I'm so amused when I read right-wingers talk about "Obama-care", or a government takeover of health care, or how every fetus conceived from now on will be aborted with their tax money, or that 65 is now the mandatory death-panel age rather than mandatory retirement. If they would actually read the bill, and consider the way the actual discussion has occurred, they would know - and I mean that in the sense of comprehend the mundane reality around all of us - that none of this is true.
In fact, the left is pretty divided as the time for a final vote has arrived. Just consider this post and the comments, as the pure at heart castigate Matt Yglesias for his role in selling out The People to health insurers who are the only ones who will benefit from this bill. As is par for the course of liberals, those who believe they know the real story are prepared to write off as sell-outs anyone who disagrees with them. They are prepared to demand rejection of a bill that, for all its faults, does exactly what Matt says it does - expands the social safety net.
I have registered my own complaints about the bill, and how Congress went about writing it, and about how the debate has gone, but now is the time to set that all aside and vote. Casting aspersions on the motives and liberal purity of others serves only the interests of those who want this bill to die for all the wrong reasons. While I believe a far better, far stronger bill could have been introduced and fought for; while I believe that a more comprehensive, public plan would have been preferable to the mish-mash currently on offer; while I believe both the Administration and the Democratic leadership in Congress caved far too early and quickly to the demands of Republicans; all this, and I support the bill in its current form for one simple reason - the status quo is untenable. The American people want reform; the American people deserve reform. In all likelihood, there will be tweaks as the courts consider various parts of the bill, or this or that section or subparagraph is seen to be unclear. In the end, though, I believe we will be far better off with this bill.
The kind of nonsensical name-calling, usually in the name of self-righteousness, is not only counter-productive, but is meaningless. At the end of the day, the plan will be about the same as most Congressional plans - imperfect, in need of some work, but far better than if nothing at all is done.
Virtual Tin Cup
