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David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. David writes about political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties.
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April 24, 2008 6:16 AM
HILL: D.C. Dems Back Off Health Care Promises
In a stunning - if predictable - story, the Hill Newspaper reports that congressional Democrats are now saying that they will effectively thwart any effort to create a national health care program. Here is the key excerpt:
"Congressional Democrats are backing away from healthcare reform promises made by their two presidential candidates, saying that even if their party controls the White House and Congress, sweeping change will be difficult...Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), a member of Senate Democratic leadership and a key Hillary Clinton ally who also sits on the Finance Committee, said he is 'not sure we have the big plan on healthcare.'...'Healthcare I feel strongly about, but I am not sure that we're ready for a major national healthcare plan,' Schumer said...Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.), a Clinton supporter who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, said "the money is not necessarily there right now" to enact the plans."
There's a lot to unpack here.
First and foremost, to those in Washington who say the nation should just wait for Washington to act on health care and wait for Democrats to win control of Congress and the presidency, this story exposes the glaring failure of that strategy - especially as states move forward into the breach. Health care reform has to be a dual effort - at the federal level and at the state level. And most likely, real reform is going to start in the states - in part, because Democrats in Washington are so afraid of their own shadow and bought off by Big Money interests that they are now acknowledging that they are not serious about fulfilling their health care promises.
Second, you'll notice the right-wing arguments being made by Democrats in this piece. Schumer, like a reliable Fox News anchor, tells us that America isn't "ready" for national health care plan, despite polls over the last decade showing strong support for such a concept. Likewise, Meek - playing right into the Grover Norquist "drown it in the bathtub" mantra, claims the federal government doesn't have the cash to pay for a health care overhaul - even as Congress continues writing blank checks to fund the Iraq War.
Finally, this reminds us of the need for progressives to focus on building a social movement, rather than exclusively on winning elections. Democrats are effectively saying that no matter how many elections are won, they will not move forward on the most pressing domestic issue. That's because there isn't yet a powerful social movement putting constant pressure on both parties - and instilling fear in both parties. The infrastructure that has been built in recent years is largely partisan rather than movement-oriented - that is, aimed at buttressing the Democratic Party, regardless of what it does. If we are to get health care reform, it will require a movement - not a party.
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About David Sirota
David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Hostile Takeover. He lives in Denver, Colorado. His daily blog can be found at CREDO Action. He contributes regularly to the Denver Post's Web site, is a senior editor at In These Times magazine and is working on his second book. He has been profiled in Newsweek and the Rocky Mountain News and is widely known for his reporting on political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties. Sirota serves as co-chair of the Progressive States Network, a 501(c)3 organization that supports state legislators and that is a partner of CREDO.
You can subscribe to Sirota's e-mail newsletter by going to davidsirota.com and signing up in the lefthand corner. To find out more about Sirota, download his official biography or see his recent media appearances. You can e-mail him at sirota@credoaction.com.
The views expressed on this blog are his own, and do not necessarily represent the views of Working Assets (publisher of CREDO Action) or the institutions Sirota works for.
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Discussion
Not only will it require a health care movement, but a movement that will end the capability of Big Money interests to buy access to Congress. We've got to get public financing or we may never have a chance at such fundamental reforms as health care.
David,
What do you think of the MA state wide policy for mandatory health insurance? What I find most interesting about it that the Mandatory Health Insurance bill was passed due to a large bipartisan effort by elected MA congressmen. I dont particularly like the fact that I have to pay in the way of more tax dollars taken out of my paycheck. However, while I dont make a lot, I do not feel that will effect me significantly. However, I think those who truly complain about having to pay for other who cant afford health care need to realize that we all need to pitch in a little extra to help those in need. The hard part is that our country was built and has become the powerhouse it is because of capitalism. This is where our country will have so many problems finding a solution for universal health care that our society will agree on. Unless, we make some major changes in the way those get taxed we will never have a way to fund such a proposal. Will Obama or Clinton stand a chance in a general election against McCain if they get into how much they will have to tax US citizens to afford a universal health care plan? I really look forward to your comments on this or anyone elses.
Thanks
I am increasingly sickened by the BS members of congress spout. Elizabeth Edwards had it just right. For someone who is covered by government funded healthcare to say that the voters who put them in that enviable position are not entitled to the same quality of care is plain disgusting.
Mandating the purchase of "health insurance" is ridiculous, since that would simply increase the bottom line of insurance companies. Creating a single payer universal system of coverage, funded with tax dollars, is the only way to go.
Right now the $10k odd we pay each year in premiums is tax deductible, so frankly it isn't going to make much difference from a financial standpoint. What WOULD change is that our physicians would finally be able to make decisions regarding treatment instead of fighting our insurance companies, and we wouldn't be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. EVERYONE over 50 has a pre-existing condition.....
Members of congress don't have to worry about their healthcare, but do have to worry about paying back the contributions they receive from the insurance and pharma industries, so as the first commenter says, until we have public financing of elections the rest of us are toast.
We are seriously thinking of moving to Canada (back for me, a new home for my husband) since as we get older we are really worried about our future health.
To put it another way, 'stead of some $5000 in premiums, same folx would only pay $3-4000 in taxes...but provide universal coverage...and w/o pre-existing condition exclusions.
It's things like this that have me about to ditch the Democratic party. I've come to the realization that nothing is ever going to change unless 1. there is public financing for elections, no corporate donations/lobbyists or 2. The Democratic party must be destroyed, because they are stopping the changes we need because of being nothing more than another corporate party.
I'm seriously disgusted lately and am about to vote strategically. I'll vote Democrat when I trust the candidate or feel like I must absolutely stop the Republican they are running against. Other times, I'll vote Green or other progressive/liberal/anticorporate independent.
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