"Had the President and the Democrats stuck to their guns during the health-care debate..."

Why the New Healthcare Law Should Have Been Based on Medicare, or What Democrats Should Have Learned By Now by Robert Reich

Last week, two appellate judges in Atlanta — one appointed by President Bill Clinton and one by George H.W. Bush – held the Constitution doesn’t allow the federal government to require individuals to buy health insurance...Had the President and the Democrats stuck to their guns during the health-care debate and insisted on Medicare for all, or at least a public option, they wouldn’t now be facing the possible unraveling of the new health care law.

After all, Social Security and Medicare – the nation’s two most popular safety nets – require every working American to “buy” them. The purchase happens automatically in the form of a deduction from everyone’s paychecks.

But because Social Security and Medicare are government programs they don’t feel like mandatory purchases. They feel more like tax payments, which is what they are – payroll taxes.

There’s no question payroll taxes are constitutional, because there’s no doubt that the federal government can tax people in order to finance particular public benefits.

http://wallstreetpit.com/81730-why-the-new-healthcare-law-should-have-been-based-on-medicare-or-what-democrats-should-have-learned-by-now

I am sure Dr Reich was on this back in 2009, but the 11-dimensional-chess sycophants drowned out any and all opposition. Glad to see this back in the OpEd pages, but still.

I feel sick.

k&r

been saying for two years.

and insisted on Medicare for all, or at least a public option, they wouldn’t now be facing the possible unraveling of the new health care law." He's assuming that Obama and other Third Way Dems WANTED Medicare for all, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Grayson pushed for it, Kucinich and Weiner too, but many other were mum on that solution.

...in both houses combined.

Columnists writing in the subjunctive -- could, should, may, might, would -- aren't worth the pixels.

Friedman does it, he gets flayed alive here.

Reich does the same thing, he's cheered to the echo. Because we agree with him...

Lifetime advocate who can't even get his/Kucinich's bills out of committee.

:(

sticking to their guns would likely have meant no change at all.

Lost in all of this is that if there are 40 million Americans without health care, there are over 250 million Americans WITH health care, and a very large chunk of that group is satisfied with what they have.

I think we need to completely redo the way we do civics education in this country. There are an uncomfortable number of people who believe there is some sort of equivalence between wanting a bill to pass and getting a bill to pass. People who don't have the slightest clue how government works are less likely to become productive citizens than people who do.

:rofl:
no wonder this society is so fucking pathetic

A majority of Americans want the private insurance industry out of health care.

Once taught to be "productive", these new-adults won't try to bother anyone to "stick to guns" and try to actually pass any policy that might make the "powerful interests" that they've learned to be "subservient" to uncomfortable...

Is that the "slightest clue" that you're hoping citizens will learn... if nothing else just so that you can get a break from the hackery you participate in here on this site?...

in the 19th century were stupid?

Not saying HIPAA was bad. It did make improvements for many. However, Clinton tried to get MFA, the effort failed miserably, and the GOP got to claim victory with a bipartisan effort.

Obama pursued that which he pursued and damn near got it. If he had pursued MFA, some of the conserva-Dems woulda bailed, and we would have gotten some bullshit like "insurance competing across state lines." The GOP is fighting healthcare reform tooth and nail because they weren't onboard.

...an example of bad legislation. I can't tell you how many times I've read/hear RW'ers quote the "just pass it, then we'll figure out what's in it" line.


A simple Medicare for All plan would have resonated with Americans. Now the chance may be forever lost.

and have a key component struck down. :shrug: :patriot:

In Texas an individual can now purchase pre-existing-condition insurance for the same cost and benefits as non-pre-existing coverage.

Small companies of 2 to 50 employees now have access to a couple of group plans with benefits that meet the federal standards.

Rescission for anything other than fraud is a thing of the past.

Lifetime limits are gone, and yearly limits are severely restricted and on their way to being gone.

Preventive care is free under all plans.


And much more.

with the mega profits of the death-panel purveyors extinguished. ;) :patriot: