The Republicans And Health Care Reform
By Chris Angle | 05/14/09 | 11:13 AM EDT | 3 Comments
Sometime within the next 6 weeks, President Obama is likely to present a plan to Congress that many are predicting will ultimately do what Hillary Clinton failed to do: namely, bring the American healthcare industry largely under the control of the government. While many Republicans are decrying the attempt to socialize the medical industry, the balance of power in Congress suggests that they will have difficulty stopping it. Despite this, many activists and interest groups are starting to “rally the troops” to oppose anything that Obama comes out with.
However, simply opposing the Obama plan by scaring people won’t be enough. While some are fondly remembering how “Hillarycare” was shot down in flames in 1994 (with the Republicans taking over Congress later that year), the political situation is much different today. Firstly, “Hillarycare” was a radical reform being pushed by a President who had been elected with roughly 43% of the popular vote, whereas Obama was elected with 52% of vote (and consequently has more political capital). Secondly, early indications are that Obama’s reforms are not initially as radical as Hillary’s appeared to be. Hillary was looking to effectively nationalize the healthcare industry immediately, whereas Obama’s reforms are rumored to consist largely of setting up a government entity to compete with the private sector. While many are predicting that this will eventually lead to a Hillary-style outcome, such an eventual outcome will take time and will therefore not be obvious to many voters. Thirdly, the baby boomers are older than they were in 1994, and the cost of healthcare is more of an immediate concern than it was then. In addition, declining nest eggs resulting from the financial crisis are undoubtedly creating additional anxiety regarding medical costs as well.
In addition to understanding that the current political landscape is more conducive to some sort of government health plan than it was in 1994, Republicans would do well to remember that Hillary’s plan might have been enacted in some form in 1994, if not for the fact that there were two or three other plans submitted by various groups to compete with it. The political impact of this fact cannot be overstated, in that these other plans helped to siphon support away from the Hillary plan. Lawmakers could oppose the Hillary plan, without exposing themselves to charges that they were against healthcare reform in general.
Today, however, not only do the Republicans lack a credible filibuster threat in the Senate, but they have not historically behaved as if healthcare reform (which the U.S. clearly needs in some form) is an important issue to them. Consequently, they lack credibility on the issue. Despite this, the Republicans need to spend the next weeks formulating a serious healthcare reform plan. While the cost of the Obama plan (when added to all of the other spending that has been approved) will be a critical weakness that Republicans can attack, no one should have any illusions that this will be enough to scuttle (or even seriously alter) the Obama plan. The Republicans need a plan that is realistic, not too confusing, and not too convoluted. They also need one that they would be willing to pass if they were in the majority, not one that looks like it was thrown together at the last minute. In putting together this plan, Republicans must accept the reality that healthcare reform does not have a pure free market solution (although there are some free market reforms that could be made). Producing a serious plan will give the Republicans something to run on in the next election, if the Obama plan passes with zero Republican support. In addition, such a plan may allow Republicans to peel off some moderate Democrat support from the Obama plan and allow a filibuster to be sustained. Any possibility of the Republicans influencing the direction of healthcare reform depends upon them producing a plan that is credible. They had better start getting one ready.
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While Chris seems confused about the fact that government is the primary cause of higher healthcare costs and, thus, cannot offer the solution, his idea about a competing solution should be considered.
And while I personally disagree with the squishy undertone of this piece and this site will likely represent more of my own personality in time, divergent (i.e. moderate) Republican views will not be silenced here at Red County. The debate over the direction of our party will be aired here, not just one side.
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|I would like to share my story and let the readers decide if government or private markets are the culprit of the Health Care Mess. Our family pays $800 per month for a PPO Health insurance. We hardly ever use it. We can hardly pay it anymore.
We are very conservative, and market oriented but we cannot support the profiteering that is taking place with the Health Care system by the Insurance companies, the doctors and the lawyers.
To cut costs and visits to Doctors, I bring all of my antibiotics from abroad. I have a strept-test kit and also a urinanalysis kit at home. I buy all of these things from pharmacies abroad without prescriptions.
Could you agree with me if I were to say:
-1-Stop the frivolous lawsuits against pharmaceuticals. The price of medicine in this country is out of control because of that ! Antibiotics in Europe/LatinAmerica come in a bottle (powder) and you mix it with water at home and take it! Cost: Usually no more than 5 Euros for Augmentin. Why can we not do that in America?
-2-For 50 Euros, I have a great Doctor who comes to my house in his motorcycle to take care of my child. He is paid cash and run all the tests. If more is needed, you go to the microbiologist, who for another 50 Euros would run all kinds of tests!
-3-Usually, in Europe, you never go to Hospitals unless you are really sick. Remember, your Doctor is the first line of defense! but in America, it is so expensive to see them! Why?
The American Doctors believe that they have a life style to mantain at our expense! They have to have 2 or 3 Mercedes, million dollar houses and private school for their kids. So they charge us at least $250 for a visit, where we wait 40 to 50 minutes to see them for 10 minutes. Again, to tell us that further tests are needed! That is what needs to change! They should make a decent living, but not profiteer from people's hard earned money.
-4-The Doctors from the US and Europe cure the same illnesses, so why do we pay this astronomic monthly fees to have health insurance? The Doctors should cut their cost in half and live with more humble expectations. Being a Doctor is also a way to serve others in need ! It is part of their Hippocratic Oath. They have forgotten about that ! I also had a 6-year University education, and I don't expect to be paid millions of dollars in salary. The argument that it costs a lot more to go to medical schoo is not a valid one!
Moreover, the Hospitals should be used only for emergencies and serious operations! Stop using the Emergency Rooms for treatment that can be done at a local clinic or by your family doctor or even at home. Have mini-clinics at the public library to talk about nutrition, and symtoms for common illnesses.
-5-Allow Pharmacies (Walgreens, Walmart, etc) to have more home test kits over the counter, at a reasonable price, to avoid visits to the Doctor's office.
-6-If I can think of all that to cut costs, what about our elected officials? The insurance companies' managers, and the Doctors are often too greedy, reaching out to take every penny we have made in our lifes, so that they can buy 2 or 3 luxury cars, boats etc! No more!
-7- At this point, I could care less about the private market or the government market. Republican or not, who can afford $800 per month for health care insurance premiums? We have been taken for a ride for a long time and this must end. Lawyers, Doctors and Insurance Companies you need to change the way you act and treat us. Profit is OK but not profiteering!
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|I do not want a National Health Care System here. I still want the right to choose my doctor and have my choice of options. I do not want the government telling me that myself or my child is overweight and in order to be treated I must loose weight. I was just reading the President's plan and more than once he focused on those who don't exercise, those who are obese and those who smoke. I feel that if he is going to single them out in the plan, then when it is passed who is to say that he will not penalize me for smoking or being overweight? I don't need the government telling me that I have to exercise. I know I have to exercise, and I know I have to quit smoking, but I don't want them telling me when and why I have to do it. And they want to raise the funds for this "plan" by limiting tax deductions those who make over $250,000 and to tax the wealthier more. I don't think this is far either. If they went to school to become a lawyer or doctor and make all that money, good for them. Why should they have to pay for someone else's health care? I surely don't want a government run health care system!!
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