I guess I have something to say....

[texaslawchick]

I've been practically ill over the healthcare debate over the last week or so

Comments

[fairoriana]

May I rebroadcast this? (Post to some of my social media sites?)

[texaslawchick]

Of course!

Great thoughts!!

[fairoriana]

It's been tough to really wrap my head around this "debate" to where I have a cogent response and any useful suggestions on how to improve the situation. I think you hit it spot on. Agreed that in many ways it's a step forward. Even Keith Olberman came around from his Wednesday night rant (which made me feel good) to his Thursday night rant to agree that we should not kill the bill nor the progress. It's just a shame that the bill contains some of what it does and does not contain things it should. I think many Americans, like myself, are tired of bills that do nothing to reign in corporate greed (in this case that of the insurance companies and big pharma) and continues to make the middle class pay, and pay for everything. I agree that we should raise the Medicaid bar, so that many more poor Americans can get at least something

Re: Great thoughts!!

[texaslawchick]

The other problem is the sacred cows that no one touches: the providers. I think medical education should be hugely subsidized, so the really good docs don't automatically head to anesthesiology and other high paying practice areas in order to pay off the staggering student loan debt they amass during medical school. I'm also hopeful that with less unreimbursed care, prices on the provider side will decrease a little or at least even out

[jasheffe]

Lieberman is up in arms over abortion rights and is backed by the US Assoc of Cardinals. This right their galls me because it's introducing religious bias into National Healthcare. He's against a public option, and this is for all of the 'no gov control of our healthcare system'...what do they think MediCare/MediCaid is? We already have a public healthcare option with MediCare. Instead of introducing a new plan, why not use the existing one in place and expand on it?

I understand it is a pop-cultural allusion

[lord_of_entropy]

I believe it was Matt Yglesias who suggested that a lot of liberal angst over the Senate HC bill could be relieved if we were able to slap Lieberman hard in the face five times. My quibble was with the size of the integer.

[cz_unit]

You know, back when the Republicans were in power there was this solution. What was it called?

Oh yes, the NUCLEAR option.

How about that? I'm sure the Repubs would vote for it now.

Or just let the filibuster run. So it takes a few months, let them talk, then ignore them.

C

[cosmicbob]

While I am unhappy to lose the public option, just the fact that the Republicans are still foaming at the mouth trying to kill the bill makes me wonder what they're so afraid of.

As for Lieberman, why he ever was allowed to caucus with the Democrats after campaigning for John McCain in 2008 is beyond my capacity.

Agreed

[lord_of_entropy]

But to rely upon Ezra Klein once more, I think we should also always emphasize how many tens of thousands of lives Joe Lieberman is willing to piss on in his quest for revenge. I believe this is particularly useful when attempting to persuade those who are (basically) on our side of the political fence.

Not only can he bring us together in contempt, but it reminds everyone of the depth of our crisis AND sets you up for the "let's be better people then Joe Lieberman" argument.