Day after day I have heard the Senate Minority Leader quote one poll or another regarding opposition to the Senate Health Care Reform Bill and he views that as a victory. He sees that as something to be proud of. He is the Minority Leader and has been unable to deliver a Senate Bill with a Public Option that contains costs today and in the future and yet this is a good thing. It is not. It is obstrutionism at its worse.
The current polls that are talking about the Senate Bill are sorely unfavorable simply because it is not serving the best interest of the people. They do no indicate the people don't want health care insurance reform, as only yesterday Dr. Howard Dean asked to "Kill the Bill" but for a totally different reason than the Republicans want it stopped.
Dr. Dean believes the Senate Bill has gone awry from its inception in the House. So, when Dr. Dean states "Kill the Bill" one can be certain there are plenty of Democrats saying the same thing but because they see the Senate as hostile and unproductive toward real reform.
So much for McConnell's propaganda.
To enter into a constructive conversation at this point regarding the accomplishes of the Senate Bill would be better at this point. It is easy to do.
Yesterday, President Obama along with Democratic Senators stated the bill has been able to capture eight more years of solvency to Medicare. That is no simple statement and cannot be ignored, so I would ask Democratic leaders like Dr. Dean to look on the positive side of the Senate's accomplishments.
They achieved this astounding accomplishment by cutting wasteful spending. Isn't that PART of what Dr. Dean wants?
Cutting wasteful spending to the bone is important to most if not all Democrats. They simply hate pork spending and government waste and to realize applying those Democratic principles to Medicare has extended its solvency eight years is nearly solving the problem we now face with our entitlements.
If I may?
Before the Democrats embarked on Health Care Reform, the Medicare program has solvency to about 2017. That is nearly only seven years in the offing. Many of the Baby Boomers are entering their entitlement years. It is safe to say MOST are entering the years of SSI and Medicare.
The Senators by cutting government waste have extended that solvency to 2025. That is fifteen years of entitlement the Baby Boomers will enjoy. That is an astounding accomplishment. Fifteen years of entitlement solvency nearly brings the issue at hand to a close as the Baby Boomers will be entering their Ninth Decade of life at the age of 80 years old.
Granted all the problem is not solved as Americans live longer and seek to live even longer as quality of life do to better health will enhance the vitality of older age. But, what the Senate has done is nearly solve the problem we currently face. After, the Baby Boomer Hump, the country will receive relief on the demand of its entitlements and a younger generation that is now making 'investment retirement' a priority will take over an even 'richer and enjoyable retirement era.'
While the Senate has accomplished a remarkable mile stone in protecting USA entitlements to its citizens, we cannot ignore the needs of our citizens today. The House Bill as passed earlier is that bill. It addresses the needs of Americans today. Applying wasteful spending principles to Public Option programs for those that choose that form of health care alternative will improve the Public Option and control even more costs. There is a lot to be learned by the Senate proposal, however, the immediacy of the House Bill to answer the nation's problems today cannot be abandoned.
I challenge all Democrats to see the positive changes of these bills and support them. I have trouble postponing the Public Option any further. While there are Senators, such as the Independant from Vermont, that advocates extending Medicare to all, there is a danger in postponing this valuable service to the American people.
It is healthy to debate even further changes to Health Care in the USA. It is more than healthy to debate all aspects of Single Payer, but, it will not be a reality today. To 'assign' it entirely to debate means it will be moved from the agenda of change for at least another generation. That is not good for the American people. When 'debate' replaces 'reform or change' it demoralizes the esteem of the issue and creates despair in the populous of this country. Democracy is for all, not just those that can afford it and it is why The Public Option must sustain the legislation at hand.
By passing a Public Option it provides the 'reality' of a sustained debate, but, to demise that option to the American people will provide despair and will serve to divide the Democratic Party rather than unit it.
