Republicans Have NOT Been Shut Out of the Process on Health Care Reform (UPDATED)
Ezra Klein makes what I think is an unassailable argument that the health care reform bill in Congress right now already does incorporate many Republican ideas:
At this point, I don’t think it’s well understood how many of the GOP’s central health-care policy ideas have already been included as compromises in the health-care bill. But one good way is to look at the GOP’s “Solutions for America” homepage, which lays out its health-care plan in some detail. It has four planks. All of them — yes, you read that right — are in the Senate health-care bill.
Ezra then looks at each of those four planks and, in meticulous detail, shows how each one is already in the current bill. After demolishing the GOP lie that their ideas are not represented, Ezra concludes thusly (emphasis is mine):
On Sunday, John Boehner and Mitch McConnell responded to Barack Obama’s summit invitation by demanding Obama scrap the health-care reform bill entirely. This is the context for that demand. What they want isn’t a bill that incorporates their ideas. They’ve already got that. What they want is no bill at all. And that’s a hard position for the White House to compromise with.
The post is a must-read. You’ll find it here.
UPDATE: And here comes Eric Cantor to confirm that.
56 Responses to “Republicans Have NOT Been Shut Out of the Process on Health Care Reform (UPDATED)”
There are (roughly) three groups in congress: progressive Democrats, blue dog Democrats, and Republicans. All three are minorities (<50%). Alone, no one group can pass anything. Therefore, single payer is not possible anymore than privatizing Social Security is. Democrats didn't give up single payer, anymore than Republicans gave up privatizing Social Security. I've seen the HuffPo and DailyKos groups saying that it was “given up” and/or “compromised”, but the simple truth is, it wasn't possible. Repeating a lie often enough does not make it the truth. The fantasy that this minority could do it then was simply a group self-delusion.
And the blue dogs and Republicans didn't exclude themselves from the initial draft. Do you really need me to prove that?
Republicans and conservative Democrats were included from the start. If you are of a mind to prove otherwise, feel free. It doesn't matter to me one way or the other.
As for single-payer, you are completely, and repeatedly, missing my point. I'm not arguing that it's possible to pass single payer. I am arguing that the impossibility of passing it does not logically or rationally or fairly lead to a conclusion that the issue doesn't exist, or that liberal and progressive Democrats don't consider that they begin any discussion on health care reform from a compromised position because Republicans and conservative Democrats demand that single-payer not be on the table at all. I am arguing that just because YOU don't take single-payer seriously, does not mean liberals and progressives don't take it seriously. You really cannot, fairly or logically, make a case that single-payer doesn't exist as an issue when a lot of other people think it's a crucial issue, whether it's up for discussion or not.
Please note that at this point I am not even trying to persuade you to agree with what I'm saying. I am simply trying to get you to UNDERSTAND what I'm saying and accurately repeat it back to me.
Sigh.
I also feel that I may have reached the point where it really does not make sense for me to explain to you what my point is when you truly do not seem able to grasp it. (Not agree with it, GRASP IT.)
What you don't seem to understand is that you're not the only group that think that something crucial is being missed here. To me, the AMA is one of the biggest killers of our current system, along with a host of other leeches. Single payer is little more than saying “let the government do it”, which simply brings up the next logical question: and do what? The politicians who are helpless in the face of their current masters (the lobbyists) will still be unwilling to tame them. I don't care what goes on in other countries, our government is far more entrenched and dependent. So the progressive feel compromised. Welcome to the club.
Single payer is little more than saying “let the government do it”, which simply brings up the next logical question: and do what? … So the progressive feel compromised. Welcome to the club.
ProfElwood, I understand! You don't like single payer! So don't feel compromised! Feel glad! Feel happy! There is no single-payer in the health care reform bill! There is no public option in the health care reform bill! There is no expanded Medicare in the health care reform bill! But there IS tort reform! There IS selling insurance across state lines! There IS permission for states to opt out totally if they have their own way to lower costs! Republican ideas, all! There is no government takeover in this bill! This is a private insurance industry preservation bill! And oh did I mention, there is no single payer or public option or expanded Medicare in the bill. So why feel compromised? Feel relieved, Elwood. Feel joyful. Celebrate!
Relieved? no — I'm not Republican. Did I mention that I think that the AMA is one of the worst offenders here? Oh, and pharmaceuticals, health insurance monopolies (via McCarran-Ferguson, which is NOT being repealed, and only slightly mitigated), and the unlimited medical spending, regardless of benefit (another biggie), and the employer only discount (either medical should or shouldn't be deductible, consistently), and corn subsidizes (yes, it's related) and prices are still hidden, and did I mention the AMA likes it this way?
Honestly, nationalizing health care (VA model, NOT single payer), which I would hate, still makes more sense than what we've got today, and what's being proposed. Right now we've got two groups trying to put out a fire, but fighting over whether to use oil or kerosene to do the job.
“You yourself wrote that you give Ezra an 8 or 9 on a scale of 10.”
No he did not. That is simply not what Mr. Steveinch wrote. My Lord, the words you put in folks mouths… He wrote “”Now if Ezra or anyone else wants to argue that Obama is at an 8 or 9 on a 10 point scale, I'm willing to listen but his (Ezra's) post doesn't make that point really”.