Can We Agree?

[Daveparts still]

Can We Agree?
By David Glenn Cox


Can we agree that Franklin Roosevelt was a liberal Democrat?

Can we agree the Harry Truman was a liberal Democrat?

Roosevelt first dreamed of a single payer national healthcare scheme that would run concurrently with Social Security.

In 1948 Harry Truman brought a single payer, government-run health care plan to Congress.

The plan was defeated in the Republican-controlled Senate along party lines. Republicans who called themselves conservatives were strongly against Truman’s single player plan.

Can we agree that in 1948 and 2009 Republicans and politicians who call themselves conservatives were and are against a single payer, government-run healthcare plan?

Can we agree that Lyndon Johnson was a liberal Democrat?

In 1965 Johnson signed the Medicare bill into law. To illustrate how long the struggle had been to provide a government-run, single payer health care plan for America's seniors, Johnson invited Harry Truman to witness the signing ceremony. Truman said the following, “This is an important hour for the Nation, for those of our citizens who have completed their tour of duty and have moved to the sidelines. These are the days that we are trying to celebrate for them. These people are our prideful responsibility and they are entitled, among other benefits, to the best medical protection available.

"Not one of these, our citizens, should ever be abandoned to the indignity of charity. Charity is indignity when you have to have it. But we don't want these people to have anything to do with charity and we don't want them to have any idea of hopeless despair.”

Lyndon Johnson followed by saying, "It was a generation ago that Harry Truman said, and I quote him: 'Millions of our citizens do not now have a full measure of opportunity to achieve and to enjoy good health. Millions do not now have protection or security against the economic effects of sickness. And the time has now arrived for action to help them attain that opportunity and to help them get that protection.'

"Well, today, Mr. President, and my fellow Americans, we are taking such action--20 years later.

"Because the need for this action is plain; and it is so clear indeed that we marvel not simply at the passage of this bill, but what we marvel at is that it took so many years to pass it. And I am so glad that Aime Forand is here to see it finally passed and signed--one of the first authors.

"There are more than 18 million Americans over the age of 65. Most of them have low incomes. Most of them are threatened by illness and medical expenses that they cannot afford.”

Can we agree that Democrats are historically in favor of single payer, government-run healthcare? Would that be fair to say?

Can we agree that a single payer system is the most cost effective form of coverage?

Can we agree that the stated purpose of healthcare reform is to control costs?

Can we agree that Ronald Reagan was a conservative Republican?

Can we agree that it was Ronald Reagan who first proposed privatizing government programs like Social Security?

Can we agree that George W. Bush was a neo-conservative Republican?

Can we agree that George W. Bush put forward a plan to privatize Social Security?

Can we agree that Republicans are generally in favor of privatizing government-run programs and favoring private for-profit corporations?

Can we agree that the centerpiece of the Clinton healthcare plan was an employer mandate requiring employers to supply healthcare insurance for their employees?

Can we agree that when John McCain ran for the Presidency as a Republican and calling himself a conservative that one of his answers for healthcare was in taxing employer-based health insurance? Am I wrong about that? Can we agree on that?

Can we agree that the House bill has an employer mandate but that the Senate bill does not?

Can we agree that the US Senate is more conservative than the House of Representatives?

Can we agree that Republicans are against the employer mandate and Democrats favor it?

Can we agree that the plan being prepared by Senate Democrats does not have an employer mandate? That it only assesses penalties on the business when an employee seeks federal assistance for health care?

Can we agree that the plan passed by the House taxes healthcare benefits?

Can we agree that the plan proposed by Democrats requires citizens to buy private insurance from for-profit companies?

Can we agree that the proposed plan carries us further away from the goal of single payer health insurance?

Can we agree that Democrats historically favor a single payer, government-run healthcare plan?

Can we agree that Republicans favor a privatized approach with no employer mandate?

If we can agree on these issues then we are left to ask ourselves, "What Democratic healthcare plan?"

[spiritual_gunfighter]

1. K&R "What Democratic healthcare plan" indeed n/t

[T Wolf]

2. The Dems could not have fucked this up any more if(?) they had tried. From doing the wrong thing

the wrong way (bad policies too complex to justify) to not effectively fighting the pukes on their bullshit to failing to utilize the process as effectively as the pukes did for eight years, they have done a masterful job of sabotaging real health care reform for the rest of my life.

Maybe my children (or grandchildren) will enjoy what people in most civilized countries have.

[Blue State Blues]

3. Don't forget the collection of Poison Pills directed at Democratic groups

Tort reform thrown in to alienate trial lawyers (historically Democratic-supporting), even though it has been shown to be ineffective at reducing malpractice insurance costs or excessive testing.

Prohibits undocumented workers from purchasing insurance with their own money to alienate Latino voters and other immigrant groups (historically Democratic-supporting), even though it would force people into more expensive ER care.

Senate "Cadillac-tax" plan to penalize union members (another Democratic block) who have managed to get good benefits through collective bargaining, even though what they call a Cadillac is closer to what other developed countries consider "adequate" than a luxury.

And of course the Stupak amendment to slap down women's rights more drastically than the Republicans have managed to do in over 30 years of trying.

If the Republicans really set down to write a plan (and not just that joke they tossed out at the last minute), this is what it would look like. A privatized system with lots of poison for traditional Democratic blocks.

[Demeter]

5. Yup. I Recommend this whole thread and everyone on it

WE'VE BEEN HAD !!

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Daveparts.

[DemReadingDU]

6. I can agree, thanks!

[silversol]

7. Rated

K&R