The Republicancare elephant in the room

By Steven C. Day

Things are looking more than a little bleak for President Barack Obama’s health care reform initiative: polls show public support dropping, increasing numbers of people profess to be confused by the issue, the GOP stands emboldened in opposition as right wing talking points predominate in the media and “centrist” Democrats, true to form, cause endless mischief.

So the question of the day becomes: what can Obama do about it? And one of the most popular answers is that he needs to be more specific. One can hardly expect people to rally around a reform proposal, the outlines of which remain maddeningly vague, proponents of this view argue.

And there’s a lot to be said for this point (which appears to be gaining some traction inside the White House). One downside to Obama’s desire to stay above the nitty-gritty of the debate — leaving the details for Congress — has been that it’s left him without a clear vision to communicate to the American people. At times he’s seemed downright wishy-washy: “We need the public option unless we don’t need the public option,” and so on. Not exactly awe-inspiring rhetoric from a guy known for his awe-inspiring rhetoric.

But, for what it’s worth, I don’t think the biggest problem with the Democrats’ approach to the health care debate has been their failure to adequately highlight what they themselves are proposing. No, their greatest screw up has been the failure to adequately highlight what the other side isn’t proposing — because, at the end of the day, the Republicans aren’t proposing diddly-squat. 

We hear derisive references to “Obamacare” from Republicans all the time. The question that needs be asked is: So then what exactly is Republicancare? Because the answer, of course, is that they are proposing nothing — nothing that is other than more of the same.

Here, in fact, is precisely what Republicancare means:

1. Tens of millions of Americans — currently standing at 46 million – uninsured;

2. You lose your job, you lose your insurance;

3. You get seriously sick, you go bankrupt and, just maybe, your family ends up on the streets;

4. You have a pre-existing condition, tough luck bud, you’re screwed;

5. Faceless bureaucrats who work for private insurance companies that are primarily motivated by earning a profit decide when and whether you qualify for treatment (yup, those “death panels” you’ve been hearing so much about, but not the fake ones that right wingers have dreamed up, but the real ones that exist within the insurance industry today);   

6. Health care costs continue to spiral out of control;

7. More and more employers drop health insurance as a benefit as it becomes increasingly expensive. 

This is the big freakin’ elephant sitting smack dab in the middle of the room of the health care reform debate — Republicancare. Obama’s proposals may be far from perfect: God knows, many liberals, myself included, aren’t overly enchanted with them. But right now (and for the foreseeable future) they’re the only game in town.

If the Republicans in Congress have made anything clear, it is that the only thing they care about is scoring political points by trying to kill anything Obama and the Democrats put up in this area. They have offered nothing constructive at all — and so far at least, they’ve been getting away with it.

That’s the message Democrats need to be taking to the American people: It’s your choice, folks, Obamacare or Republicancare – meaningful, if imperfect, reform, or more of the same. If you’re happy with the status quo, great, because that’s exactly what the GOP will give you. But if you’re not satisfied with it, then you better get off your ass and let Congress know.

Then leave it in the voters’ hands.

If need be, let the Republicans filibuster reform (make them do it the old-fashioned way where they actually have to stay up all night) and then let them take that to the electorate. Let them have their moment in the sun bragging about their great “victory” over Obama: in fact, let’s make sure they get all the credit they deserve for maintaining the status quo (that everyone, except the insurance industry, rightfully hates). In fact, let’s make sure that this great Republican “triumph” becomes the centerpiece issue of the 2010 campaign.

Then let the chips fall where they may.

LAST CHANCE DEMOCRACY CAFE

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