Without a public option, Obama’s efforts to reform the American healthcare system will be piecemeal and ineffective. Sure, there might be a few good things to come out of it like some tinkering with private health insurance plans, but the system will fundamentally stay in tact. The boat will not be rocked. That is a very tragic thing.
Our bloated, expensive, wasteful and often times cruel healthcare system leaves too many Americans behind to fend for themselves. How anyone can claim we have the best healthcare system in the world when every 30 seconds an American files for bankruptcy after a serious medical emergency is beyond me. We spend more money on health insurance per capita than most industrial powers, yet there are still millions of Americans who lack coverage and millions more who are under-insured.
The public option was one of the best ways in the current healthcare debate to tackle some of these problems. It would have brought real competition to the marketplace and forced insurance companies to shape up or ship out. It would have provided a stronger security net for the poor and uninsured. Instead we will get something much more watered down. We’ll get some bill that will likely keep the status quo in tact – just the way the insurance companies like it.
Obama could have gone to the mats on this. He could have made Republicans in the Senate filibuster the legislation and further brand themselves as the party of “no.” Unfortunately, Obama backed down and wasted political capital. The President has been attacked as a “racist” and a “socialist” for pushing his agenda and now that Republicans smell blood in the water they will go for the kill. Arguably, bipartisanship might be even harder now that the GOP knows they can derail a major policy agenda through a few rowdy town halls.
A public option was vital for reform. Now we’re left with the scraps.
And the beat goes on. I’ve been skeptical about healthcare reform since this administration took over. While I agree that our system is deeply flawed, the sweeping reform that the Democrats proposed was poorly conceived and poorly marketed.
Democrats have been talking about healthcare reform for decades with no actual progress to show for it. What is left behind, especially in this case, is the image of a trigger-happy party (and worse, President) that overreached too quickly and backed off too easily.
I’m sure some legislation will probably be passed, but you are right that it won’t be significant. This could potentially wipe out Congress next year.
“I’m sure some legislation will probably be passed, but you are right that it won’t be significant. This could potentially wipe out Congress next year.”
And good riddance.