DODD says healthcare reform "hanging by a thread" (KILL THE BILL, you've missed the point!)

[thotzRthingz]

11 January 2010
Dodd: Health reform bill ‘hanging by a thread’

On his way out the door, retiring Senator Chris Dodd (D-Conn) has some bad news for health reform advocates still cheering the late December Senate vote.

"Health care reform is 'hanging on by a thread,' and one or two votes could determine the outcome of the heavily-debated bill, Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd told CNBC Monday," the cable business news network reports.

Dodd said you would have to be "living on the moon" not to know what senators have already gone on the record with having issues with the plan, citing Nebraska's Ben Nelson, Connecticut's Joe Lieberman and Senator Blanche Lincoln from Arkansas.

"Everyone feels, I guess, to some degree who have been for this, that they would have liked something different, and that's not uncommon when you're considering an issue of this magnitude," Dodd said.

"If this is all about surviving politically, then we're missing the whole purpose of what we're supposed to be doing," Dodd added.

source: http://rawstory.com/2010/01/dodd-health-reform-bill-hanging-thread/

I could not agree more with Senator Dodd... they've definitely missed the point & purpose of why health care reform was/is needed. KILL THE BILL and start anew... this time, make it SINGLE PAYER all the way... telling the health care industry's FOR-PROFITs (in the infamous words of CHENEY) to GFY!.

[brooklynite]

1. Maybe in 15 years there'll be support for Single Payer...

...and that's when there will be another opportunity to take up Health Care again if it doesn't happen now.

[KharmaTrain]

2. It's Starts All Over Again...

For those who are rooting for the bill to die and turn into a major defeat for this administration, be prepared for this issue to be toxic for years to come. After all the sturm and drang from all sides, the political will by politicians won't have the appetite or the incentive to tackle something this big issue. It means starting this entire dog and pony show again and single payer will be pushed to the back again like it was this time.

It will also mean millions will go without any health coverage and millions more will lose their or be pushed into a restrictive policy with the insurance companies...emboldened by their ability to kill any reform, rationing care...unless, of course, you have the financial resources to self insure...and the $20gs or more a year.

This reminds me of the ERA debate of the late 70s...when the measure got in trouble, many wanted to start the whole procedure all over again. It's 30 years and we're still waiting. If the healthcare bill fails, so be it...but don't expect it to come back anytime soon and be assured those out to destroy any real reform will be back and stronger than ever....

[sendero]

4. I believe that passage of this bill..

... will have more negative repercussions for Dems than killing it.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Those With No Health Coverage Would Say Different

Or those who would use the 10,000 health clinics the bill would create. All depends on your lot in life. For me, it's no biggie as I can and will be able to self-insure. It would have been nice to have seen some type of competition from a public option...but the votes aren't there...and if the Democrats lose seats (especially liberal and progressive ones) it will be total victory for the rushpublicans and the insurance lobby.

I have problems with the bill and wish things hadn't turned out the way they have, but I'm fortunate, I have the resources to pay whatever the costs are...and there would still be costs under both single payer and public option. There is no free lunch...or medical care for that matter. This was about reforming a system...and opening up to those who are currently excluded. A bill can always be revised...such as Medicare was (why we use Part B not Part A).

The negative reprocussions will be if this bill fails...turns this administration into a lame duck and tatoos Democrats as ineffective. Kill this bill and kill any chances for change on a wide range of fronts.

[zipplewrath]

10. Moral Hazard

It is unfortunately this kind of political logic that keeps us away from transformational change. LBJ passed Civil Rights legislation and immediately declared that the democrats had just handed over the south the to GOP for a generation. You don't get the kind of transformational change you need from incrimentalism. You have to change the structure of this country and that doesn't usually come easy. Passing this current bill may delay any real solution on health care for another generation, and ultimately be the GOP that does it. Being afraid to "do what's right" because it might cost you politically is how one gets stuck in a form of the "status quo".

[KharmaTrain]

15. Hindsight...

LBJ also passed the Civil Rights Act under the shadows of the Watts riots and the ongoing strife in the Deep South that scared almost everyone. Yes it helped launch the Southern Strategy that is the core of today's rushpublican party. But it was the external mood of the country that made this legislation happen as well as a far better organized and coordinated party caucus rather than the weak leadership we see today.

All legislation is a work in progress...and incrimentalism is a part of the process. Sadly over the past 30 yeras, we've seen it used to water down existing regulations that led to turning Wall Street into a gambling casinos and ushered in the "too big to fail" era. Our government is a lot bigger and bulkier today than it was in 1964 or 1932...and thus making change is far more difficult.

If one looks at history...the transformational change you speak of is usually a result of a crisis or massive social unrest. While this country is polarized, we are no where near the true turmoil that this country experienced in the 60's that made LBJ's actions look decisive when it also was an attempt to placate.

To many of our current politicians, their concept of "doing what's right" means securing the money to keep them in office...to constantly fundraise to feed a political machine that has become an industry unto its own. Vote mean nothing if you don't have the money to buy the teevee time or hire the consultants...

[zipplewrath]

23. And that is sorta my point

Passing this means that when the crisis comes, it will be this regulatory model that is the basis for constructing the "fix". Better to not pass it, and when the crisis comes, it will be a government take over that will be the solution. Much like they did with transportation security, or Florida has done with their property insurance crisis.

[KharmaTrain]

25. Is It Worth Losing Lives?

Just a question one needs to ponder. It's easy to cast this off and complain either that the bill will "cost me" (which is still debatable as we still don't have a final bill) or it's not going far enough. But for the millions who have no coverage or face bankruptcy due to a pre-existing condition, is watching this bill fail worth putting their lives at risk? Do you hope for more suffering in the hopes of creating an outrage to get the politicans off their asses? And then how much suffering?

We're talking about lives here...and while I wish there was real reform, I can't play "burn the village" on something of such importance.

[zipplewrath]

28. Unproven implicit presumption

Implicit in your comment is the assumptions that this bill will result in a net savings of lives. It is not clear that is true. The coverage that the poorest may actually obtain may still be unaffordable to them to actually use. People ensured right now go bankrupt and die because they can't afford to access their own health coverage with it's co-pays and deductibles. Furthermore, this bill, especially with the "cadillac" tax could result in many that are currently covered in quickly having that coverage "worsened" in terms of cost to them. That too will cause people not to be able to afford their coverage.

This bill appears to be a huge advancement of most of the "status quo" in the current system, such that there is little "improvement" and just a shifting around of who lives and dies.

[KharmaTrain]

31. It's All Implicit At This Point...

We all believe what we want to...or take the words of those "in the know"...but neither of us have any idea what the ramifications of either House or Senate bill will be. Lots of conjecture, but that's creating a lot of spin and disinformation. Yes, the status quo means millions will go bankrupt due to the inability to afford insurance, but both bills address stipends to those who will have problems meeting the premiums. We also hear wide claims as to what the "cadillac tax" would entail...which policies and incomes would be taxed. It'd be pound foolish for Democrats (or any politician) to favor a bill that will cost their constituents more than what it delivers. Thus I "split the difference" in much of what I hear from all sides with the truth lying somewhere in the middle.

Little improvement is better than none...or worse...scaring politicians away from this serious issue until something catastrophic happens. A bill that doesn't increase coverage is a failure by all accounts. The Senate bill includes 10,000 health clinics...that's not presumption, that's in the bill. The plan to create some kind of financial assistance to those with no or limited coverage or based on income is also part of both bills that is sure to help millions. Lastly the ban on cancellation based pre-existing conditions WILL save lives.

Again...the bill is far from what I had hoped for and see the need for revisions in the future, but that's what happens to many bills of this stature. The options right now are to take what's being offered and use it as a framework for fixing...which can be done a lot easier than walking away and hoping to start all over.

I'll stand with people like Paul Krugman, Bernie Sanders and Howard Dean on this one...

[zipplewrath]

34. And krugman even admits

that it doesn't do what you are hoping for. His claim was that "it moves us towards admitting that health care is something to which we all deserve access".

Just because you force folks to have health insurance, doesn't mean they'll be able to afford health care. And people with insurance can still be bankrupt by it. Plus, they are attempting to water down the existing insurance that many people get so that more low income folks won't be able to access health care.

This is health insurance reform and won't do squat for health CARE.

[KharmaTrain]

37. It's Always Been About The Insurance...

There was a deal with big pharma before most of the debate got rolling and no tort reform to drive down malpractice rates. This has been strictly insurance reform and my concern has been without fixing the other expenses, costs will remain high. I'm far from defending insurance companies and want their anti-trust exemptions removed...but this process has been incomplete from the outset.

I think it's a bit harsh to say the government will "force" people to have insurance as if you can show you can't afford to meet premiums, you will be able to get a subsidy. Now where you expecting a "free" system? I don't see low income floks getting frozen out, au contrare, with a subsidy, there will be more money coming into the insurance companies...and government money at that. I'd prefer the option as to whom to give that money...even with single payer there would be premiums...just to the government.

This never was about reform as these bills don't address what drove costs as high as they are. It's not all insurance company profits.

Cheers...

[zipplewrath]

40. A subsidy

A subsidy means you'll get some money to cover your premiums. There is no assurance in this bill that you will be able to afford to use the insurance. People have insurance right now that they can't afford to use for all the deductibles and copays.

[Pithlet]

39. That is exactly how I feel about it.

You've summed it up for me perfectly.

[KoKo]

21. They could pass legislation separately for the Health Clinics,

Med Records Transfers, No Pre-existing conditions denied, and opening Medicaid to more people. Ram the separate legislation through with Bills for each. Or, tie it onto the Defense Spending Supplement which will be coming up.

This whole Ominbus Bill is BAD just like Bailing out the Banks. It stinks to high heaven. And..opens the door to Privatizing Medicare. That's what it's about. It's bad for Dems just like the Bank Bailout is now tied around our Dem Necks. No one will remember Bush and what he did. It will be that Obama put Geithner, Bernanke and Summers in charge.

[KharmaTrain]

24. If This Can't Fly...

I don't see the individual pieces getting much traction right now. And by cherry-picking you run the risk of alienating someone...be it strictly pre-existing conditions that will offend those who want public clinics. Also, something that isn't discussed are the costs...that's what's creating the biggest problems. And it's a question many hellbent on going after the insurance companies are avoiding...how do you pay for all these new programs? Especially as the root of much of the high costs of health care aren't even looked at. Raise taxes? Cut other programs? And then who do you tax or what programs to cut.

As it stands, there's no way of "ramming" legislation through...especially one as politically charged as this one. That also would take a long time as each element could be hung up in committee or conference. If there were the votes, we'd would have been done with this mess by now. And the longer this thing drags on, the more polarizing it gets.

Omnibus is the only way many bills get passed these days. Just looking at a House or Senate docket makes one dizzy...and we see that given a chance to turn something political the rushpublican surely will go there.

For the most part, Medicare is already privitized. Those who have supplemental insurance get better care. This bill doesn't go anywhere near that issue.

The sad state of things is healthcare is now a political football with several sides looking for total victory...any compromise is a disaster. With that kind of mindset, things go nowhere.

[Toots]

9. The Dems with Health Care or the one's without?

:shrug: You may just be amazed at how well this will be received among "normal" Americans and not just extreme left partisans.

[thotzRthingz]

12. as has been stated by others, the FOR-PROFITS *want this* far more than Americans need it!

While I understand your position, I respectfully disagree with it. It is the FOR-PROFITs which "need" rescuing (in their perverted minds anyway). They have priced themselves out of sight (read that as being UNAFFORDABLE to millions more Americans), with each passing year... due to staggering (and unreasonable) costs of Rx-meds, Labs/Tests, Procedures/Surgery, even Rooms/Stays in hospital. It is my contention that NO ONE should derive "profit" off the conditions of human health, period! IOW:

* wanna sell $90k automobiles -- fine, we've always got the CHOICE to not buy it (do without, or buy much cheaper)

* wanna sell $20k jewelery -- fine, we've always got the CHOICE to not buy it (do without, or buy much cheaper)

* wanna sell (fill in the blank yourself) ___________ etc., etc., etc. -- fine, we've always got the CHOICE to not buy it

But when it comes to HEALTH CARE, that's where we *must* draw the line... the FOR-PROFITs can take their GREED-mongering and go elsewhere. There's no place at this table for them, period!

The FOR-PROFIT "denial & death panels" are PROFIT FOCUSED, they do not give a shit about the human condition. We've heard story after story, especially in the past year, about the plight of millions of Americans. Wendell Potter, who knows first hand, said that some 75 MILLION AMERICANS are either uninsured or underinsured. In the latter case, they are paying for fake and worthless health insurance policies... only to find out, when actually needed, that they are DENIED access to necessary help or they have their policies CANCELED/DROPPED (due to the unaffordable nature of same). Don't kid yourself... not much would change, using any version of the pending legislation.

There simply is NO WAY to "regulate" FOR-PROFITs... don't fool yourself into thinking it can be done! The 50 individual STATES have not done so... and the FEDs won't do it either... thus COST containment simply can not be accomplished using any version of the pending legislation.

CURRENTLY, without any "insurance" whatsoever, every single American has access to needed medical care... using "federally subsidized facilities". So, it's not like these (quote) "31 million more to now be insured" are getting any bargain at all. THEY can get the "medical care" they need... without being thrown (literally) to the FOR-PROFIT WOLVES!

[KharmaTrain]

19. It's Also About Power And Control...

One reason I'm not very big on single payer is that it would replace one gatekeeper with another. Instead of going to a sanctioned PPO, you'd end up with a government monopoly instead and I don't trust the politicians any more than I trust the insurance companies. I favor public option cause it would force the two to compete...keeping them honest, but this government isn't ready for competition.

I've had experiences with the insurance companies...assisting in my late father's medical practice and having to deal with various famiy situations. It's easy to pick on the profits...and rightly so, but that's the tip of a very expensive iceburg. It's a system that is in dire need of tort reform as frivolous lawsuits drove up the price of malpractice insurance that began the sharp rise in healthcare costs that the insurance companies have attempted to counter by limiting their risks and liabilities and taking control of the entire system. It's the vast money big pharma makes in bringing new drugs to market and then trying to make as much as they can until their patents expire. It's the high costs of education that will cost someone going for an MD anywhere from $100-250gs for all the years of school (and debt). In short its a systemic failure that this legislation doesn't even go near. And these expenses would have remained and grow no matter if the bill had single payer.

It's easy to point fingers only at the insurance industry...and trust me, I'm no friend of theirs after seeing the ham-handed way they dealt with my father...but they were just one of many problems that need reforming.

[thotzRthingz]

26. again, I respect your viewpoint...

I also have witnessed what our FOR-PROFIT health care system does (or doesn't do) for us. I briefly posted about my wife's "career" and ending thereof, here ( http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7383723#7384329 ). I also posted about an UNINSURED close family member receiving more than ONE MILLION dollars in needed medical care, here ( http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7399824&mesg_id=7400143 ).

While I share your misgivings about "politicians" -- it is not they who will be providing the health care, nor will they be managing the system. Furthermore, it will be up to us (the customers/patients) to hold their feet to the fire, should that become necessary (just as we *MUST* do at this time). Ask the millions of Americans who receive Medicare/Medicaid services... if they are unsatisfied with the government run system (I hear them screaming about "reforms" taking away their socialized coverage/benefits). I don't want to take anything away from *people* in fact I want every American to have access to good affordable health care. It should be SINGLE PAYER ("medicare") for everyone... but that was never seriously considered or even discussed... so a "public option" is where I draw the line! Either give us a "robust public option" or KILL THIS BILL! Not to worry... the Insurance companies will resurrect "reform" when they see their hopes have been dashed, for MORE PROFITS (i.e., no mandate for 31 million more paying customers--to whom they would be issuing essentially fake & worthless insurance policies)!

My argument is, we need REAL REFORM now... not "double-speak legislation" which masks the benefits which the FOR-PROFITs will reap, while doing essentially nothing for the 75 MILLION "uninsured and underinsured". That is to say: they can already get medical care when NEEDED... without paying a penny: either for "worthless insurance" or for the services/treatments they receive.

2000 pages of DOUBLE-SPEAK allows the "politicians" to publicily proclaim what THEY got for every American (while essentially negating those gains, and laughing behind our backs about what they really GAVE to the FOR-PROFITS)! IMO, here are a few more DU threads, which need a DU K&R:

Consumers come out being more regulated than the industries in HCR
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7445380

The Healthcare Loophole: No discrimination against pre-existing conditions is out the window!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7440811&mesg_id=7440811

If the "no preexisting conditions" language IS taken out of the HRC, is there anything good left in?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7437828&mesg_id=7437828

"Selling Insurance Across State Lines" is Health Insurance Deregulation - OpenLeft
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7443169

[sendero]

42. I don't trust the politicians..

... any more than the insurance cos. Really? Denying you care MAKES THE INSURANCE COMPANIES MONEY. What does denying care do for a govt' bureaucrat? He's got no skin in the game, it is all taxpayer money.

There is a reason why every other industrialized country on the planet uses single payer. It is the only way to control costs.

Rightnow, we have a "name your price" system. Family doctors are squeezed while specialists bill thousands an hour for their services. The whole system is gamed from top to bottom, and it will eventually collapse of its own weight.

I hope against hope someone gets pissed off and withholds their vote and KILLS THIS CORPORATE GIVEAWAY.

[Laelth]

17. 15 years?

The California Assembly has already passed single-payer legislation twice. Unless we pass this disastrous bill, single-payer will begin to happen state-by-state, and it will happen quickly.

More here: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Laelth/39

:dem:

-Laelth

[Cleita]

35. There is support, overwhelming support, for single payer NOW. That wasn't

the case fifteen years ago, when most ordinary Americans didn't have a concept about what it was. We can't wait another fifteen years and frankly if this bill is passed it will further bankrupt the nation and there will be consequences to be paid. According to Wendell Potter, the ex-Cigna executive, Congress will have to go back within five years and do this seriously and not politically because they have to.

[ibegurpard]

41. regardless

scrap this whole stinking shit pile and start over with SINGLE PAYER as the STARTING POINT and THEN you can talk about compromise.
They started with the weak public option and it went downhill from there.

[elocs]

3. I'm 57 and I'll be well onto Medicare before a healthcare bill ever comes up again.

What, we are going to wait until we have another Democratic President (because Obama will never get another chance) and massive, massive majorities in both houses of Congress?

There will be no starting over for healthcare and it's naive to believe that there would be.

[chimpymustgo]

5. People are being bamboozled. The insurance companies WANT this bill. THIRTY MILLION NEW

customers. FORCED into coverage. Looking at the losses of millions of baby boomers heading into Medicare...replaced by Americans forced to buy insurance they can't afford. NO cost controls, NO real restrictions on pre-existing conditions.

THIS IS AN INSURANCE COMPANY BAILOUT.

[thotzRthingz]

14. "The insurance companies WANT this bill" -- and that's the name of this tune!

[Laelth]

18. +1 The Health Insurance industry definitely WANTS this bill to pass. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[zipplewrath]

7. We'd get better from the GOP

Strangely, we'd get a better bill from the GOP. By better, mostly what I mean is a structure that could be improved. It was the GOP that brought us perscription drugs for Medicare. Yeah, it needs some fixing (although the current administration is blocking us from fixing the worst parts) but the basic structure is what was needed. If this bill gets killed, within about a decade, the multi-nationals will be screaming about the cost of health care as a direct burden on them (as employers) and the GOP will give them a chance to off load it to the government. That will be the beginning of single payer/public option.

It will be horrible to begin with. It will be expensive. The government will be blocked from doing much about cost controls. And the burden will fall heaviest upon the lower income citizens. But ultimately, because the cost of health care to the government through medicare/medicaid and the VA will be skyrocketing, they'll have to install cost controls.

When the major airlines were tanking after 9/11, the GOP off loaded airport security to the government. In Florida, the GOP shifted the burden for certain malpractice costs from the doctors and hospitals over to the state government. They are shifting the cost of property insurance from the private sector to the state government to protect the housing developers. Ultimately they will "save" their friends running the multi-national corporations from the direct costs of health care by shifting it over to the government and spreading it out, "so that we can allow our companies to compete on the world markets".

The GOP can be manipulated. You just have to figure out how to feed their motivations. It's how you get a Nixon to form the EPA, not to mention wage and price controls.

The dems had a chance here to start something that could grow. The negotiated it all away. What's left is just a bunch of give aways to the insurance industry so they can claim "something". It's the "move on" problem. It's why no one has ever been punished for torture and no one ever will.

[Richardo]

11. Yes, look at all those healthcare reform efforts we got when they were in power

[zipplewrath]

22. Medicare Part D

You mean like the perscription drug benefit? If dems had passed it we'd a been hammered for the cost of the benefit. The biggest thing wrong is the prevention of negotiating for price, and the current congress and White House want to KEEP that part.

[Kokonoe]

8. Just throw out those insurance representatives in '10.

the survivors can start a new bill that does not force onward the status quo.

Harry Reid must be getting his arm twisted right about now.

[cali]

13. they won't. it's not rocket science. if the bill is killed hcr will be as

toxic as it was after the Clinton failure and no matter how bad things get, Congress won't touch it. Want the bill dead? Fine. But don't indulge in ludicrous delusions about how they'll merrily start over.

[zipplewrath]

36. Nope, we'll wait for the crisis

Your right, they won't start over, they'll wait until it becomes inevitable. Then the GOP will pass single payer.

[Laelth]

16. Agreed. Kill the bill. It's worse than doing nothing. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

20. The current bill simply does not stand up to the barest scrutiny

And that is the fault of the Dems (particularly the Senate) and President Obama. I would have respected them more for fighting the good fight and attempting to pass a bill that wasn't such a glaringly obvious accomodation to their campaign contributors and going down swinging while we set up round 2.

The House far surpassed both the President and the Senate in their performance and leaves some seeds for hope.

I strongly disagree with everyone who says HCR will be shelved. It is still bankrupting and killing people and those facts will not go away. We need a President with a stronger appetite for real reform and a Senate that matches.

[thotzRthingz]

27. HCR won't B-shelved! It's still bankrupting & killing people & those facts will not go away. amen!

[laughingliberal]

33. Not to mention that the insurance industry will be in the brink in a few, short years if we don't

change anything. Inflating their profits the past few years by raising premiums has obscured the dire situation in which they find themselves. With no reform, the insurance companies will die. This whole debate has played out with the people on their knees begging them not to go too hard on them. Turn it around. If we're going to save their criminal, greedy asses from certain death, they need to make some concessions.

[thotzRthingz]

29. I call upon leaving-anyway-DODD to pull a LIE-be-man... and KILL THIS (the Senate's) BILL! (n/t)

[thotzRthingz]

30. www.scrapthebill.org -- please SIGN THIS PETITION to KILL THIS BILL!

domain name, in REPLY title, redirects to:

http://www.freedomproject.org/ActionCenter/Petitions/PetitionDetail.aspx?GUID=cce18157-f88b-4ac3-8bcb-c1865ce8ec3f&gclid=CMeCs824n58CFR4Eagod-gqfmQ

[Dinger]

45. This Deserves It's Own Thread

Please do.

[dflprincess]

32. I have news for Dodd -

health CARE reform died months ago, if it ever really had a chance. With any luck the Insurance Company Profit Protection Act will die too.

[thotzRthingz]

38. "... many reasons to hope that the current health care *deform* monstrosity doesn't ..."

12 January 2010

There are many reasons to hope that the current health care deform monstrosity doesn't get through Congress just so that Obama/Emmanuel can say that they have produced "something." As a health care policy analyst for over 40 years, I know most of those reasons.

But one stands out and it has nothing to do with the health care system reasons for hoping for failure, which include:

* no public option (since one would never get past the Senate no matter what the House does and the latter will likely drop it anyway);

* a massive taxpayer subsidy to the private "health" insurance companies and their profits;

* the creation, by so doing, of a further stranglehold on the health care delivery system making it highly unlikely that any further changes will be accomplished until at enormous further public expense down the road the insurance companies themselves crash and burn under the ever-increasing cost inflation that this legislation does nothing substantive about; the taxation of the relatively "good" policies;

* the lack of any planning mechanisms, something that is essential if costs are ever to be brought under control;

* and finally the fact that even with all the public expenditures, not everybody will be covered and it will take until 2019 until everybody for whom the legislation aims to provide coverage actually gets it.

As for the political weapons that the hydra-headed monster gives the GOP, well they are already licking their chops. Don't believe me? Just listen to Sean Hannity (and I do, after taking a suitable dose of Dramamine, of course).

<...snip...>

source: http://blog.buzzflash.com/jonas/182

[janx]

43. Why do you sound like a troll?

?

[Juche]

44. They need to get rid of the pre-existing condition ban

That is not only used to deny coverage, but to rescind coverage when someone uses it. That needs to be gone now.

If we lose health reform we will lose that too. And people will buy insurance, pay into the system for 10 years then find out it isn't there when they need it.

[janx]

46. Yes, the infamous words of Cheney should be repeated more

often.