With the near-certain passage of President Obama's plan for comprehensive healthcare reform, I think it is important to address one criticism that has been leveled against HCR - namely, that there was something underhanded or even undemocratic about its passage. There could be nothing further from the truth.
We're all familiar with the argument - despite a lack of public support, the Congress enacted this bill and did so using questionable tactics. These supposed questionable tactics include the use of the so-called "deem-and-pass" Slaughter Rule, the intended use of reconciliation in the Senate, and the sometimes unseemly deals that helped win over wavering Democrats. And, being in a generous mood today, I'm willing to concede that there's some justice in these complaints. I think we'd all agree that it would have been far better if HCR could have been passed without all these hardball tactics. But so be it. That's where we are.
But my answer to this complaint is so what. The plain fact is that, because HCR has been set up in such a way that its taxing and financing schemes take effect this January while its benefits don't come into play for four years, the voters will have two elections to pass on HCR before it becomes a full-fledged program. If it turns out to have all the harmful effects that our scare-mongering opponents attribute to it, then the voters will rebel and elect a new Congress (and President) that will likely revoke or gut the program. However, if we're right, then the voters will embrace HCR, and our party will be the victors, perhaps leading some day to the enactment of a public option or even a single payer system. That's true democracy in action. And, I'd point out, it's far more democratic than the one-time only vote on the Iraq war built on far more questionable tactics than the Slaughter Rule.
The President and the Speaker have said that this is a contest they welcome. Right now, the polls look somewhat ominous for this coming November. But the proponents of HCR from the President on down are confident that passage of HCR will radically change the political dynamic as the voters get to know the positive features of our new healthcare system. Some even believe that we'll be able to hold our losses in November to a bare minimum (or even, dare we hope, make gains) and I think most would concur that our prospects are much better now than if HCR had failed. The Republicans obviously believe otherwise. So let's bring on that battle and see who's right. I, like the President, have faith in the people.