Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) has emerged as a leader for a Medicare-for-all single-payer health care option.
On Thursday, July 30th, the anniversary date of the enactment of Medicare, Rep. Weiner offered an amendment to HR 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, rhetorically proposing to repeal Medicare – that "socialist" government run health care system that has been so successful and is so popular with elderly Americans. Health Care — 44 Years Of Medicare Success Time for Republicans to "put up or shut up." He of course was voting against it.
Congressman Weiner: "I dare you, I double dare you, vote yes on it, then go home and explain to your constituents how you're so philosophically opposed to publicly funded healthcare that you voted to eliminate Medicare on its 44th aniversary…"
As you might expect, not one GOP hypocrite took the rhetorical bait. They know full well that Americans love their Medicare. As described by Paul Krugman in a recent column Health Care Realities:
At a recent town hall meeting, a man stood up and told Representative Bob Inglis to “keep your government hands off my Medicare.” The congressman, a Republican from South Carolina, tried to explain that Medicare is already a government program — but the voter, Mr. Inglis said, “wasn’t having any of it.”
It’s a funny story — but it illustrates the extent to which health reform must climb a wall of misinformation.
It's made funnier by the fact that 29% of Americans are on government insurance.
In this clip, Rep. Weiner takes Republicans to task for voting against Medicare in 1965, but later passing Medicare Part D – government subsidized corporate welfare for the pharmaceutical industry.
Rep. Weiner has also introduced an amendment to replace HR 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, with a single-payer option.
Rep. Weiner agreed to withdraw his amendment in the House Energy and Commerce Committee when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised to allow a debate and vote on a single-payer plan for health care reform. Pelosi promises House will vote on single-payer healthcare reform
The reality is that this debate and vote will be largely symbolic of what might have been if all Democrats held true to our ideals, like Rep. Weiner. Democrats could have delivered real reform to the American people like they did with Medicare in July of 1965. The amendment will not pass, a defining moment that may be lost forever to history because of a handful of Blue Dog Democrats who enabled Republican opposition to real reform.
But at least we have a champion, a real Democrat willing to stand up and fight for one of the core ideals of the Democratic Party since Harry Truman first proposed national health care — accessible and affordable health care for all. I thought it might be a helpful reminder to Arizona Democrats to see and hear what a real Democrat looks and sounds like.
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Tort reform is not medical reform, it is legal reform. Tort reform is the grand illusion, the bright shiny object to distract people from the abusive practices of the insurance industry.
Damages and settlements in medical malpractice cases account for around 1% of the total amount this country spends on medical care each year – a fraction of what insurers are making from fraudulent and abusive practices.
Real “tort” reform would create a national registry of medical professionals who have been disciplined or sanctioned by each of the 50 states’ BOMEX boards, so that medical professionals who have injured or killed patients through their own negligence cannot simply move from state to state without their disciplinary records following them.
A small handful of medical professionals are responsible for the majority of medical malpractice cases. If the medical profession aggressively policed its own members, they could reduce the cost of their malpractice insurance.
If you are serious about healthcare reform Mr. Weiner, tell us all why you are not including TORT reform in this 1000 page bill?
Simple question. Where is the true reform?
Your free market ideology does not work in health care. There is no economic incentive to cover people who are sick or dying.
As Paul Krugman stated in a recent column http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/opinion/31krugman.html?_r=1
“[G]etting the government involved in health care wouldn’t be a radical step: the government is already deeply involved, even in private insurance.
And that government involvement is the only reason our system works at all.
* * *
Right-wing opponents of reform would have you believe that President Obama is a wild-eyed socialist, attacking the free market. But unregulated markets don’t work for health care — never have, never will. To the extent we have a working health care system at all right now it’s only because the government covers the elderly, while a combination of regulation and tax subsidies makes it possible for many, but not all, nonelderly Americans to get decent private coverage.
Now Mr. Obama basically proposes using additional regulation and subsidies to make decent insurance available to all of us. That’s not radical; it’s as American as, well, Medicare.”
If you believe there are competitive markets for health insurance you are badly informed. The AMA has for several years documented the monopolized control of health insurance in the states (where insurance companies are regulated) by a handfull of large insurers. (I have written about it here). There is no real competition, only collusion between health insurance monopolies to divy up the country into anti-competitive markets. They should be prosecuted under the anti-trust laws. That might restore competition.
If you want vouchers, then the vouchers should go to individuals directly to pay the doctor of their choice directly. (sounds like: Medicare). Cut out the insurance middle man who is just a parasite taking their money and not providing any medical care.
Your free market ideology has been disproven and discredited in spectacular fashion over the past year. That you cling to this demonstrably failed economic ideology makes you the pendejo, my friend.
“You mean government subsidized corporate welfare to insurance company middle men who do not provide any medical care.”
No, pendejo, I mean exactly what I wrote. Real markets plus vouchers.
If that needs clarification: Real competitive markets, with freedom to set prices, no tax benefit for employer provision, and no coverage mandates, in insurance (a hedge against risk) and in health care (which are two separate things) and vouchers for those truly in need to purchase one or the other or some combination of both.
I’d be more specific about the vouchers, but neither Congress nor the President nor the Left can make up their minds as to which of health insurance or health care is important here. Use of terms like “health care coverage” only further clouds things up.
I am so disgusted with Blue Dogs. They even post on their website they will ONLY support the public option as a trigger. Huh? Plan D had a trigger option too and yet there was no way to “trigger” it even when drug prices raised 60% in the first three years for everyone – not just Medicare. Plan D (MMA 2003) involve NO Democrat negotiations. It was 100% GOP designed.
Blue Dog’s top the list for industry support of Dems. They are proving there is no difference between the parties. Both are corrupt. That will loose seats in Congress – although Az might be protected because of the comedy show running the state right now.
Is it a coincidence that in Wm. Kristol’s ’93 letter to Republicans on the how’s and why’s to fight the Clinton healthcare plan (same tactics), he acknowledged 79% of the public wanted reform. Two years later, in ’95, the Blue Dogs were formed…sort of like hedging your bet – and neither are interested in representing the public consensus as much as they are in adhering to ideology, “we know what’s best and that’s why you voted for us”. They seem intent on proving their point to the public rather than vice versa.
Weiner should receive a backbone award. Mitchell is a Blue Dog and his communications have been full of Kristol-like talking points.
The problem is there has been no one else to vote for. I’ve just become aware that nat’l Dems may have a policy to not provide more than 1 Dem/seat for voters. Excuse me?
I thought people voted the GOP out. I want the opportunity to vote Blue Dogs out even if that includes writing in my rubber ducky to run. I’ve changed back to being independent. Why couldn’t the Dems do this with Iraq, Patriot Act, and almost everything that’s happened in the last 8 years? They are the party that’s noted for not standing up for the public vote – twice.
I think if you took a poll right now, 80% of people would not feel represented in Congress (or state legislature). There has to be something to fill this void eventually.
“We could go to real markets plus vouchers.”
You mean government subsidized corporate welfare to insurance company middle men who do not provide any medical care.
For evidence of what damage even near-monopsony power can do, we need look no further than Medicare.
Real trouble is still state mandates plus ubiquitous insulation from prices. Total monopsony, with rationing and all (and rationing can take other forms than WWII-style coupons and cutoffs–beating a price below its market equilibrium with monopsony power is one other way to do it), is a perverse palliative for that–or we could go to real markets plus vouchers.
Hey Clark:
I’m on Medicare too! It doesn’t suck! What’s the problem? It covers 80% of my bills and I have supplemental insurance to cover the other 20%. My sister is 71 and she’s very happy with it!
My dad is on medicare. It sucks. Period. Is this really what we want all Americans to suffer under? Gag.
For those who do not remember their history, LBJ pulled out all the stops when he moved to get Medicare passed – that and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Johnson, to my mind, is a truly tragic figure – in the Greek sense of the word – in American history. He fought tremendous odds to get both the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Medicare bill passed. If not for his vision of what needed to happen and his determination and guts and arm-twisting and willingness to put himself and the Democratic Party and his presidency on the line – Barack Obama would not be president today, the elderly would not have medicare, and our America would be a very, very different place today.
I watched that whole episode on CSpan and was proud out of my skin of the Congressman. He was smart, articulate, cool and calm and to the point! It was a great moment!!! We need more like Congressman Weiner who can see facts and focus on reality – and, of course, fight for what the American people need – health care that minimizes administrative costs, enables Doctors to care for patients rather than worry about what the insurance company will let them do. Think he has any interest in coming to Arizona????? We could use his intellectual clarity!! As a Democrat who believes in party discipline, I am embarrassed by the Blue Dog’s position on health care reform.