RECENT BLOG POSTS
TWITTER UPDATES
Follow us on Twitter
What the Healthcare Vote Means for Climate Change
The pig has hit the fan in our household. My poor husband is laid up with H1N1 and I am playing both nursemaid and quarantine agent as my currently-well children are desperately trying to get to daddy so they can help him with his “owies.” All of this sickness and the recent flush of press have got me thinking about healthcare. The successful healthcare vote by the House on Saturday is probably a good sign for climate change legislation if you are prone to reading the political tea leaves.
The bumps in the road felt by elected officials tackling healthcare are eerily similar to those taking on global warming. Both were top priorities for then-candidate Obama - priorities that he continues to push forward from behind his desk in the White House. Both topics have been bogged down by inaccurate, slanderous rhetoric; both actually have large and diverse public interest groups supporting them and both have been under constant attack by opposition groups driven by paid industry lobbyists. Most recently, both policy issues have some 2010 Congressional candidates running scared, as they fear a vote on either bill could cost them their jobs.
In the face of a national anti-incumbent mood after last week’s election and the impending healthcare vote, our Congressional leadership had a decision to make – postpone the vote for fear of election repercussions or keep their promise and pass healthcare legislation. With many Blue Dogs forecasting the end of the Democratic majority, they could have permanently postponed the healthcare vote. But that wasn’t the case. The House leadership chose to courageously pass a healthcare bill, just as they passed a global warming bill last summer. It was a tough, close vote on a bill that may not be perfect, but they took an important next step in both cases. Not because they were fearless, but because they knew it was the right thing to do. It was what they were elected to do.
Now both bills are in the Senate waiting on consideration. Will the Senate hold fast? Or will they flail in fear of losing their jobs? Here is to hoping for backbone…
POST YOUR COMMENTS
Comment by: jacob at: January 29, 2010
the more people get sick the more the health care industry make, that is true...the more people eat chesse burgers the more mcdonalds makes...the more we drive the more gas companies make...its called capitalism and that is why this country is so great...we pay for goods and services that is the right thing to do, the more we pay the more the companies make...i love amarica...please think about what is going on here
Comment by: Jacob at: January 29, 2010Socialism is bad. It has never worked and it never will. I hope all amaricans think about what is improtant to them before the support things like universal healthcare. the more we depent on our government the wosre things will be. we need to start taking things back. we have seen what the goverment has dont with the school system, they are taxing us more then we have ever been taxed and the national debt is far higher then it has ever been and they are being forced to cut funding to school and vital social programs. is that the kind of people you want controling the doctors that you depend on to save your life. please if you love this country stay informed about what is going on. just because you see it on the news doesnt make it true. think of the world youll leave your grand children with. the more laws we pass the less freedom we have. stay informed and speak out
Comment by: JSun at: January 5, 2010What can we expect from a system that rewards exploitive corrupt behavior? The more people get sick, the more the health care industry makes, isn't it obvious? Should we expect anything less? The more vaccines and prescription drugs sold, the more money the pharaceutical companies make. Why do we expect them to care about our health when it's in their best interests for us to be sick? And as far as government is concerned, do you think any politician really cares about the people when their election campaigns were financed almost entirely by corporations? They have to meet the needs of their constituents over the needs of the people. I expect nothing less from a system that prizes money above all else.
Comment by: wildlife singer at: December 4, 2009Well said!