I was in Washington DC last week during the historic Supreme Court deliberations on the national healthcare overhaul bill. The Court’s ruling in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) may be the most important one it decides in this generation, and it could redefine the federal government’s power and congresses authority to solve national problems.
The streets and parks in front of the Supreme Court building were filled with hundreds of people, both supporters and protesters. The energy was electric, with each side trying to out-shout the other, competing as to who could parade their signs in front of the cameras first, or sing God bless America louder.
When I was there protesters far exceeded the bills supporters. Most of them were older, white and had arrived in church sponsored buses. There were anarchists, socialists, libertarians and tea partiers, all stridently proclaiming the rightness of their views on liberty, freedom and justice.
My wife and I stood with signs supporting the bill (see photos). I was labeled everything from socialist to Dr. Kevorkian. But my discussions were conducted in a normal voice, and we listened to each other. Walking through the crowd with a smile was the Statue of Liberty, who announced happily that this is what freedom of speech looks like.
If the Court throws this back to Congress to create a better bill, I don’t think they can do it. There is no more divisive a community in this country than the U.S. Congress, whose partisanship only intensifies all that divides us.
It’s clear that we’ll never, not all of us, ever going to be on the same page. The question is can we bridge our divides to come together as Americans and make a decision about what’s best for most of our citizens? Surely we can’t leave 40 million Americans uninsured because it’s fundamentally immoral.
We the people, can find a place in the midst of the tumult where we can turn down the volume and listen to each other; a place where we can see the glass as half full, so that we can sing God Bless America better not louder.
I agree fully. This is the last best chance this country has to put its vaunted health care system into the top 3 globally for all Americans. Asking all Americans to be in the same insurance risk pool is not a political issue; it is a well accepted underwriting principle. This principle was even advanced by the Republican Party (now split into at least 4 flavors) back in 1993 as a pushback on Clinton’s single payer effort. There is a lot to like in the law…. including coverage for an additional 32 million folks without insurance now. We’ll see how the SCOTUS handles this decision in June. I am not taken with the questions and what they mean or don’t mean. I think the Justices asked the questions they did to gain further insight into the issues from all sides.
Still, if they throw out the law and send it back to Congress, I too think Health Care in the US will take a major step backwards.
Thanks for your willingness to state your views. Tom Evans St Paul MN
I was intensely in support of this bill to be passed initially as ANY step toward medical coverage for all was a good step! Even if it was less than desired. I have been a Director of HH and Hospice for 23 years and the medical care situation in this country has always been ridiculous. However, as I look at this bill and try to understand all it’s intricacies, the idea that insurance is mandated must really thrill the insurance companies – they can charge what they want, when they want and everyone has to pay it – except those who can’t afford it – and then the states? (HA) and the govt pay it? Health care in America should not ever be a for-profit situation – and of course that includes insurance companies. I haven’t decided if this bill would make them or break them, as it does have some good provisions, but mandatory? I think not. By the way, I am a fellow Arizonan, and I appreciate your point of view – most of the time!
Appreciate your views and this is how we sing better. Thanks
I’ve just returned from a 3 hour visit to the local hospital’s radiology sept. While sitting there drinking contrast material for 2 or those hours, I had the opportunity to hear a group of radiology students discussing the Health care Bill and what an abomination it was. They chatted on & on about how much everyone’s health insurance would go up, how needed care would be denied, and how the government has no right to get involved in HealthCare. “If it’s not broken–don’t fix-it!” These were obviously comments they have heard at home and on some of the lop-sided discussions on TV and by politicians. I doubt they have any idea of the price that uninsured care is costing us and further the amount of care that is never received because of no insurance. I really wish there were a more clear education campaign for the general public of the need to move forward with health care reform. These young students will not be happy if they lose a job, have a serious illness with policy limits, or a pre-existing condition.
kudos to you for getting to express your opinion – i receive unpaid medical bills for former roommates every week – something must be done to help the uninsured
I say (but do not shout) Right On, Healing Doc! Thank you for your thoughts. Your well reasoned view on the need for real, conversational dialogue is right on the mark. I would share a new site established by some friends of mine in Philadelphia: http://www.radicaldecency.com
I think the concept that they have landed on is consistent with many of your shared thoughts and inspirational words. The very fact that treating ourselves, our environment and all other people with decency could be considered a radical idea today says so much about our society and it’s fundamental needs.
I have noticed that the people against this insurance and also universal health care..have insurance!
well done
The American Medical Association has weighed in on Obama’s new health care package.
The Allergists were in favor of scratching it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.
The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.
Meanwhile, Obstetricians felt certain everyone was laboring under a misconception, while the Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.
Pathologists yelled, “Over my dead body!” while the Pediatricians said, “Oh, grow up!”
The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it.
Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing and the Internists claimed it would indeed be a bitter pill to swallow.
The Plastic Surgeons opined that this proposal would “put a whole new face on the matter”.
The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea.
Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and those lofty Cardiologists didn’t have the heart to say no.
In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the a-holes in Washington .
Together with every thing which appears to be developing inside this particular subject matter, a significant percentage of points of view are generally quite radical. In any case I did take pleasure in examining it.