Of course, getting a September vote on single-payer does not mean that single-payer will get the votes. With the Obama administration and congressional leaders determined to compromise rather than fight, it is unlikely in the extreme that the current debate will end with the adoption of a single-payer plan. Even if the House approved one, it would still face a fight in the Senate. But just as Republicans are willing to just say "no" to any reform, progressives should just say "yes" to real reform.
Of course, getting a September vote on single-payer does not mean that single-payer will get the votes.
With the Obama administration and congressional leaders determined to compromise rather than fight, it is unlikely in the extreme that the current debate will end with the adoption of a single-payer plan. Even if the House approved one, it would still face a fight in the Senate.
But just as Republicans are willing to just say "no" to any reform, progressives should just say "yes" to real reform.
The recent attacks by Republican leaders and their ideological fellow-travelers on the effort to reform the health-care system have been so misleading, so disingenuous, that they could only spring from a cynical effort to gain partisan political advantage. By poisoning the political well, they've given up any pretense of being the loyal opposition. They've become political terrorists, willing to say or do anything to prevent the country from reaching a consensus on one of its most serious domestic problems.
Perlstein was apologetic for coming across as one-sided on the issue. Kudos to him for telling it like he sees it.
And as it turns out, the cause of advance planning has been championed especially strongly by a pro-life Republican -- U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia.
Advance planning is good, appropriate, necessary and standard. Lying about it is not going to get Republicans more than a week's worth of advantage, and the blow-back is going to be considerable. See Perlstein. From Ezra Klein, interviewing Isakson: How did this become a question of euthanasia?
I have no idea. I understand -- and you have to check this out -- I just had a phone call where someone said Sarah Palin's web site had talked about the House bill having death panels on it where people would be euthanized. How someone could take an end of life directive or a living will as that is nuts. You're putting the authority in the individual rather than the government. I don't know how that got so mixed up.
An analysis of results from a USA TODAY survey July 10-12 illustrates some of the crosscurrents in public opinion. The poll of 3,026 adults has a margin of error of +/—2 percentage points. The poll found: •Significant differences on what the key goal of a health care overhaul should be. Two-thirds of blacks and six in 10 Hispanics say it should be expanding coverage to the uninsured, but six in 10 whites say controlling costs. Westerners are inclined to say expanding coverage is more important; Southerners say it's controlling costs. •Challenges in convincing most Americans that it is urgent to act this year, as Obama argues. There's less urgency among those who have insurance and whose health is excellent or good — groups that make up the majority of those polled. •Resistance among seniors. Fewer than half of seniors polled want an overhaul enacted this year.
An analysis of results from a USA TODAY survey July 10-12 illustrates some of the crosscurrents in public opinion. The poll of 3,026 adults has a margin of error of +/—2 percentage points. The poll found:
•Significant differences on what the key goal of a health care overhaul should be. Two-thirds of blacks and six in 10 Hispanics say it should be expanding coverage to the uninsured, but six in 10 whites say controlling costs. Westerners are inclined to say expanding coverage is more important; Southerners say it's controlling costs.
•Challenges in convincing most Americans that it is urgent to act this year, as Obama argues. There's less urgency among those who have insurance and whose health is excellent or good — groups that make up the majority of those polled.
•Resistance among seniors. Fewer than half of seniors polled want an overhaul enacted this year.
The White House has launched a new Web site to debunk some of the crazier ideas floating around about healthcare reform, Health Insurance Reform Reality Check.
See also: Democrats take sterner line against health care misinformation and this from the NY Times:
"Don’t associate loud with effective," Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, said in an interview, adding that he detected no anxiety from supportive lawmakers in politically vulnerable districts. "What is coming across is a lot of noise and a lot of heat without a lot of light."
During the month of August, Secretary of State Clinton is embarking on a seven-nation, 11-day trip to Africa. Her travels will include (in order) Kenya, South Africa, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Liberia, and Cape Verde. We'll be closely following her journey on the ONE Blog with background and developments as they occur.
This is really a remarkable trip for the Secretary of State, touring countries that have made great strides in democracy (Liberia and Cape Verde come to mind), and countries that are working to get there. but the health focus of the trip should not be lost. South Africa now officially recognizes HIV/AIDS (the previous health minister did not.) Factoid: 33 million people are infected with HIV/AIDS worldwide. Two-thirds of them (22 million) live in sub-Saharan Africa. programs like The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) are key to the effort. They have bipartisan support, and need to be continued.
Infection with some kinds of influenza viruses may set up people to be at higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease later in life, a new American study suggests. The work, inspired by the story behind the 1990 movie "Awakenings," suggests some aggressive strains of flu that can pass into the brain may deplete dopamine-creating neurons, leaving a person more vulnerable to developing the neurodegenerative disease at a later date.
Infection with some kinds of influenza viruses may set up people to be at higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease later in life, a new American study suggests.
The work, inspired by the story behind the 1990 movie "Awakenings," suggests some aggressive strains of flu that can pass into the brain may deplete dopamine-creating neurons, leaving a person more vulnerable to developing the neurodegenerative disease at a later date.
A scientific review published Monday questions the merits of broad use of antiviral drugs in children suffering from influenza, suggesting there is an urgent need for a better understanding of how well the drugs work in children.
The British have been more aggressive with tamiflu than their Canadian and US counterparts. In the US, only high risk, ill and very young patients get treated.