For the first time in our nation's history, Congress has passed comprehensive health care reform

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 03/22/2010 - 04:54.

eMail from Barack Obama:

Norm --

For the first time in our nation's history, Congress has passed comprehensive health care reform. America waited a hundred years and fought for decades to reach this moment. Tonight, thanks to you, we are finally here.

Consider the staggering scope of what you have just accomplished:

Because of you, every American will finally be guaranteed high quality, affordable health care coverage.

Every American will be covered under the toughest patient protections in history. Arbitrary premium hikes, insurance cancellations, and discrimination against pre-existing conditions will now be gone forever.

And we'll finally start reducing the cost of care -- creating millions of jobs, preventing families and businesses from plunging into bankruptcy, and removing over a trillion dollars of debt from the backs of our children.

But the victory that matters most tonight goes beyond the laws and far past the numbers.

It is the peace of mind enjoyed by every American, no longer one injury or illness away from catastrophe.

It is the workers and entrepreneurs who are now freed to pursue their slice of the American dream without fear of losing coverage or facing a crippling bill.

And it is the immeasurable joy of families in every part of this great nation, living happier, healthier lives together because they can finally receive the vital care they need.

This is what change looks like.

My gratitude tonight is profound. I am thankful for those in past generations whose heroic efforts brought this great goal within reach for our times. I am thankful for the members of Congress whose months of effort and brave votes made it possible to take this final step. But most of all, I am thankful for you.

This day is not the end of this journey. Much hard work remains, and we have a solemn responsibility to do it right. But we can face that work together with the confidence of those who have moved mountains.

Our journey began three years ago, driven by a shared belief that fundamental change is indeed still possible. We have worked hard together every day since to deliver on that belief.

We have shared moments of tremendous hope, and we've faced setbacks and doubt. We have all been forced to ask if our politics had simply become too polarized and too short-sighted to meet the pressing challenges of our time. This struggle became a test of whether the American people could still rally together when the cause was right -- and actually create the change we believe in.

Tonight, thanks to your mighty efforts, the answer is indisputable: Yes we can.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

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health care reform

Submitted by westward on Mon, 03/22/2010 - 08:48.

I was glued to the computer during the electronic voting, watching for that magical number of 216 to arrive. It is a historic time, and we had to begin some where.

It will take a continuing effort to reign in the machinations of the insurance industry. Boehner ramped up the tea party protesters, predicting Armageddon if this bill passed. Each representative wanted their own little piece of the pie in return for their vote. It is amazing to me that this bill was passed. 

There is a child that I will call Jane. Jane was born to her parents later in their life, and she has multiple birth defects. Jane's parents are very devout, and even when prenatal tests showed the defects, continuing the pregnancy was the only option. Jane in now in her early teens, in delicate health, and her lifetime limits under the healthcare carried by her parents is about to be exhausted. That changes when Obama signs the bill. This lifting of limits is so incredible to the family, and something that most people do not think about, unless they have or know someone who is an illness or two away from the limits.

So good for Obama for pushing this far from perfect bill ahead. I wish that people had been forced to watch the debacle of the elected representatives over the last year as they decimated this bill and now the bill passed bears only a little resemblance to the original bill. But is it done in the House, and now back to the Senate.

We had to start somewhere, and this is better than standing still.

 

yes this country needed to start some place

Submitted by bj on Mon, 03/22/2010 - 11:38.

 regardless of the holes in the plan and those personally known here that will not benefit, however it is acknowledged here that a step in the right direction, helping some (such as child you call Jane) is the best that can happen today.  

thankful for that.  

thank you for sharing the story of Jane, Dwebb.

Would our friend Eddy

Submitted by Phillip Williams on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 00:24.

Would our friend Eddy "Citizen" Hauser still be alive if we had this sooner?  How many people will be saved by this healthcare plan?

It is too early to tell if this is a good thing or not.  Many counties have health care plans, and the high taxes to support them.  Will doctors decress their passion to heal or will they possibly increase their practice knowing they will be paid?  So many questions I have... I have such a hard time believing this is a good thing.

All I can think of is that Hitler did so much for the people before he started his commitment to genocide.  Not saying that is what I think will happen, just voicing my thoughts.

The Government Protecting The "Public Good"

Submitted by Charles Frost on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 09:54.

I agree that the proof is in the pudding.

There are many who think that the OSHA & EPA laws that started those two agencies were a bad thing when Richard M Nixon signed them back in 1970, and still are.

There are also some who think that those laws are a good start, but that they are not being enforced fairly and/or properly.

I think that the new health care system will have it's share of problems, but I do feel that allowing the insurance companies free reign, is like allowing the industrial polluters free reign.

I commend "the government" for trying to fix a bad situation, and I will do what I can to help.

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By refusing to deal honorably with others, you dishonor yourself.

incremental approach

Submitted by Susan Miller on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 10:17.

I find it interesting that some members of Congress called for an incremental approach. I think we got one. Hopefully this is an incremental approach to a single payer system. Glass half full or half empty, Mr. Boehner? Norm's post on name calling is pertinent here, too. Like the unfortunate guy in Columbus who threw dollars and epithets at the guy with Parkinson's, the ugly just get uglier.

Maybe secession is a good idea - put all nasty name callers into a state where they want to avoid education and have the rich corporate hoarders make the rules, then let that state secede. Bush is already there - it has a built in president. Rumsfeld could move out of Mount Misery and take Cheney with him. OK, just a fantasy and not likely. But having one state separated from the rest with all the folks who prefer deregulation, vigilantism and anarchy might not be a bad solution - still a little too close for comfort though. Wow! Change the border we fight border wars with... what a concept.

Hitler

Submitted by westward on Thu, 03/25/2010 - 10:02.

SHowed his dislike of people prior to coming to power, and did "good things" for a part of the population, not across the board. When I look at who passsed health care reform in this country last Sunday, I tend to think that these are not the elected representatives who demand to see a green card for people who look "different". That group voted against the reform bill.

Bill's analogy is a good one. I support what the EPA & OSHA are supposed to do.  I look at candidates records and statements of beliefs prior to voting, and I hope that someday, we, as the people, collectivly vote in enough good representatives that it gets enforced the way it is supposed to.

It is up to us.