it is impossible to understand.
We have an unprecedented opportunity to achieve meaningful health care reform that would guarantee affordability and accessibility for ALL Americans. What we'll likely end up with is our current system with Band-Aids strategically applied to make things look differently. Reform? Right...and I'm the Queen of England. This is why you rarely see "courage" and "leadership" used in the same sentence as "Democrat".
WE DESERVE BETTER.
