The reason the republicans are so much against this bill is because they know it will get better

[still_one]

This is only the start, just like Medicare initially only covered hospitalization.

Because of this single payer or a public option is a real possibility in our lifetime

[dkf]

1. We will be suffering and fighting with insurance companies for the next 30 years.

Or we can expand Medicare through reconciliation.

[Winterblues]

9. Or we can support Progressive candidates for Congress and get rid of the DINOs

It will only take a few more "real" Democrats and a Democratic Agenda can actually be a reality. Republicans are still considered less favorably than Democrats, so 2010 might just be a big surprise for all those suggesting a Republican landslide.

[still_one]

15. The bill will die if they do that in reconciliation. Of course we have such a liberal Congress

I have no doubt that they will be able to start the bill over from scratch, and get Medicare for everyone. It is so easy to make a bill a law, such a piece of cake, I don't know why they didn't do that in the first place

lieberman and Nelson, will be begging us to do that, and will confess that they were only kidding before when they said they were against it

[dkf]

25. Oh we do this the second this half assed bill is passed

[EFerrari]

2. The reason they're against it is because they need to raise money

and they want to show their base they're "fighting" for them. Which they aren't because they never do. They fight for their donors.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. because we have reduced politics to team sports.

& yes, you are correct

[Tailormyst]

5. yup yup

[EFerrari]

7. They had to be reduced to team sports to dress up the fact

that multinationals have taken the field on both sides and voters are only spectators.

[daleanime]

4. Sorry to say that I don't agree...

if this bill provides 'any' hint of cost containment, then that will be shown as proof that this is the correct path for us to take. :scared:

[Vinnie From Indy]

6. lol

They love this bill because their corporatist allies love it AND they will be highly effective using aspects of the bill in a devastating propaganda campaign leading up to the 2010 elections. The Ben Nelson payoff is manna from heaven and the mandate provision gives them, for the first time in history, a legitimate claim that Democrats in power in Washington are confiscating your money because they know how to spend it better than you in regard to your health. No, the GOP and the gargantuan right-wing hate machine led by Rush Limbaugh are orgasmic over this turn of events. They get to have it all! They get a bill they would have passed for their corporate overlords and they get to blame it on Democrats. The perfect storm! Watch and see how much mileage they get out of the Ben Nelson bribe.

[Laelth]

27. Absolutely true.

The Republicans are thrilled. They're watching the Democratic Party commit suicide.

Kill the bill.

Forcing people to buy insurance is no more the answer to a failed health care system than forcing people to buy houses is the solution to homelessness.

:dem:

-Laelth

[joeybee12]

8. Funniest post ever! They are united against it because they

know it is crap, and they want to blame this crap all on the Dems in 2010 and 2012....it CAN'T get better...we've given away the farm to the insurance companies...it has made reform even harder in the future.

[tridim]

14. And you're demonstrating your unity with the Republicans.

And you're also using the same lies that they're using on the Senate floor.

That realization must really suck for you.

[joeybee12]

19. Really must suck for you being unable

to think for yourself...pathetic tarring response.

[tridim]

20. How is posting my opinion not thinking for myself?

I'm certainly not taking part in the GOP-style FUD that you just posted on DEMOCRATIC Underground.

[Bobbie Jo]

10. It's the edge of the slippery slope...and they know it. nt

[lapfog_1]

11. No, Medicre was popular. This won't be.

In addition, policies don't get better by aging them like a fine wine. They get better because more legislation is passed to make them better. Please explain WHEN we are going to have a larger majority in the Senate and House so we can pass such legislation? Or do you think the Repukes will be inattentive or just "nicer guys" later on.

[JustAnotherGen]

12. Only in the Democratic Powers that be

Start throwing their weight behind liberal and progressive candidates.

That means Obama taking a trip down to SC to attend a Rob Miller rally (he's running against You Lie Wilson).
That means as soon as this bill gets passed? You throw Specter under the bus.

It will NOT happen without hard left liberals and progressives in the House and Senate. It won't happen.

[T Wolf]

13. PLease share some of the pharmaceuticals you are ingesting. This is the END of their

efforts to fix medical care in the US, not the beginning.

Do you honestly think that the pols want to go anywhere near this topic again? With over 70% of the population not getting what we want, even the idiots in DC can recognize a no-win situation.

They will go back to declaring National Cashew Month and repaying their corporate owners in more subtle ways rather than opening this Pandora's box again.

[still_one]

17. First of all I think you meant "investing", not ingesting, oh well. Do you really think you have

votes for anything else?

[WorseBeforeBetter]

16. "There's no place like home; there's no place like home."

Shit is going to hit the fan when those clueless "moderates" wrap their brains around IRS-enforced mandates with no insurance industry cost controls. DU pays attention and so do teabaggers (in their own warped way) -- 2010 and 2012 oughta be *real* interesting.

[still_one]

18. Your right those opposing this bill shows that it takes a lot of insight to pass a bill.

My mistake. I should have realized from the comments in the last week that killing this bill is the way to go. No way do we want to amend the bill after it becomes law

Who needs 60 votes, its easy to pass a bill. Let's kill this one, and I have no doubt that next year we will have single payer for all, because the country and Congress have demonstrated beyond a doubt that the country has become so progressive through the years.

[old guy]

21. Define "our lifetime"

[tinrobot]

22. They are against it for the mere sake of being against it...

They oppose everything, regardless. Apparently out of spite.

[randr]

23. The reason they are against it

is that it allows the dems to dip into the insurance lobby money.
Wake up damnit. This is about the distribution of wealth in Washington and not about any comprehensive reform for the masses.

[silverweb]

24. I agree.

And that is my hope.

That said, it's up to us to keep pressuring our senators and representatives, to nag them to never stop pushing forward with substantial amendments and improvements to the HCR legislation.

Eventually, we will build a universal health care system that will bring us into the 21st-Century civilized world.

[Laelth]

26. Beacuse of this, states will be PREVENTED from enacting single-payer.

The status quo is better because it will ALLOW for states to address this issue themselves. Passing the bill will prevent state action on this issue. California will probably pass single payer on its own in 2011. All they need is a Democratic Governor. The legislature has already passed the bill. Schwarzenegger vetoed it. Once California has single-payer, most (if not all) states will follow suit.

It's likely that if we pass a new law now, the new law will preempt single-payer, i.e. the Federal law will preempt state law and prevent states from enacting a single-payer system.

THIS is what the health insurance companies fear. THIS is what brought them to the bargaining table. THIS is why they are not fighting Obama's tepid reforms, and THIS is why it is extremely important that we do not pass any health insurance reform bill this year.

Let's not settle for a bail-out of the health insurance industry. Let's insist on the eradication of it. In all likelihood, California will lead the way in 2011 ... if we can just give them time.

Canada got its single-payer system one province at a time, and it looks like that's the only way it can happen in the United States.

I don't think the Federal Government is capable of reforming the system right now. If this bill is the best the Federal Government can do, then the Federal Government should do nothing. It's time to let the states try.

Kill the bill.

Forcing people to buy insurance is no more the answer to a failed health care system than forcing people to buy houses is the solution to homelessness.

:dem:

-Laelth

[omega minimo]

28. "Because of this single payer or a public option is a real possibility in our lifetime"

:wow: :spray: :rofl: :rofl: