Now that the lunatic fringe of the far right has taken over the Republican Party, it’s clear that nothing constructive will come from the GOP for the foreseeable future. Even so-called “moderates” like Chuck Grassley now spread lies and misinformation, and brag about being obstructionists. Only the Democrats can pass meaningful domestic legislation, and nothing is more pressing than healthcare reform.
The Democrats have the power to enact a package that conforms to the three basic principles Obama has laid out: near-universal coverage and lower long-term costs, combined with continued choice. There are legitimate debates about how to achieve these goals, but the outlines are clear and the Democrats already have many good ideas on the table or in Congressional Committees.
The American people voted for and deserve the type of healthcare reform that is currently being debated in Democratic circles. Sadly, consensus has been elusive due to concerns over bipartisanship and the tendency of “Blue Dog” Democrats to act like Republicans.
One only has to look at the past eight years to know that if the GOP had the Congressional majorities the Democrats now have, there would be no talk of bipartisanship and compromise. During the Bush years, with much smaller majorities, the GOP pushed through highly regressive tax cuts, huge giveaways to the energy companies, and a trillion-dollar giveaway to the pharmaceutical companies. The results: trillions in new debt, and an America more unequal than at any time since the age of the robber barons.
There is still plenty of time for Democrats to coalesce and pass a decent healthcare reform package this year. I am confident they will, given that the alternative is so dire: a huge setback for Obama, possibly an effective end to his presidency in its first year.
But if the Democrats fail on what should be a win-win situation for the country and the party, I will no longer support them. Instead I’ll begin investigating potential third parties; I would also consider voting for any Republican who adhered to true conservative principles and was not beholden to the religious right.
Until the ink is dry on a healthcare bill, I’m going to cross my fingers, send emails, and make lots of phone calls. I sincerely hope that the Democrats come to their senses and pass this crucial test.
Jason Scorse