I won't take the debate (I simply don't have the time), but I will say this makes me happy for you. America is actually moving in the direction of what I (in my warped, Scandinavian brain, obviously) think of as a civilised country. I did not think that would ever happen.
I saw what happened in Massachusetts first hand. The space between official and actual is quite great. Personally, I do find this a step in the correct direction as I believe in universal health coverage along the French, Swiss, and Scandinavian models. In particular I like the part about not denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Still, I am extremely worried about cost control.
I agree with you but ultimately I think reform had to happen now in some form. Otherwise I don't think it ever would have happened and we would be completely crushed financially by the current behemoth that is our healthcare system. Not only were people being unfairly dropped from or denied coverage, but the system was well on it's way to bankrupting the U.S. in the near-future.
I know alot of the cost control is contingent-based on actions taken by our leaders 10-20 years down the line, and that is a scary thought, but if we didn't get the ball rolling on reform now when was it going to happen? There is no fiscal republican leadership to be spoken of anymore, so who was going to stop our healthcare system from crippling us permanently if nothing was done now?
The C.B.O. scored it well and almost every American will be insured. I can't see the cost-control criticisms holding enough weight in the face of that. Especially considering the system was already a runaway financial freight train.
Ezra Klein is attempting to explain the actual nuts and bolts of the bill today at his WaPo blog....
Formerly DannyBoy31
No posts on the bill passing?
- 22/03/2010 08:22:27 AM
1589 Views
Meh
- 22/03/2010 09:07:27 AM
957 Views
Re: Meh
- 22/03/2010 01:53:43 PM
961 Views
I know what you mean. I love hearing that the "majority" are against this.
- 22/03/2010 01:57:15 PM
1063 Views
surveys are crap anyways.
- 22/03/2010 01:59:39 PM
911 Views
That's ignorance speaking.
- 22/03/2010 02:02:46 PM
938 Views
well yah. Sorry, I wasn't meaning to say surveys as a whole are nonsense
- 22/03/2010 02:09:42 PM
863 Views
A question?
- 23/03/2010 01:11:07 AM
976 Views
I accept that there are situations where leaders must go against popular opinion
- 23/03/2010 02:53:00 AM
1041 Views
on the other hand *edited stupid spelling error*
- 23/03/2010 03:09:47 AM
1091 Views
Ahahahahahahahaha 
- 23/03/2010 12:57:17 PM
1046 Views
- 23/03/2010 12:57:17 PM
1046 Views
why? 
*NM*
- 23/03/2010 03:37:00 PM
460 Views
*NM*
- 23/03/2010 03:37:00 PM
460 Views
Because "populous" is not a noun in English. *NM*
- 23/03/2010 03:42:16 PM
438 Views
This.
- 23/03/2010 03:46:25 PM
957 Views
It's not as simple as "doing what the majority opposes is bad government. "
- 23/03/2010 06:42:04 AM
1015 Views
I think with the saturation coverage it has been getting people are just worn out *NM*
- 22/03/2010 01:27:59 PM
473 Views
Re: No posts on the bill passing?
- 22/03/2010 01:39:14 PM
914 Views
I chose to read about it first at the NYT, then the WSJ, then the Economist.
- 22/03/2010 01:43:07 PM
1104 Views
Re: I chose to read about it first at the NYT, then the WSJ, then the Economist.
- 22/03/2010 02:01:07 PM
912 Views
I liked former Republican Senate majority leader Bill Frist's comments.
- 22/03/2010 02:06:41 PM
1019 Views
Re: I liked former Republican Senate majority leader Bill Frist's comments.
- 22/03/2010 02:12:16 PM
1016 Views
I am worried. The official reports show that it will actually erase some debt. But . . .
- 22/03/2010 01:39:26 PM
1048 Views
I think reform had to start now.
- 22/03/2010 02:27:11 PM
1135 Views
That's a good column.
- 22/03/2010 02:44:56 PM
1013 Views
Yea, he's going to be adding to it all day, trying to explain the various facets of the bill.
- 22/03/2010 03:05:03 PM
1054 Views
I think the problem highlight what I don't like about this bill
- 22/03/2010 03:20:54 PM
950 Views
Re: I think the problem highlight what I don't like about this bill
- 22/03/2010 03:33:31 PM
934 Views
Let's be realistic here at least....
- 22/03/2010 04:16:23 PM
937 Views
You must have an interesting definition of "most"
- 22/03/2010 05:43:38 PM
1014 Views
My definition of most is obviously quite defective.
- 22/03/2010 08:05:22 PM
972 Views
- 22/03/2010 08:05:22 PM
972 Views
As long as you define "most" as "some time" you're just fine with it as it stands *NM*
- 22/03/2010 08:15:03 PM
432 Views
*NM*
- 22/03/2010 08:15:03 PM
432 Views
I'd say "most" people would agree with my definition of "most" in my original post....
- 23/03/2010 05:16:59 AM
1031 Views
I hope your house is built on fimrer foundations then your reasoning
- 22/03/2010 04:25:49 PM
982 Views
You should worry about cost control (AKA the only real reason for healthcare reform to begin. )
- 23/03/2010 07:02:24 AM
1050 Views
bingo
- 24/03/2010 03:45:48 AM
1069 Views
Next question: WTF do we do about it?
- 24/03/2010 04:00:39 AM
978 Views
It is a good start
- 22/03/2010 03:01:08 PM
900 Views
I really like what GRR Martin wrote in his blog.
- 23/03/2010 09:55:11 AM
1060 Views
I would say it is rather weak point
- 23/03/2010 01:12:43 PM
931 Views
You realize that most countries with socialized healthcare have private healthcare, too.
- 24/03/2010 04:16:28 AM
1049 Views