Many, including Obama and Dems are asserting that Obama must pass this bill for his Presidency. Obama made this about the effectiveness of his Presidency when he refused to pivot. Pres. Clinton effectively pivoted from healthcare and was reelected. It is conceivable that Obama could have even taken the issue back up when the jobs situation was stabilized. But no, Obama's arrogance made it about his legacy instead of what this country truly needs.
And it is not this mess of bills. Now, the Dems will be out for being Stupid and whether he gets his bill or not, Obama will be severely damaged because he doesn't understand that sometimes when you win - you actually lose.
It would have been better to listen to the American people, work on jobs and do the things all Americans agree on incrementally. Because the American people aren't stupid...we know the government control in the bill, we know that the bill increases the deficit, we know that Medicare and Social Security are insolvent, we know Obama is spending us into collapse, we know we cannot afford another entitlement.
This bill pass or fail will be the defining mistake of Obama's Presidency.
Oh, and to answer your question...Yes. I supported Hillary for President in the primaries. Hope to support her again in 2012.
Trinity, the reason Clinton ended up caving to the Republicans and their insurance companies was that they lied to the American people in '93... they promised that the free market would control healthcare costs and the Republican insurance companies said that *they* knew how to control costs. Gee, I think we all know how well that went -- they tried to do it again this time, but finally someone with a brain called them out.
Government is not the problem... the insurance companies *are*. The CEO of Blue Cross/Anthem making $5 Million+ on the denial of insurance claims -- the deaths of Americans -- is sickening... the only purpose for the existence of *for profit* health insurance companies is to make money. They have gotten very good at optimizing the system to maximize their profits. They are the *cause* of America's rising healthcare costs -- the higher the costs... the more the American people *need* health insurance (meaning more customers, and more profit).
If you looked at the real cost of healthcare, the amount that hospitals bills individuals, and the amount that the insurance companies actually pay (sometimes called contracted rates). No one can say that it isn't a sham.
I was recently in the hospital for less than 36 hours. The bill I received was for a little over $51,000. The "Insurance" discount (contract rate) was for a little of $48,000. So the insurance company reimbursed the hospital less than $3,000. Of course my life time maximum for my insurance was reduced down the full amount of $51,000.
Now, the uninsured would have received the same treatment, but their "discount" would be significantly less and they would still end up with a bill for over $30,000.
Seems mighty ridiculous if it wasn't so serious for a great deal of Americans.
-mike
