Healthcare reform bill "will be a Christmas present for the insurance, hospital and drug industry"

August 13, 2009

Kill It Once, Kill It Twice
Single-Payer and Medicare
By DAVE LINDORFF

Not one of the committees working on the health reform bill in Congress allowed any discussion of Rep. Conyers' HR 676. Under pressure from the public, and groups like Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP.org) and Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has agreed to allow a floor vote next month on Conyers' bill, but that is a sop. Floor votes are heavily manipulated by the leadership and never go anywhere unless a committee has already held hearings and voted to approve a bill, which was not allowed to happen in the case of HR 676.

Not one of the committees working on the health reform bill in Congress allowed any discussion of Rep. Conyers' HR 676. Under pressure from the public, and groups like Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP.org) and Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has agreed to allow a floor vote next month on Conyers' bill, but that is a sop. Floor votes are heavily manipulated by the leadership and never go anywhere unless a committee has already held hearings and voted to approve a bill, which was not allowed to happen in the case of HR 676.

The so-called "reform" bill that is going to emerge from the current process is going to be the legislative equivalent of road kill, barely recognizeable either as health care or as a "reform." It will be a Christmas present for the insurance industry, the hospital industry and the phramaceutical industry, all three of which struck secret deals behind closed doors with the White House.

It will set back health reform in America a generation, will require everyone to buy inadequate and overpriced insurance, overpriced drugs and to go to overpriced hospitals. And the cost of healthcare to individuals, businesses, and the nation as a whole (already the highest in the modern industrial world), will continue to soar.

We should all be working to kill this whole thing and start over, with HR 676.

Please read the complete article at:

http://www.counterpunch.org/lindorff08132009.html

Short-term bandaid gift to the corporations.

.

Anything that the corporations, the very same ones that are backing the racist hate mongers at the town halls, advocate for will be a massive failure for everyone but them and their shareholders.

The perpetual concession and compromise advocates who have controlled the debate and shut out single payer for the last 40 years have no one but themselves to blame.

That's all this article says.

"I had my heart set on lobster. It's too bad that they're out and that I think everything else on the menu is dog poop."

The rest of us realize a public option, regardless how watered down it is, will be the beginning step in eventually getting a single-payer system.

One of the most eloquent, straightforward and sensible pieces of legislation ever proposed. And it's only about 11 pages long - not 1000. Read it. You'll be left wondering why we're all not taking to the streets demanding it be passed.

http://johnconyers.com/hr676text

:rofl:

Why is there such a disconnect from these two distinct issues.

I can write a simple and wonderful bill too but it doesn't mean shit. We MIGHT if we are lucky and good, be able to get a plurality for an option. That goes for the Hill and/or from the public.

Until the electorate is fed up with their policies and wants to close down private insurance or we get like 20-30 more LIBERALS (not Democrats) in the Senate and a fair increase in the House then you are dreaming.

A great bill is an Ace in the hand but unfortunately you have nothing else but a mix of low number cards. An ace and a 6 of clubs high ain't likely to win much, especially when you're playing the house.

With Entertainment news and sansationalism being how the average American gets their facts there is very little chance for Single-Payer being adopted outright without first having baby steps that lead towards it (e.g. a robust public option is the only alternative).

Me being lucky enough to be born in a country that values its citizens with a Single-Payer is AMAZING so i can sympathize with all of you American brothers and sisters but when you look at how things are in America with the ever popular and downright accepted practice of corruption in washington there is no chance single payer can happen in our life time without some dramatic catastrophe which requires the government to intervene and help the people......its sad to say but i think the only way would be to say have an virus epidemic that sweeps across america affecting young, old, rich and poor sending many to graves....This would cause legislation to help all via a single payer system.

Without that scenerio i am thinking about 20-30 years before the U.S. realizes they've gone bankrupt and must change their ways....this is likely the thing that will happen.

It's not too fast for america it's too fast for our bought and paid for politicians on both sides who take their orders from the medical industry. We need a Tommy Douglas. A leader who will give those 58% and the other 20% that would come around once educated something to push for. If medicare for all was treated as a legitimate option and proposed to be gradually phased in over 8-10 years, drop the age to 55 then in 2 years drop it 45 and in a year drop it to 35 etc., an overwhelming majority of americans would support it and force the politicians to do what is right. The insurance industry sure as hell is aware of that fact.

Unfortunately I think your right in that it will be another 20 years, hundreds of thousands of deaths and those in the still comfortable and adequately insured middle class on both sides of the aisle to do their share of suffering a dying before it will be demanded regardless of a void in leadership. Just one more mess we are leaving our kids and grand kids to suffer through and clean up.

.

:crazy: