Inaction is not an option

It’s been repeated over and over, and by several well-known liberals--inaction is not an option.

When the healthcare bill passed the House on Saturday, I was excited; at last, I thought, finally, these Democrats managed to pass something, and the healthcare bill, no less. Now, I’ve seen the original bill and I agree wholeheartedly with it, but since I last read it, it’s been abused, and abused, and so badly changed, that I no longer know what it is.

Let me specify, I, for the most part, agree with the current healthcare bill, but I do disagree with this arrogant belief that we should allow some very important reforms go away in the name of the public option. I know that the provision in this bill that say’s insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, could help a lot of families. And removing the health insurance industry’s exemption from anti-trust laws would help to bring prices down. Along with several other really important reforms.

But for some in the senate as well as the house, the public option is a do or die provision. And this is true for both sides. For Lieberman, that clear attempt at maintaining the healthcare revenue stream that flows so well from his home state insurers is of the utmost importance, and as such, he is poised to insure it remains that way. And he has a great deal of power right now; with a single deviation on a procedural vote, he can bring this reform to a complete stop, all because of the public option. So, what we can have is nothing, and the insurance industry keeps on abusing customers.

Now, if we dump the public option, Lieberman has no real reason to complain, and any complaints will be clear cut greed.. Not that his objection to the public option can’t be supposed greed, but at least it is defendable, and with the nation so evenly split, it is defendable. But, none of the other major provisions can be deemed overly controversial; I would love to see him defend the insurance industries exemption from the anti-trust laws, or see him defend pre-existing conditions.

Now, if we do dump the public option, it would behoove us to also remove the mandate, not the employer mandate, but the personal mandate. I can understand the frustration, people run to the emergency room because of a lack preventative healthcare, and we the tax payers are forced to subsidize, but mandating that we get insurance is at best laughable. Perhaps a better solution would be enforcing hospital pay the same way we mandate federal loan repayment, by force.

Now, the republicans have been touting this portable insurance idea, allowing all insurance companies to cross state lines, and I agree, but only if we agree on a federal standard that must be met, and allow states to keep whatever standards they have, which any insurer doing business in that state must abide by.

This is hardly a cure-all, but at least it gets us moving in the right direction, and until we get a more liberal senate, it’s as good as it gets. And at the very least, it’s action.

Filling Teddy’s Shoes…

On January 19, 2009, Massachusetts will hold a special election to elect a Senator to replace the late Senator Ted Kennedy. And to fill Teddy’s shoes will take some big feet.

There a several reasons as to why this election is special; first, it was unseen, and unplanned. Second, this election was the result of a bill by the former Senator which, just before his passing, he had tried to undo. It was to no avail, and although the Governor was allowed to appoint an interim Senator, this special election will determine the full-time Senator. The third, and most important reason is, will the Democratic party maintain it’s supermajority in the Senate?

As a Masshole-and a devout liberal-I think that, for the time being, yes, yes they should. But we do have to consider who it is that we are voting for. And that’s what I will do. Starting Monday, I will bring to you all the major candidates running for the seat…any relevant polls, and any relevant press releases. And to get this started, we will begin with Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.

So come through on Monday, and I’ll have it ready.

Lieberman, you whore! ;)

I was watching the Ed Show on MSNBC, and as it seemed that Ed's head was ready to explode, I couldn't stop myself from laughing; Sen. Joe Lieberman, the bi-partisan-curious, so-called independent from CT, a democratic party traitor(he backed McCain), and obvious republican--put all the I's after your name, your a frickin republican - was all set to join the republican filibuster that would in essence kill health care reform.

That Ed never saw this coming is a surprise; Lieberman is a Senator from Ct, the motherland for insurance companies. Shit, I'm surprised this bukake love fest with the insurance companies didn't come to light a lot sooner--the independent senator has taken well over a million dollars from them, why wouldn't he go against his constituents. With roughly 68% of Ct residents supporting the public option, Lieberman's threat seems to insult his State.

Now, Senate Majority leader, Harry Reid(D-NV), has expressed very little concern over this, maybe he knows something we don't.

The really screwed up part; Lieberman might just derail Health care reform over a procedural move. In essence, a filibuster is like saying "I don't want to argue"

If we have 60 votes, we can overcome this, but Lieberman was our 60th vote...if he joined republicans in a filibuster, this debate dies. Why does this piss me off? Because all we need is 51 votes to pass this. With all the improvements to the bill, such as the "Opt-Out" option, which allows States to opt out of the public option, this bill gives blue dog democrats a safety net for their constituents, which might preserve their seats. Also, we should be allowed to have this go to the floor.

Listen, Lieberman, if you're doing this to make a point, we can find out when you vote. If you're doing this to grandstand, fine, grandstand. But if you plan on selling your state to the health insurance industry, you should be ashamed of yourself.

I really hope a senator cost more then a million dollars, but we will see.