It might seem like a fantasy, and I’m wondering if it is. But if the Democractic Federal Government fails to pass and fully-implement & fund comprehensive health care reform, maybe the only hope leftists like me have a chance to show the country that single-payer works in the United States is to make it work at the state level. Health insurance coverage is important, but it is only one part of our broken health system.
As congress has decided to go on recess before finishing the health care reform bills, it has significantly increased the likelihood that all parties will come back after August, and completely water down the bills that right now seem pretty solid aka they would actually have a chance to make a significant positive impact on the general public, especially those who need help the most when it comes to health care.
But one thing they did stick into the house version of the bill by Todd Platts (R-PA) of all people was an amendment that guarantees the right of states to enact more comprehensive reform, including single-payer programs. This is pretty cool, especially for Pennsylvanians who have Ed Rendell on the record saying that if a workable single-payer bill came across his desk, he would sign it.
The group behind this initiative in pa is HealthCare4All. The bill has 36 co-sponsors, and it definitely workable. The group has also been doing a good job convincing the health care providers that it would put them in a much better situation than they are currently in, and a much better position than the federal health reform bill will put them in. It really is a good bill, check it out.
Maybe it’s not that I should be worried about misplacing my hope on single-payer in PA, but that I’ve been misplacing my hope in the Federal government, only to be consistently disappointed. I keep hoping that Democrats will grow a backbone and actually meet the demands of the constituents who elect them, not with petty soundbites, but with effective policies that address real needs, treating us like adults.
P.S. I started this post a week ago when I was much more depressed about the plight of the health care reform bills. It seems we may get a good bill, at least out of the house. However, you wouldn’t know that by watching CNN, where the number one headline is something along the lines of “Health Care Bill / Obama’s Presidency in Peril”, or in the Daily Item, where Chris Carney blathers on about not rushing health care bill. Also, this was going to be way more reflectionate, but I just needed to get this out of my drafts pile.
What you should be listening to
It’s an oldy but a goody. Too bad Gabriel & Dresden broke up…
