Democrat’s Choice: Reform Health Care Or Fail

These are the options.  Reform health care, or fail.   Want to bet they do both?  Here is how.

I predict Democrats by the end of this year will think they have done the former, but will find in 2010 they actually did the latter.  Once again Congressional Democrats are showing how it is possible to defeat yourself.

I think Democrats will try to spin a bill, and call it health reform, but the folks who worked to elect a Democratic government will know what happened is nothing more than a colossal congressional failure.

I think some form of health care will carry the day before the end of the year.  Too much is at stake politically for both the White House and Congress to not cut a deal and call it ‘health care reform’ for this year.  But whatever passes will pale for what is needed to fix the problem.  That I am sure about. The public option is gone, and the tweaks and contortions that will wind up in the final bill will not meet the needs of the public.  Millions will remain uninsured, and the costs of health care will continue to increase.  The critical element of fixing the national economy will still be broken.  (President Obama will still be correct about the need to address this issue.)  Those who bemoan the plans now under discussion will pay for those who are not covered, and will still need emergency care.    These naysayers seem content to pay with higher premiums these bills of the emergency room visits.

But there will be another price to pay, and that is politically for the malfeasance of leadership by the Democrats in the congress.  As a liberal I want to see progress now that we have the reins of power.  But if the Democrats can not fashion a comprehensive plan with all the levers of congressional power in their hands, then I strongly suggest they not send me a request for campaign cash.  I suspect many feel as I do.  If we can not get health care reform this year, we are never going to get it, and I will be damnned if some 20-something on a phone bank will get the chance to convince me otherwise while begging for cash, “so we can send more Democrats to Congress to work for health care.”

When I bought my new VW  Beetle I expected to have transportation to get me to my destinations, and enjoy the rides along the way.  When I supported and worked for the new Democratic Congress last fall I expected policy changes to further our national goals, and some great political stories on the journey.  I have been frustrated by the lack of consensus among Democrats( I know that is pie in the sky thinking) but as a voter and citizen I think we deserved more leadership and less hand wringing than what the Democrats in Congress are offering.

I am angry at the state of the health care plan this weekend, and intend to hold the Democratic Congress responsible.