Fed Up with the Health Care Debate? Stand up and Be Counted or Be Counted Out
So lets see what we have; last night, the House of Reps passed its version of health care reform, including meaningful controls on the rapacious insurance industry and an optional public plan that will compete with private insurers. It seemed like a dream realized for those who have fought for this critical turn on the road to social justice. The euphoria lasted about an hour or two. Today the hosannas soured as Democratic Party turncoat Joe Lieberman and Strom Thurmond protege Lindsey Graham, both declared their intent to kill the reform bill in the Senate.
One has to wonder how much longer the American public will be willing to endure this manner of partisan political gamesmanship. While polls on health care reform have jockeyed back and forth through the months of debate, recent surveys indicate an overwhelming number of Americans (72%) support the idea of a public option. Polls taken by the NY Times and Reuters over many months have shown that the American public would be willing to pay higher taxes so that everyone could have health care and that they feel the government would do a better job than the private sector of holding down health care costs. Even in Senator Lieberman's home state of Connecticut, respondents support giving people the option to buy health insurance from a government plan by a margin of 64-30 percent.
The United States is the richest country in the world and it cannot seem to enact even a modest plan that will guarantee health care for its citizens. Here's a word of advice for all those who care passionately about justice in our democracy: Don't write your congressman, don't call his or her office, don't send a telegram or an email. Get off your duff, go to Washington and start pounding on doors... before its too late.
So lets see what we have; last night, the House of Reps passed its version of health care reform, including meaningful controls on the rapacious insurance industry and an optional public plan that will compete with private insurers. It seemed like a dream realized for those who have fought for this critical turn on the road to social justice. The euphoria lasted about an hour or two. Today the hosannas soured as Democratic Party turncoat Joe Lieberman and Strom Thurmond protege Lindsey Graham, both declared their intent to kill the reform bill in the Senate.
One has to wonder how much longer the American public will be willing to endure this manner of partisan political gamesmanship. While polls on health care reform have jockeyed back and forth through the months of debate, recent surveys indicate an overwhelming number of Americans (72%) support the idea of a public option. Polls taken by the NY Times and Reuters over many months have shown that the American public would be willing to pay higher taxes so that everyone could have health care and that they feel the government would do a better job than the private sector of holding down health care costs. Even in Senator Lieberman's home state of Connecticut, respondents support giving people the option to buy health insurance from a government plan by a margin of 64-30 percent.
The United States is the richest country in the world and it cannot seem to enact even a modest plan that will guarantee health care for its citizens. Here's a word of advice for all those who care passionately about justice in our democracy: Don't write your congressman, don't call his or her office, don't send a telegram or an email. Get off your duff, go to Washington and start pounding on doors... before its too late.
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