Death by a Thousand Cuts
The GOP released its health care reform plan this week in response to critics who have charged that the minority party had no hand in the critical issue beyond its complete opposition to the proposal from congressional Democrats. Did I say minority party? If recent polls are to be believed, only 20% of Americans dare identify themselves as Republicans these days. What more evidence is needed for the electorate and their representatives to label the party of Boehner, Hatch and Limbaugh what they are: irrelevant.
Yet the warriors from the right came out with their vision for health reform. Under the plan, Americans wouldn't be required to carry insurance and insurers wouldn't be prevented from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions or to those who are currently ill -- two key elements of the Democratic plan. Instead, the bill would allow insurance firms to sell policies across state lines, permit small businesses to pool their risks to bring down costs and rein in medical malpractice lawsuits by capping non-economic damages at $250,000. According to the Congressional Budget Office, by 2019 the number of non-elderly people without health insurance under the GOP plan would be reduced by about 3 million, leaving about 52 million non-elderly residents uninsured.
The truth is that the plan by the Republicans is part of a larger goal of stalling for time, increasing the twists and turns of the debate, drawing out the argument between the various factions of Democrats until the public is fed up and reform dies of its own accord. It is a death by a thousand cuts. One has to wonder when President Obama might show up with a few well considered sutures.
The GOP released its health care reform plan this week in response to critics who have charged that the minority party had no hand in the critical issue beyond its complete opposition to the proposal from congressional Democrats. Did I say minority party? If recent polls are to be believed, only 20% of Americans dare identify themselves as Republicans these days. What more evidence is needed for the electorate and their representatives to label the party of Boehner, Hatch and Limbaugh what they are: irrelevant.
Yet the warriors from the right came out with their vision for health reform. Under the plan, Americans wouldn't be required to carry insurance and insurers wouldn't be prevented from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions or to those who are currently ill -- two key elements of the Democratic plan. Instead, the bill would allow insurance firms to sell policies across state lines, permit small businesses to pool their risks to bring down costs and rein in medical malpractice lawsuits by capping non-economic damages at $250,000. According to the Congressional Budget Office, by 2019 the number of non-elderly people without health insurance under the GOP plan would be reduced by about 3 million, leaving about 52 million non-elderly residents uninsured.
The truth is that the plan by the Republicans is part of a larger goal of stalling for time, increasing the twists and turns of the debate, drawing out the argument between the various factions of Democrats until the public is fed up and reform dies of its own accord. It is a death by a thousand cuts. One has to wonder when President Obama might show up with a few well considered sutures.
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