Well, historic HCR has passed. Not w/o major obstructionism by the corporatists

[rhett o rick]

in both parties. Take a deep breath and let’s hit the road running. We have a lot of work to do to “fix” this bill. We were told time and time again that once passed it would provide a foundation for more progressive legislation. Let’s start today.

First, we must give Rep Grayson as much help as possible. His bill may not pass but we must continue with the plan of making Medicare available to everyone. Medicare Part E. Maybe Medicare Part E for children will pass through this strongly corporatist Congress. Let’s keep the pressure on.

I wonder if we will get any help from the so-called "centrists".

[ixion]

1. Let me tell you right now: There will be no 'fix', and this was a distinctly corporatist bill

I don't see how progressives can claim any success here at all.

The gentrification of an already corrupt industry is in no way, shape or form, reform.

[rhett o rick]

3. Regardless, we need to keep fighting. You are not suggesting to give up are you? nm

[ixion]

4. Of course not.

Personally, I don't like to work on false hopes, though. Still, in the immortal words of Lyle Lovett, "You have to try."

[rhett o rick]

5. I understand and agree. nm

[Captain Hilts]

2. We gave Republicans to much in exchange for...nothing. nt

[kenny blankenship]

6. We conceded much and not to Republicans. They were only a device -ringers in fake negotiations

I can't believe anyone thought even for a minute that this Republican party would allow votes from their side for a health reform bill initiated by the Democratic Party. All my life at least, the thing that most infuriates Republicans about us is "Democrat social engineering" reform. Social Security, minimum wage laws, antitrust law --all bitterly hated by Republicans. Truly, I think they hate the Great Society more than the Soviet Union. The present bill could have said ANYTHING - including directing billions in tax money go to fundy churches - and it would still have been poison to them, so long as it came in a wrapper that said "Democratic" "health" and "reform" in any combination. It could have been less similar to Republican health care proposals, or it could have been identical to Republican proposals - and indeed it basically is- and they would have all been obligated by their base to oppose it.

Why negotiate with them then? Look at what happened: we gave up too much as you said. That's the reason.

"We" negotiated with them, or rather with a couple of designated ringers from their side who were never going to give us their votes, in order to shed crucial provisions and ideas that were affirmed by our candidates and our party base. These Democratic ideas were the impetus for starting a legislative reform in the first place, but sadly they conflict with the demands of corporate donors. They had to be exploited for their "change-making" energy, and then converted by attrition into a newly reinforced status quo.

We gave up the soul of health care reform, but it wasn't to Republicans.

[rhett o rick]

8. I agree completely and fought it all the way. But what we need to do now is keep our momentum up.

Help Rep Grayson with his Medicare buyin and push the Senate to consider legislation for anti-trust to apply to health insurance companies.

[rhett o rick]

7. Two things not to let die. Medicare Part E and anti-trust legislation for health insurers. nm