Illuminating American Politics: Final Push For Health Care Reform

After seven decades of effort it seems as if our Country is on the verge of something historic. We could pass a Health Care Reform Bill. Is it perfect? Far from it, but it is a start and given the fierce opposition to the effort probably the best we can get now. However, we should not let the perfect become the enemy of the good. We must take this and improve upon as and when we can like all things American it is a middle of the road starting point.

What does this Bill do? Well it will provide the mechanism by which 32 million Americans can access the Health Care System. As scored by the C.B.O the Bill would cost 980 Billion dollars and is paid for in 10 years. The savings would amount to 110 Billion in the first ten years with savings soaring to over 1 Trillion in the second 10 years. The Bill will provide a Pool for all uninsured to buy insurance from the private sector, hardly the socialism we hear of and these companies will make significant profits from this system. Many of us would have rather had a single payer system but the Right was ready to burn the house down over this moderate approach. The Bill will provide a system for which insurance could be purchased across state lines while protecting the individual State Laws. Further, the Government insurance pool should drive the cost of insurance down for all. The Bill also provides for progress on TORT reform. The Bill is endorsed by the AMA, The Catholic Nuns and numerous other medical and charitable organizations.

Is this Bill to big a move for the Government? Hardly. When you look at the Bush tax cuts of 01' and 03' they amounted to 1.8 Trillion Dollars. These tax cuts were not paid for and added significant debt to the U.S. deficit. These cuts went to the wealthiest Americans and were twice the cost of Health Care Reform. Just allowing these cuts to Sunset would pay for Health Care. For all the claims from the Right that they did not have a say so in this Bill it sure has their fingerprints and ideas all over it. So as usual the GOP is a bastion of double talking hypocrites.

In closing since the President engaged upon this courageous effort over a year ago 47,092 Americans have died due to a lack of Health Care Coverage. If this were a terrorist attack would we insist on action now! We claim to be a moral Country but we send thousands of Americans to their deaths every year in the name of greed and high profit. Last year the Health Insurance Industry insured 2.5 million less Americans and increased profits by 56% percent. 1.5 million Americans are refused insurance because of pre-existing condition. WellPoint made 4.7 Billion in profit in the 4th quarter of last year. Private Health Insurances main function is to make profit not treat people. This is achieved by taking the money of the healthy and denying treatment to the sick. It is a corrupt system and be reformed. In these final hours towards it's passage please call your congressmen and urge passage the vital Health Care Reform. You can find your Congress member at this website //www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml. Thanks and keep pushing for change for the better. You know progress!