Health Care: A Crisis Mandating Reform

The state of the economy predicts more loss of jobs and home foreclosures. The number of uninsured is close to 50 million and growing. It is estimated that current health care's cost to our economy is sixteen per cent or more. Health care costs are out of control, and reform can't wait.

Big name reform advocates include not only AARP, but - hold onto your hat! - phRma and the AMA as well. According to the July Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, the public still supports health care reform.

Why the legislative delay?

What should be a Red White Blue effort to save our country's health care crisis falls into the political quagmire of Red vs Blue. As though this isn't enough, the Blue presents obstacles from within.

Blue dog Democrats insist the proposed legislation is too expensive.


Representative Walt Minnick states that he is "working for a more balanced bill supported by the majority of my constituents." Would the majority of Rep. Minnick's district 1 constituents be Republican?


Do any of the following requirements for a health care bill that a blue dog can support resound of GOP agenda?

• Fully funded


• Available to all


• No "socialized medicine"


• Reduced cost
  

If all of the above can't be met at this time, do we follow the precedent established by the last administration and ignore it? Or, do we follow Clinton's lead, make an attempt, then drop it when the going gets tough?

Not on President Obama's watch. He says, "I'm the president . . . this has to get done." The majority of Americans agree.

Republocrats for All

Accusations that Colin Powell acts like a Democrat is no surprise. Recently, Tom Ridge made the same news. Newt Gingrich is another moderate Republican that raises the hackles of the Republican conservative base.

Idaho Governor Butch Otter was accused of behaving like a Democrat during his fight for Idaho transportation funding during the recent 2009 legislative session. His argument for preventative measures to ward off drastic outcomes and expenses down the road (pun intended) came off like an Al Gore sound bite.

Idaho Representatives Walt Minnick(D) and Mike Simpson(R) cast votes like fraternity brothers who meet up afterwards for a cold one.

Maybe there is something to this Republocrat business. As members of both parties slide to the middle, the conservative base and the liberal base grow smaller and smaller. The teeter-totter becomes balanced. The pull of gravity might as well take a yoga break-Nobody slammed, nobody hurt.

Isn't this exactly what President Obama wants? The two major parties pulling together putting partisan biases and prejudices aside, to work for the good of our country during these troubled times? The economy gets fixed, a chicken and a job in every pot, a health care system that works, global warming stopped in its tracks . . .

Nice, but who will we cuss, blame, rant and rave when things go wrong if everyone is responsible and in agreement?

No need to worry. There will always be radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh and Ed Schutz, and outspoken politicians like Dick Cheney and Dennis Kucinich. Those who can place blame, take blame, and keep the political dust stirring. I suppose in the long run that's good.

Even so, it would be nice if the dust settled long enough for the Republocrats to put together a good health care system.