Republicans Become Party of Slow (Rhymes With No) on Healthcare

Reader Comments
Back to blog

People need to understand that tort reform impacts healthcare, and the economy, much deeper than is often touted. An amazing amount of infrastructure (policies, people and procedures) are added to hospitals and doctors offices all in the effort to avoid a lawsuit. Keep in mind, not just malpractice, but accidental injury on premises and human resource oriented lawsuits. This presents a facility/doctor with an amazing amount of red tape above and beyond government regulation compliance programs at the state and federal level.
Add to this that medical oriented businesses (pharmaceutical, medical device, consulting, etc) all face similar threats which create a financial strain and you'll start to see just how quickly this all adds up.
Our overly litigious society is what drags the economy down. It is not sustainable and gets worse as new and innovative ways to sue businesses come into being.
If not fixed, you can socialize anything you want ... but whatever isn't run by the government will be the next fixation of the legal locust swarm and it will die too.

RJS of TX 9:23AM July 24, 2009

Do any of you look at the larger picture? Yes our health care system needs some adjustments to it, Not scrapped and started over for costly option. Try looking up Newt Gingrich and his plan.
To Brian M. of MA
The actual Law Suits themselves account for 1% but the problem is the unnecessary testing done now to prevent lawsuits, factor that into the equation and you now have over 10% of your cost accounted for.
To Muser of NM
To sit here and say Democrats aren't for big business is the height of ignorance! I will not disagree Republicans probably have an ulterior motive for trying to stop Health Care RamRod, But Tell me how much Al Gore and GE stand to gain from Cap & Trade (I know health care is the issue here but my point is Both Democrats and Republicans don't do anything till they make sure they are compensated before pushing it through.)
Jacksmith of TX
Wow, So even though USA develops, tests, and produce more prescriptions drugs than anybody, The US is a public Disgrace, You can't have your cake and eat it to. The cost of R & D for these new and innovative drugs, procedures and equipment, is paid for by our premiums. I find it funny that you want to effectively either kill all R & D or now have the taxpayers pay for it,
Rach Y of CA
Sorry but I believe when 86% of people who have insurance are happy with their coverage there is not as bad a crisis as people make it out to be. We need to try to fix our existing system before we completely scrap it for an experimental policy when the country is broke as it is. The fact that 50 million are uninsured tells me a couple of things, that parents do not think their kids health as important that they have the nicest shoes and clothes from the mall, their hair and nail appointments, big screens, satellite TV, gas guzzling SUV's, and worst of all cigarettes and alcohol (I have compassion for people, but not people who would rather live an up-scale life style than prioritize for their children’s sake). It also tells me that we have a lot of healthy people already who do not but health insurance because they think they are healthy enough already, (your 25 to 35 crowd) And lastly if Illegal Immigrants are counted for in that 50 million then I am being purposely deceived.
Chuck of CO
If you believe anybody in Washington (Republican or Democrat) right now has your best interest at heart, then I would love to play poker with you or maybe we can talk about some nice beach front property I own in Arizona.
Bottom Line is this your government cares about your vote only, nothing more (Except our tax dollars) Health Care could have been presented in the form of modifications and when that didn't work then try to Nationalize health care. You don't make policy for the few who are the exception to the rule. You make it for the good of the people, not for the good of a person.

Ymerej of SC 3:50PM July 22, 2009

I thought healthcare started with Teddy but you could be right.
The GOP initially kept pushing the that old plan they had but I see that stopped. I notice they didn't pass the plan while they were in control but suddenly it is what we need.
I wish Obama well. Even if it doesn't pass I can say he gave it one heck of a try. And he's doing it for us since he has great health care for life.

Chuck of CO 1:52AM July 22, 2009

You are absolutely right. The Republicans do not want Americans to have healthcare.
More of the media should delve into this basic issue instead of waltzing around Republican rhetoric and excuses.
Especially since the excuses are getting pathetic and makes one wonder how these Republicans ever got into office. They say things are going too fast and there is too much to read? They had the last 8 years to introduce a healthcare reform bill and they did nothing. They need to learn to read faster.
The Republicans want to hold town hall meetings? Is this a joke? They don't already know what their constituents want?

Rach Y of CA 10:16PM July 21, 2009

AMERICA’S NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY!
It’s official. America and the World are now in a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. A World EPIDEMIC with potential catastrophic consequences for ALL of the American people. The first PANDEMIC in 41 years. And WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES will have to face this PANDEMIC with the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed World.
STAND READY AMERICA TO SEIZE CONTROL OF YOUR NATIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
We spend over twice as much of our GDP on healthcare as any other country in the World. And Individual American spend about ten times as much out of pocket on healthcare as any other people in the World. All because of GREED! And the PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare system in America.
And while all this is going on, some members of congress seem mostly concern about how to protect the corporate PROFITS! of our GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT NATIONAL DISGRACE. A PRIVATE FOR PROFIT DISGRACE that is in fact, totally valueless to the public health. And a detriment to national security, public safety, and the public health.
Progressive democrats the Tri-Caucus and others should stand firm in their demand for a robust government-run public option for all Americans, with all of the minimum requirements progressive democrats demanded. If congress can not pass a robust public option with at least 51 votes and all robust minimum requirements, congress should immediately move to scrap healthcare reform and request that President Obama declare a state of NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY! Seizing and replacing all PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance plans with the immediate implementation of National Healthcare for all Americans under the provisions of HR676 (A Single-payer National Healthcare Plan For All).
Coverage can begin immediately through our current medicare system. With immediate expansion through recruitment of displaced workers from the canceled private sector insurance industry. Funding can also begin immediately by substitution of payroll deductions for private insurance plans with payroll deductions for the national healthcare plan. This is what the vast majority of the American people want. And this is what all objective experts unanimously agree would be the best, and most cost effective for the American people and our economy.
In Mexico on average people who received medical care for A-H1N1 (Swine Flu) with in 3 days survived. People who did not receive medical care until 7 days or more died. This has been the same results in the US. But 50 million Americans don’t even have any healthcare coverage. And at least 200 million of you with insurance could not get in to see your private insurance plans doctors in 2 or 3 days, even if your life depended on it. WHICH IT DOES!
If President Obama has to declare a NATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY to rescue the American people from our healthcare crisis, he will need all the sustained support you can give him. STICK WITH HIM! He’s doing a brilliant job.
THIS IS THE BIG ONE!
THE BATTLE OF GOOD Vs EVIL!
Join the fight.
Contact congress and your representatives NOW! AND SPREAD THE WORD!
God Bless You
Jacksmith – WORKING CLASS

jacksmith of TX 6:12PM July 21, 2009

So I guess 70 years is too quick for some people? The healthcare debate has been going on since the 1930s. FDR wanted to eventually have a national healthcare program. Truman tried it... JFK... LBJ... and so on. Bill Clinton tried but was steamrolled. Obama is trying but of course the private insurance propaganda has made a forceful comeback.
Now, the public demand for healthcare reform is high, and the Democrats are in control of the white house and Congress, with a president, House speaker and Senate leader who are all committed to the cause. If the Democrats cannot pass healthcare reform under these circumstances, then it will likely be another 70 years.
Republicans now say they want it done "right" but they have had the last eight years to it. Instead, they dismissed the issue as a "malpractice lawsuit problem" and suggested silly tort reform as a remedy (even though malpractice lawsuits account for less than 1 percent of healthcare costs, but when did Republicans ever let facts get in the way of good sound bites?). They have openly opposed healthcare reform all along, and to believe they have suddenly had a change of heart would require a suspending of disbelief.
They are stalling for one reason. Republicans know that, if the cyclical nature of our political matrix holds true, they will be back in the white house and congressional majority eventually. When Republicans say the want to "slow healthcare reform down and wait until it's done right" what they are really saying is "slow it down and wait until we're back in power to shelf it. Again."

Bryan M. of MA 4:25PM July 21, 2009

is the mother of all debates over whether corporations (represented by Republicans) or people (represented by some Democrats) will enact the laws of our country.
Slow down, the corporate guys say on health care reform. Never get it done. Too complicated. The bill is too long to read. And, ooooohhhh, the costs.
Some Republicans now say: "Offer alternatives." Some others say: "Don't bother, just stop the people for the sake of our corporate contributors. The people are too dumb to know the difference. We'll give them Sarah Palin's moose-shootin' schtick and they'll fall right in line".
Slow down, they say. Slow down, they say.
The question is: How dumb are YOU this time around? You believe your protectors of the corporate entity?

Muser of NM 4:01PM July 21, 2009