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Democrats: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell on Healthcare Reform

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While I support a type of health care reform, I am absolutely against ramming it down the people's throat without a up-or-down clear vote. What kind of nonsense is this? Are we, the American people, the constituency who puts our elected officials into their positions, so unimportant and stupid that we can't see through this administration's plan? Vote not for the bill but for the revision? Why vote at all? As an Independent I was waving off the notions of America becoming socialist - or at least introducing heavily socialistic tendencies under this administration. Well, I was wrong. Growing up in Western Europe, I know all about socialism and why it doesn't work and most of it - I know what it looks like and smells like. Not so much ObamaCare, but the way it is supposed to be introduced! That doesn't mean that we shouldn't make sure that the poorest of our society are somewhat taken care of. But I never thought that a freely elected government would drive a knife into the back of the very people (Democrats) that put them in power.
I recently returned from a business trip to Germany where I read two articles and watched several news clips about how the "social health care system" of Germany now has formed "underground" death panels in the hospitals, where doctors and administrators discuss who deserves the treatment because cost and medication is rationed. The sickest people die, the ones with a potential chance (or the money to donate once cured) get the best treatment. Folks - that's where we headed.
We need to start from scratch and do the right thing with this health care overhaul instead of cutting our nose off to spite our face. I just hope this whole procedure is unconstitutional and that 2012 is the end of this administration (and God beware us from Sarah Palin!!!). Otherwise I may have made a big mistake in becoming a US citizen. Because our freedom and our democracy are at stake!

Fritzie of NC 8:43AM March 19, 2010

If passed, there is no need for Republicans to lie. May not even have to campaign.
That's how bad the polls are for obamacare.

Bill Hedges of MO 10:58PM March 18, 2010

It is very obvious that the Republicans would take the parts of the bill that are being removed and use them for their campain adds in the fall. They would happily proclaim that candidate X voted for the "corn husker kick back" even though that provision would be stripped from the final legislation. If their opponet didn't run with it, than surely one of their front groups flush with corporate cash thanks to an activast supreme court would. The Republicans are not upset because the Dems are being dishonest, rather it is because they are being denied a misleading campain add for next fall.

Joe Gorsick of KY 10:45PM March 18, 2010

You live under a rock ?
Gop health car plan
http://www.gop.gov/solutions/healthcare

Bill Hedges of MO 10:27PM March 18, 2010

Bill Hedges of MO says "Republican plan will kick in when passed."
Since there is not and never has been a Republican plan for healthcare reform, we'll obviously have to wait forever for that to happen. Governing is a funny thing, you actually have to do something, not just give away the store when you're left in charge.
That's the problem, you got to have your line in the water to catch fish, but Republicans are not even part of the negotiations on this deal, by their own accord.

Pete of GA 10:04PM March 18, 2010

That's right, take comfort that we have a great Constitution that works and lets the majority enact laws for the benefit of ourselves. Do the revolutionary thing and take pride to prove our democratic republic works, that "We the People" can make laws for ourselves.
Take comfort that we are not some banana republic that lets dictators selfishly decide everything and run countries like their personal piggy banks.
Sorry your party is so poorly informed about our how Constitution works - it provides majority rules, with rights for minorities of course - but not minority rule. All this hatemongering wingnut talk may help your machismo, so we'll just pass on your choice of "supermajorities of Republicans" (which no one would ever trust them) or a dictatorship of Republican minorities. More sore loser trash talk. I would gladly take FDR's 50 years of the best prosperity this country has ever seen over the current economic collapse Republicans have left the country in.
If living in a democracy is such a 'grim prospect', hit the road jack - there's plenty of dictatorship around the world where maybe you'll be happy.

Sandra of TX 9:54PM March 18, 2010

As we know Newt forced balanced budget on Clinton. There was no balanced budget before Newt. With no spending bill passed government nearly closed down. Of course Clinton claimed fame for balance as his own.
Such a tactic may be necessary to get Republican health care in and obamacare out with next year‘s Congress.
Since health is so related to education, education is in this bill.

Bill Hedges of MO 9:18PM March 18, 2010

To those who are in a seething rage as a result of Obama’s efforts to complete the transition of America into a social democratic state and take comfort in Republicans winning back majorities in both houses of congress in November, I have only one thing to say, … DON”T.
There is no comfort to be found in this outcome, because simple Republican majorities will change nothing. In the 70 years since FDR started America on it’s path to social democracy, Republicans have yet to stop, much less reverse, the ratcheting. At best, they have held off the next ratchet for a short period of time. Any result short of supermajorities of Republicans committed to freedom and smaller government in both houses will result in a congress that won’t reverse the process this time either.
They won’t, because, first, Obamacare is the keystone to the transformation of America into the Euro social democratic state of Obama’s wet dreams. As his raison d’etre, he will veto any attempt to diminish it, much less dismantle it. Indeed, it is certain that he will seek every opportunity to expand it into single payer – with the taxpayer on the hook to be the payer.
Second, to even begin the process of dismantling Obamacare, a congress consisting of a simple majority of Republicans would have to pass a budget that effectively defunds the program, which would, of course, all result in a veto. Short of a veto proof majority, such a veto couldn’t be overridden.
The resulting pissing match would quickly degenerate into a Constitutional crisis of revolutionary proportion as the federal government was forced to shut down. Rest assured that it would take grim resolve and an unwavering commitment to freedom for a legislator to ride this out as Obama made daily news announcing the shutdown of program after program and department after department, starting, of course, with the most popular.
This grim prospect leaves those of us committed to freedom only two possible paths in the short term. Either elect super majorities of Republicans, each highly committed to freedom and smaller government in November to directly dismantle Obamacare or elect Republicans of revolutionary conviction sufficient to shut down a bloated government rather than keep funding it.

RUKidding of CA 8:39PM March 18, 2010

Problem is Congress members are watching polls back home. Look at Democrat no votes now.
If they had the few votes now there would be a vote now. Republicans are saying any bought votes will be told in this new bill. Have heard this new bill may be re-written.
The polls show public is against. You think that translates in Republicans losing seats ? Just the opposite.
It is 4 years of collecting money, then 6 years of paying and benefits. Republican plan will kick in when passed.

Bill Hedges of MO 8:38PM March 18, 2010

Come on Peter,
To start off with I am a registered independent so I don't have a particular dog in the fight. I am also in the healthcare field and have been alarmed at the magnitude of this pressing problem for the United States.
The United States Senate passed their bill by 60-39 and the House passed their bill by a majority. Now they are using reconciliation and the deem rule (which Republicans have used in the past). George W Bush championed signing statements and Republicans engaged in numerous maneuvers to pass legislation (not all of it fiscal).
In the end, the House and the Senate will vote by a majority whether the health bill will become the law of the land. If the people do not like this decision, they will vote out their representatives come the next election. This notion that current newspaper opinion polls reflect the will of the people is ludicrous. In a representative democracy you elect representatives to take these kinds of votes.
What is truely ludicrous is the notion that this bill represents a government take over of health (yes it does require insurance regulation and mandates participation to spread out the risk pool). Insurance exchanges with wide choices of plans and doctors are hardly a government takeover (the public option was dropped...member?) The congressional buget office(CBO) who also does not have a dog in the fight also thinks this plan will cut the deficit and pay for itself. With healthcare costs out of control we can ill afford to stand idly by and do nothing (which we will because nobody is going to start from scatch if healthcare is defeated)
I do have a dog in this fight, it is watching patients have to choose between food and medicine, people losing their homes and life savings due to catostrophic illness and individuals being dropped from their policies in the name of profits.
So, let us now have an up or down vote. We will see where everyone stands. I suspect that once the bill passes and the fear dissipates, it is going to be the Republicans who are going to get the stuffing beaten out of them in the upcoming elections. Everyone forgives those who takes risks... people are slower to forgive those who want to preserve the status quo at all costs in favor of corporate interests.

David Loewenstein of FL 8:14PM March 18, 2010