So, here's my problem with the Democrats' healthcare plan: How are we supposed to understand it? Like so many other government plans, it started out as something most Americans supported, and then through a series of bureaucratic tweakings and special interest amendments, has now become a 1000+ page behemoth that most people don't approve of. Obama seems to be struggling with his role as chief legislator.
BUT, he is not the only one to blame. Congressional Democrats seem to be more concerned with getting their dip into the pork barrel by dragging their feet, and Republicans seem rather unwilling to compromise even as many of the things they call for are added to the bill. One thing is certain, the White House needs to do a better job of communicating its plan to the American people. There's a lot of evidence that if people knew what was actually in the bill, they would be more likely to say they support it.
So, I guess here is my thought for each party:
Democrats: Communicate more clearly to America, stop being a bunch of wusses and pass a reasonable healthcare plan.
Republicans: Your strategy of treading water and refusing to cooperate with Obama until you (big maybe) regain a majority in Congress in the fall isn't fooling anyone. P.S. Obama said he would try to reach across the aisle and listen to your thoughts, he didn't promise he would adopt your conservative ideas.
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4 comments:
I agree completely with your advice for both parties. Unfortunately, I think it's all going to come down to which party has the better spin machine working for it in the run-up to November, and history suggests that it will be the Republicans. Soundbites are effectively everything in the current political climate, and as a result actual facts often have little bearing when people formulate their opinions on issues such as this one. The results of the 2008 presidential election notwithstanding, the Republican Party tends to be better at capitalising on this phenomenon.
I'm obviously choosing an example here that suits my own political bias, but look at Obama's little exchange yesterday with Lamar Alexander about the Congressional Budget Office's actual analysis of how the Senate Bill will affect middle-income Americans' insurance premiums if it becomes law. Sound bites like that are going to form nearly the entire basis of most people's impressions of how the talks went yesterday as they get replayed on every news network in the coming weeks, but how many people are actually going to go away and find out who was actually telling the truth about what the actual analysis said??
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9E3BOJ81.htm)
Ahem. If the American public looked long and hard at where our food comes from and what we choose to put in our mouths, we would become a healthier nation. Perhaps the "healthcare issue" is barking up the wrong tree altogether.
Gotta agree a little bit with mom, but there are also several issues other than what we eat. I think if we weren't so afraid of socialized programs, we would be better off. Things generally work in Europe, but people are so afraid of our government to let it get any control. Also it bothers me when people say it will run up the deficit too much. Agreed, but where were all these people during the Bush administration when George W started two VERY expensive wars. I hate how political this whole issue is becoming. Pretty much everyone screwed up... especially the mainstream media by being so uttery ridiculous. Honestly, I've begun getting my healthcare news from Jon Stewart because then we can all laugh sadly at our politicians.
@ Chris, you are absolutely right that the Republicans are usually way better at the spin game. If anything, this last election was a fluke. I have no doubt Republicans will stage a major comeback in the fall only two years after many declared their party dead.It's really too bad the Dems haven't been able to clearly articulate their plan. I mean if I'm confused, many others must be as well.
@Karen- I think Michelle Obama is starting the work on this, although I don't know if we'll ever look at healthy food in the way we should as a nation. As long as it is cheaper and more convenient to eat unhealthy, Americans will do it.
@Gretta- I agree with you about Jon Stewart, although I'm not so sure how great Europe really is. Some Socialist ideas are great, including health care, but try getting half your salary taken out in taxes. I would NOT trust the US government to spend that wisely right now. Also, their unemployment isn't so hot either.
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