I get it, now.

[velvetpage]

I finally understand why support is falling for the health care reform as proposed. It's because you guys managed to elect the most cowardly bunch of idiots in the history of politics to do it for you. And it's not your fault - because the party that should have been doing it, not only didn't do it, but probably messed it up so badly that no one else will ever get the chance to do it right.

They should have gone for single-payer from the outset and then SETTLED for a robust public option. Now? Totally, completely fucked.

Comments

[merlyn4401.livejournal.com]

And you wonder why I grouse about the corruption of DC. Not to mention why I have zero faith in our government.

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

Personally, I think it's a case of terrible timing. I think Obama should have waited until the economy was on the upswing and then proposed it. People are scared atm and it's too easy for his opponents to capitalize on that fear. I guess it's possible that there are more racist idiots here than I realize...but in truth, I think it's that rising unemployment and costs and plummeting home values, etc., creates a bad environment in which to start a large new program. People are terrified of so many things right now; health care just happens to be the latest scapegoat.

I'm for health care reform, and I like Obama, but I still think the timing is sucky.

Also, bunches of our elected officials get contributions from insurance companies, medical groups, etc. So they're under a lot of pressure to please the groups that helped them get into office. Our whole election system is pretty fucked itself. :-/

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

I should also probably actually read the link before commenting...sorry about that. :-)

[bodhifox.livejournal.com]

Democrats never, ever walk in lockstep like the Republicans. Any road, neither one is like your parties. Each representative is supposed to vote their mind and represent constituents rather than party bosses.

[morpheus0013.livejournal.com]

You've hit on part of it. You're leaving out the significant number of Americans who are unable to tell Fox News from reality, though.

You can speak the truth all you want, and so long as people are stupid enough to believe what they WANT rather than what IS, it won't matter.

[kisekileia.livejournal.com]

I don't think Obama & co. are cowardly idiots. I think they just vastly underestimated the right's capacity for spreading malicious misinformation. And single-payer would have been better, but the right-wing freakout would have been even more massive, possibly leading to health care reform failing completely. I'm not sure Obama could've even gotten enough support from the Democrats for that.

[dagoski.livejournal.com]

I don't get the cowardice either. For 30 years, Democrats have cowered and said 'Please don't hurt me Mr. Racist-In-Conservative-Clothing.' They ought be saying 'Please, Cracker... Do you know what kind of people live in my district? Screw with me and one of my constituents will bust a cap in yo ass.' There's already a lot of blood in the primary waters for 2010. My man, Arlen sure changed his tune on reform when Sestak threw his hat in. He seemed wobbly on a lot of the points including a public option, but he appears to have straightened up. I also think some of the Central PA inbreeds that showed up at his town halls really told him all he needed to know about the opposition to reform. Namely that they are waging a war over cultural identity not over policy. And, should they win that war, Jews like Specter will not be welcome in their US of A.

Coming down off my inflammatory language, the drama we're seeing played out in this so called debate is not about policy, but about differing views of the nation. Republicans, judging by the rhetoric of fringe elected leaders and the mainstream of the activists in the party, are pushing an Ethnic Nationalism. In other words, you have to be the right race and religion to belong in their nation. Damned if I know what they think is a distinct ethnicity in this country, but they think it's there somewhere. Meanwhile, the ever fragmented Democrat party adheres to Civic Nationalism, the view that the nation is community of consistent laws in which everyone who follows the covenant is a fellow countryman.

Anyone who is interested in the contest going on in the US should read Gellner's Nations and Nationalism. It's an anthropological view of the concept of nationalism and the introduction and opening chapter really seem to explain what we're seeing playing out in the US this year.

[neosis.livejournal.com]

After careful consideration, I think you both over and underestimate American politicians. I think Obama has been surprised by the actions of some of his fellow Democrats and the Republicans. I think Obama thought by taking the single-payer option off the agenda at the start he'd defang the Republicans and leave them unable to stir up controversy. Obviously he was seriously wrong.

Frankly, the Republicans are scared. Really scared. They're terrified that Obama will get the Democrats to pass a substantial health reform bill. Why? They don't want to see the "New Deal 2" coming to happen. Mostly they're afraid that if Obama comes through on his potential that they're going to spend long years, possible decades powerless and defeated.

The potential for the complete collapse of conservatism exists because much of their support is propped up on the idea that the U.S. government is inherently evil and incompetent. Health care reform, if done properly, would completely undermine one of the central memes of the Republican party. That's why they're fighting like rats trapped in a corners: because they are rats trapped in a corner.

On the Democratic side, the "Blue Dog" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Dog_Coalition) Democrats are in a sticky situation. They rely on the balance of power to keep their seats. A balance which, I might add, is going to slip away one way or the other. They don't want an amazingly successful health care reform bill because it means more Liberal Democrats would have a shot at replacing them in the primaries. On the other hand they also don't want the bill to fail because it means they might lose to a Republican challenger. They want a do nothing bill and right now they hold the balance of power.

Frankly, I think Obama probably needs to get the Democratic leadership to put the boot down on the Blue Dogs and give them the ultimatum, stop trying to derail the business or they'll be running independently. Of course, the problem is that without those 50 congressmen and senators, the Democrats have no majority in either house.

As far as the failure being "forever", I seriously doubt it. If 50 million Americans remain without health insurance the issue will come again and again until it's reaches some level of acceptability. You can't deny proper health care to a third of your population and expect things to stay that way. If it doesn't get fixed through proper channels, people with guns will be making sure other people die for the mistake.