Is President Obama’s Health Care Agenda Dead on Arrival?
I don’t like being lectured to. So it should come as no surprise how much Wednesday night’s speech by President Barack Obama rubbed me the wrong way. Yes, I believe in universal health care for all American citizens and think we could easily pay for it (if we would just get our priorities in order…more on that later) but, if his intent was to convince Americans that they should support his agenda, he failed miserably. It was a classic combination of “too little, too late” and “Holier than thou” rhetoric.
As I watched the lecture speech I couldn’t help but think to myself “Hey, Obama, talk TO me and not AT me.” I do not need to hear you summarize how those “on the right” and “on the left” feel about things. How about telling me what YOU think and stop trying to cast yourself as a sideliner. YOU are the President. And you were elected with a mandate (in spite of the conservatives who continue to argue that your win was a “fluke” or somehow less legitimate than Bush in 2000). Just tell me what YOU want to happen and make a case? If I like it – I’ll support you. If I don’t – I won’t. It’s not that difficult. However, for some reason, you just can’t seem to find your balls.
Let me help you…
- Stop trying to be so damned conciliatory. You have a majority – use it.
- Stop lecturing and try to motivate.
- Stop demonizing everyone else as partisan and representing yourself as a “middle man.” Pick a side and go with it.
- For God’s sake avoid any photo-ops with Pelosi or Reid. They are duds and you still have a chance at success.
- Pick a fight with the biggest GOPster on the block and bury him/her (forget about talk show hosts and quitters).
- Stop trying to please everyone and realize that no matter what you do a HUGE percentage of the population will always hate you. Live with it.
FORGET THE PEANUT GALLERY
I don’t understand why Representative Joe Wilson’s heckling is such a big deal. For some reason we put our elected officials on pedestals and forget that they work for us. As a consequence, it becomes “rude” or “disrespectful” to call them out. This needs to change. The world is a tough place and Obama is a big boy. Deal with it and be glad you’re not part of the British Parliament. Here’s a video of Prime Minister Gordon Brown being ridiculed and laughed at by the opposition. Is it me or does the opposition look like the crowd at the Apollo Theater after a punch line?
See you next week.
About the Author: Randall H. Miller is an American college educator/blogger. He is also a former U.S. Army officer (82nd Airborne) with a M.A. in Diplomacy (focusing on International Terrorism) and a B.A. in Criminal Justice. Use the form on the right to sign up and receive notifications of new content. The words and ideas expressed here are 100% his own and not those of his employers or affiliated organizations.
Joseph Lydon | Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
Once again, a great article, with a few areas of contention.
My background is 16 years in the insurance industry. Do I believe that every American CITIZEN should have the ability to have health care…absolutely. Do I believe in greater regulation if the Health Insurance Industry in regards to Portablity and underwriting…absulutely. Do I believe in a government run health care option…ABSOLUTELY NOT!. Let me explain why.
1) You cant expect to have the institution that regulates it’s competition to act selflessly. Once the Government has it’s own plan, it has “skin in the game”. The President has siad it must be self sustaining for the premiums it recieves. If this is so, there is no convincing me that the government wont stack the deck in it’s favor. The best example is in Massachusetts, where Blue Cross( full disclosure, I carry Blue Cross and they have been excellent) argued against medical underwriting, and the State sided with them. The Problem…Blue Cross is a not for profit company, and the State put into place regulations requiring for profit companies to follow the smae guidelines. The result: Companies fled the State and cometition is almost non existent. Also noin group premiums are thrugh the roof.
2)Government does not run anything effeciently. From th Post Office to to any ther government agency, there is not one that can be pointed to that run as a successful business would be. This will be no different. The only change that will take place is to adjust regulations to make up for thier shortfalls, to the detriment of private companies.
3)Lies of the President. There is no other way to put it. From the beginnings of his political career, he has been an advocate for a single payer program. When did his opinion change on this and why? A single payer plan is discriminatory in the sense that it provides for the lowest common denominator of coverage for everyone, regardless of your baility to pay for coverage. In other words, the successful person who plays by the rules and works hard is subject to the same limited coverage as an ex con or a generational welfare mom who is on Medicaid. How does that make sense? The fact that he wont speak of his single payer reference makes it that much more scary.
4) Socialized medicine does not work. There is not one socialized program in the world that is not in crisis. Why would we expect to be any different.
5) Illegal’s will still have to be paid for. The president says no illegals will be covered by the program. He didnt say that they will not recieve health care though. the estimates are between 10% to 30% of the uninsured are illegals, S on top of a bloated government plan cost, we will still have to pay for them over and above. Why are we responsible for the care of people who have broken into our country uninvited is a travesty, bt a cnversation for another day.
In short, a government insurance option wil decrease choice, increase cost and minimize coverage at the expense of hard working Americans to the benefit of many who are illegal or unwilling to work. For those hard working Americans or those that cannot work, new regulations of the Private Health Insurance industry will more than suffice to make up for the current shortfalls.
RHM | Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
Interesting take, Joseph.
Let me marinate on it a little bit so I can give you a worthy response.
David Cobb | Sep 12, 2009 | Reply
Reid is a dud. Pelosi is no Tip O’neill and Obama is no FDR. Rare when the Democrats can pull together politicians with the qualities needed for action. If there is one thing Republicans are good at, it’s marshalling their forces.
Obama seems bent on convincing everyone….got news! Ain’t gonna happen. Take your majority and push it through. The bill may not be perfect, but it’s better than the current system. Iron out the mistakes later.
Stephen | Sep 18, 2009 | Reply
David – Let him continue trying to convince. The more he talks, the lower his support/approval ratings get. I am content to let him blab all he wants. But you’re right – he isn’t going to convince a majority of the public. The only majority he has is in Congress and that too will erode the more he squaks.