Watching the process of getting HCR to pass, one cannot help but wonder about our history

[Dappleganger]

when trying to get 13 very independent colonies filled with very opinionated lawmakers, orators, journalists, etc. to join together, declare their independence and form a new country.

It wasn't a perfect process, nor was it with perfect people or absolutely perfect methods. Deals were struck, compromises were made, ideals were put into one's back pocket to rise above the individual's desires in order to serve the common good. But in the end, out of that chaos came a new country.

Although this bill is FAR from my own ideals, in my heart I believe in the cause enough to support it because it's not just about me. I believe in the process and that this will be adapted to OUR kind of health care over time. America's public health care won't look like Canada's, France's, Switzerland's or Finland's--it will look American. I am going to push aside some of my expectations for awhile knowing that there will be growing pains but also advocate for positive change within the new system.

I hope that those who agree and disagree with this bill will choose to do so as well.

[Cassandra]

1. Didn't women's voting rights...

pass because a legislator got a note from his mother, or was that just a dramatization?

[NYC_SKP]

2. Don't know, but it's interesting that Womens' right to vote came 47 years after African Americans'..

Interesting for more reason than one, but TODAY it's interesting because by some accounts, we shouldn't pass this bill because it doesn't go far enough.

I'm of the opinion that if we don't pass what we can, it may be 47 years before we can have another stab at it.

I know the pre-existing conditions clause has been reduced to apply only to children.

But I don't see that as a reason to kill the bill (as some do) unless we cover all.

That would be like voting against the 15th amendment unless it included women.

And that wouldn't come until the following century.

[Jennicut]

4. If we waited for perfection at the beginning of this country, it would not exist

period. Not that is is perfect today by any means. But you have to start somewhere.

[ShortnFiery]

3. It didn't have to be like this. We had no guidelines nor strong democratic leadership

at the onset. Single Payer on the negotiating table would have given us a DECENT result.

[arcadian]

5. Trying to tag a patriotic line to the bill is down right deceitful.