Hillary's Elbow & Healthcare Reform

by: robsprague

Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 12:51:32 PM EDT

But for those of us who care at all about healthcare reform - and who do not think 47,000,000 Americans not named Hillary Clinton should be without health insurance - this has been a very difficult and depressing week. The prospects for healthcare reform our are falling apart.  And here's why:

Moderate Democrats - who were always going to be problematic on this issue - are enjoying their moment of having it both ways.  They "want" health reform.  Um...As long as it doesn't cost any money.  So much for a big tent Democratic Party.  Ah, the Moderate Democrats and their Blue Dog Country Cousins: For Progressives, they are the bitter friends, the bosom enemies.

And Business groups, who have previously "supported" healthcare reform, are now openly "changing sides" and planning to spend lots of corporate dollars to oppose any & all reforms. This "change in position" on the part of business groups should not come as a shock to those of us who have tried to work with them in the past. Disingenuous doesn't even begin to describe them.

And here comes the feigned "shock" around the country about the fact that healthcare reform is actually going to cost money.  Americans who already have healthcare are making clucking sounds in their mouths and wondering if we can afford all this "stuff".

Because in the good old USA, this money thing - how we raise it and how we spend it - is a strange animal indeed.  

For instance, when it comes to building massive military might, money doesn't seem to be an insurmountable problem.  We "invest" 625 billion annually on guns. And on computer game drones that spit out missiles in Afghanistan.  And jet fighters that we never intend to really use.  $625,000,000,000.00.

But, God forbid that we should invest 100 billion annually on healthcare reform.  Fifteen percent as much as we hand out annually to the Pentagon.  Fifteen.  To be totally accurate, Healthcare Reform would be the waitperson's tip on our annual Pentagon meal. Would anyone care to look at our dessert menu tonight?   How's about one of those new helicopter that can fly upside down! And I'll bring four plates and forks.

But the problem is that leaders in the business community already have health insurance for their families, and politicians already have outstanding healthcare, and most of the good folks in America's middle class and the well-to-do are covered and cared for.  They - all of these fortunate ones - support healthcare care reform 1000%... as long as it does not cause them any particular inconvenience. Or cost them any money.  Or endanger their access.  

If Bill & Hillary Clinton made their healthcare reform strategy mistake by being too "hands-on", top-down and didactic. . .then Mr., Obama  might be making his mistake by trusting that Congressional Leaders could be trusted to take a larger role in the healthcare reform process.  Max Baucus?  Henry Waxman? A fading and much absent Ted Kennedy?  Mr. President, ya shouldn't be betting the family farm on Max Baucus.

And so now, after spending months as a hilarious side show, hosted by the moronic & outrageous Michael Steele, the Republicans (all nicely covered by Federal Health Insurance and sure to be healthy & kicking for the remainder of the Obama Administration) will begin their usual mindless mantra.  And they will repeat it over and over and over again:  "A public option in healthcare...it's...it's...it's socialism."

So, here we go again on healthcare reform.  And it's America-As-Usual for 47 million American citizens not as lucky as Hillary Clinton & her husband, Bill.