Yes. I heard you.
My latest column was Too Damn Long.
Yet I feel deeply compelled to share what I've learned about what may be the most important issue in our lives, the lives of our children and their own. So here’s the story, greatly condensed to 556 words.
THE TRUE CONSERVATIVES ARE MIA.
The Republicans have abandoned the Republican party and Conservative thought in their zeal to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Why is this important?
Because as long as Americans believe this is a Partisan issue, there can be no trust or discussion -- EVER -- about ANY solution to the continuing rise in health care costs. Nor about ANY plan that would benefit anyone, whether Liberal or Conservative.
I believe Americans across the entire political spectrum are equally deserving of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And that unnecessary suffering and premature death violate these basic rights.
1) THE MANDATE
The Individual Mandate is one of the two main issues that have bitterly divided Americans over the ACA.
Despite its denials, the Conservative Heritage Foundation DID introduce the Individual Mandate in its “plan for national health care,” published in 1989.
Their plan included financial help for the low-income to purchase insurance, as well as an IRS penalty for those who didn't, even if they could afford it.
Among those who advocated for the Mandate:
MILTON FRIEDMAN. NEWT GINGRICH. ORRIN HATCH.
ARLEN SPECTER. BOB DOLE. GEORGE H.W. BUSH.
Their rationale was based on traditional Conservative Values (and common sense):
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BEING UNINSURED, AND TOSSING ONE'S OWN HEALTH EXPENSES TO SOCIETY, VIOLATED PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
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ALLOWING COSTS TO CONTINUE CLIMBING WHEN UNIVERSAL CARE WAS CHEAPER VIOLATED FISCAL RESTRAINT.
According to the Heritage plan, Americans have an "implied social contract" that no one should suffer and die because they can't afford coverage. But fulfilling the contract would require an Individual Mandate (as opposed to an Employer Mandate).
Those with means would have to contribute on behalf of those without. But such was the price they paid for the privilege of being an American with means.
The concept wasn’t unconstitutional, thievery, Marxist, or taxation without representation until Barack Obama proposed it in his plan.
The Heritage Foundation has gone to bizarre lengths to distance itself from the concept. Just one example:
While the document is available on its website, its author explains that the Mandate was only one possible solution to the market instability Bill Clinton’s health plan would have caused, had it passed.
However, Clinton did not even take office until 1993 -- four years later.
There are many more examples of Conservatives disavowing the Mandate despite evidence that they had earlier supported it.
2) THE PROCESS
The other issue that’s caused deep partisan division is the false narrative about the creation and passage of the ACA.
It is “common knowledge” that Democrats locked Republicans out of the process from the start, and hid the plan from the public before quickly “jamming it through” via Reconciliation.
The speed and secrecy around the GOP plan have been justified as no different from what the Obama Administration did. However, the year-long process of creating the ACA actually included more than 132 BIPARTISAN hearings, votes, meetings, walkthroughs, and markups.
More than 160 Republican resolutions were incorporated into the ACA. The development process involved members of the public and the health care and insurance industries throughout.
The Finance Committee’s 7-day markup was the longest in 22 years, and the Senate’s 25 consecutive day session on the ACA was the second longest in US history.
The ACA passed 60-39, under regular order in the Senate, Dec. 24, 2009.
So there you have it.
The vote on the Senate plan has been held off until after July 4. However, while some of the language seems reassuring, the actual details of the plan make it even worse than the two that preceded it.
It effectively ends Medicaid entirely (something almost all Americans need at some point) -- just not right away. It makes coverage even less affordable for the lower and middle class, and completely out of reach for anyone with a preexisting condition.
It is not my intent to simply “blame the Republicans.” God knows the Dems have major issues of their own, and I don't really identify as a Democrat anymore anyway.
But I am old enough to remember that the two parties used to have different solutions, yet still wanted to solve the same problems. There were no “villains.” We just disagreed.
Good times.
Why I KEEP Harping On this
Actually, I don’t care about the Mandate, nor the ACA, per se. I simply don’t want
people in America to have less access to health care than people in Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine, Moldova, or Belarus. It seems antithetical to the whole idea of America.
I also really, really want to live my life, even though I have some health conditions, without being constantly consumed with fears about my future. And I am very angry it’s come to this. I would be no matter which side did what.
Does this make me a horrible person?
The facts above, however, are irrefutable. I don't “want” them to be. They just are. And as long as Americans accept the false narratives, the level of distrust and vitriol around the issue of health care will thwart all efforts to provide Americans what they truly deserve… for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
What has compelled today’s GOP to lie* to this extent? To be so opposed to an idea that fits within Conservative tradition that it will allow Americans to suffer and die unnecessarily? I can guess. But I don't know.
*I can't find another word for it. It's all a big lie.
PARTING WORDS FROM
A REAL REPUBLICAN
On November 8,1954, President Dwight Eisenhower (a war hero and a moderate Republican) wrote this to his brother, Edgar:
“Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history.
“There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes that you can do these things. Among them are a few Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas.
“Their number is negligible and they are stupid.”
Our Speaker, Health Secretary and the influential Freedom Caucus have discussed eliminating all of the above. This would be completely new, as our government has been collecting taxes for SOME level of basic care for the vulnerable since the Colonial Era (as all societies have, to some degree, over history.)
Once formal medicine and hospitals emerged, US city, state and federal agencies operated and funded them with help from churches and charities. In fact, American hospitals did not begin charging patients until around 1900. (Some historical perspective is vital here, I think.)
If anyone can name a modern, economically successful nation that has no safety net whatsoever, please let me know in the comments. (And please provide a link.)
Where is a Republican when you need one?
~ Teresa Bryan Peneguy
NOTE: I have credible sources for everything I have written above. But due to technological and time complications I could not include them. I can provide them in the comment area in a few days.)
Sunday, Jul 9, 2017 · 6:50:42 PM +00:00
·
TeeBryanToo
Hey, In the hospital due to my preexisting condition.
Just remembered I need to post sources. Oops. Will do ASAP.
Also have fun & truly informative one coming up: A BRIEF HISTORY OF SLACKERY IN AMERICA.
The GOP really needs a history lesson.
~ tbp