At This Point It’s About Defining the “Win”

Does anyone remember back to when the current healthcare reform initiative began? What were the goals? What were the reasons for the subject even being broached? Progressives and Democrats insisted that the healthcare system was broken because there were millions of people (figures varied, but averaged around 37 million) who were uninsured and that those who had health insurance were subject to continuously rising insurance premiums and diminished coverage.

---

The goal, Progressives and Democrats said, was to provide every American with health insurance and lower healthcare costs for all...all by the end of President Obama's first term. Today, as we approach the end of President Obama's first term, the House and Senate bills that are being presented to the American people fail –miserably – to achieve these two basics goals. Instead, they present as a wish list for special interest groups, establish an unnecessary and additional government bureaucracy and stand as testimony to the opportunistic ineptitude of today's Progressive controlled Democrat Party. The only saving grace is that these bills will have to go through the reconciliation process before they are presented to President Obama for his signature, at which time the final product will become the law of the land...for now, at least. Interesting in all of this is how the target goals have changed. One of the cornerstones of Progressive healthcare reform, as far back as Hillarycare and as recently as the 2008 General Election, was to provide healthcare – or more accurately, health insurance – to each and every American, regardless of income demographic or pre-existing condition. This critical element of the initiative brought about debate and the eventual ruling out of a number of ideas and one in particular; a government-run or government administered public-option. More..