This is a fairly concise summation by former Labor Sec. Robert Reich, of what he sees as the current situation in the health care debate.
I'm practically inarticulate with anger and frustration these days, as the extent of corruption and hopelessness in our political system is being exposed in the new administration's inability to affect any real change in the face of corporate control of our government. I hope it's ok that I've copied a couple of brief comments that follow the piece, as they pretty well sum up the way I've been feeling of late.
reichblog
Obamacare Is At War With Itself Over Future Costs
Right now, Obamacare is at war with itself. Political efforts to buy off Big Pharma, private insurers, and the AMA are all pushing up long-term costs<snip>
Big Pharma, for example, is in line to get just what it wants. The Senate health panel’s bill protects biotech companies from generic competition for 12 years after their drugs go to market, which is guaranteed to keep prices sky high. Meanwhile, legislation expected from the Senate Finance committee won't allow cheaper drugs to be imported from Canada and won't give the federal government the right to negotiate Medicare drug prices directly with pharmaceutical companies. Last month Big Pharma agreed to what the White House touted as $80 billion in givebacks to help pay for expanded health insurance, but so far there's been no mechanism to force the industry to keep its promise. No wonder Big Pharma is now running "Harry and Louise" ads -- the same couple who fifteen years ago scared Americans into thinking the Clinton plan would take away their choice of doctor -- now supportive of Obamacare.
Private insurers, for their part, have become convinced they'll make more money with a universal mandate accompanied by generous subsidies for families with earnings up to 400 percent of poverty (in excess of $80,000 of income) than they might stand to lose. Although still strongly opposed to a public option, the insurance industry is lining up behind much of the legislation. The biggest surprise is the AMA, which has also now come out in favor -- but only after being assurred that Medicare reimbursements won't be cut nearly as much as doctors first feared.
<snip> My sources on the Hill tell me there aren't enough votes in the House to get either major bill through, even with a provision that would pay for it with a surcharge on the richest 1 percent of taxpayers. <snip>
Obama has less than three weeks before August recess. Chances are dimming that he can get some form of universal health care passed in both Houses before the clock runs out. The Democratic National Committee is running ads favoring passage in Blue Dog states and districts, but that won't be enough. Now is the time for the President to begin twisting arms and knocking heads. To control long-term costs, he'll also have to take away some of the goodies that have been promised to the health-industrial complex, and maybe even cross Big Labor. He also needs to come out clearly and forcefully in favor of a way to pay for the whole thing -- ideally, in my view, a surtax on the top.
comment wrote:It's over.
Obama has failed already.
The (entire) Congress is corrupt.
I am voting green from now on, and if the GOP resumes power in 2012 (as I anticipate will happen) I am moving out of the country to escape the resulting wave of fascism that will set in once and for all.
Obama should vow to resign by Auguest if he fails to enact health care reform by then. Only then will the corrupt Dems wake up.
I have to say we have one of the most dysfunctional governments I have ever seen. The problem now is that it seems these idiots are going to make it worse. The republicans seem to be at war with most Americans as far as I'm concerned, but the democrat's are the party if complete ineptitude.
It is simply amazing, to watch these people take this country down into the bowls of mediocrity and third world status.
They have no incentive to make any real changes. To really stand up to the corporate interest who seem to be calling the shots. It's shameful, disgusting and corrupt.
These people already have a tax national health care system paid for by us, the tax payers.
Personally I think this is doomed, and Americans, the rubes that we are will just take it on the chin and go broke.