We are all working toward the same goal right? A Better HC System?
One infinitesimally small step forward.
Because as we hear that Sen. Nelson has finally agreed to give his vote on the health care bill on the floor in the Senate, I have to look back on all that has transpired in this debate, and i wonder if we should be rejoicing…if things will be smooth sailing from here. In my opinion, this is not the time to be lackadaisical (as if there ever was a time during this reform debate to be in such a mood).
There are still serious hurdles ahead, which is unfortunate, and which continues to extend the possibility of some sort of resolution before 2010:
- The vote: We can talk about promised votes all day, but at the end of it, the voting needs to happen. And we can see how sporadic support can be from one hour to the next. (see Joe “Say It Ain’t So” Lieberman)
- A tale of two chambers: Should the bill pass with that 60 (which leaves no room for wiggle) then that means it goes to joint committee to be resolved with the House Bill. The House version was much more ambitious in its provisions, and this might be like bringing a fierce lion to the table with a docile antelope, and telling them to find a way to coexist. This is not The Lion King, and the Circle of Life will not be as inspiring as it was in that
If only politics was as reasonable as the understanding fostered by the Circle of Life
awesome film. I imagine major teeth pull-age on the horizon to dilute the ferocity of the House version while simultaneously reducing the passivity of the Senate version.
- Time to re-elect: 2010 is about Congressional elections – each day that passes us by without health care reform is one day closer to this season. Which means that politician’s priorities might shift if this bill drags on past the new year, regardless of how altruistic and necessary overhauling the health care system might be. Because if it isn’t going to win them a seat at the table in Fall 2010, then health care reform might become more politicized than it already is.
It is sad to say, but the entire health care debate, in spite of progress, has been playing into the hands of critiques since day one.
- the deadline for a final bill on the President’s desk has been pushed back repeatedly
- the prospects of a progressive overhaul has dimmed to one that just “makes some changes”
- public opinion has decreased as their impatience and fatigue with this debate has increased.
I could go on, but essentially, this roadblocking strategy by critics has worked like a charm. Critics can accept marginal victories, as long as the war for them is not lost. The war is a war of politics – making the Dems look ineffective and unable to complete change that’s in the best interest of the nation.
One leg in front of the other. Slow and steady. These are never bad approaches to meeting objectives. Unless it is the strategy that the opposition is living off of, counting on, and striving to perpetuate in order to impede progress. We will see what happens when the votes are in.
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