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               'THE SMILE OF THE WEEK'

OBAMA: 'TO YOUR HEALTH'

[La Tribune, Canada]

 

 

Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany

Obama Has Made History - Whatever the Cost

 

"As it was in other industrialized countries, this is of course a watershed for the United States. Now, one of the great pieces of social legislation in U.S. history will bear Obama’s signature. … But the political cost could be high."

 

By Dietmar Ostermann

                                        

 

Translated By Ulf Behncke

 

March 22, 2010

 

Germany - Frankfurter Rundschau - Original Article (German)

President Obama and Vice President Biden hail historic milestone: health care reform in America, Mar. 22.

 

FRANCE 24 VIDEO: Obama scores 'historic victory, Mar. 22, 00:01:03RealVideo

Since Sunday evening, Barack Obama is no longer just a man of fine words and great promises, desires and dreams. What has he actually achieved? What has he actually gotten done? Asked with growing impatience, that has become the question of those disillusioned with the president they once glorified - and not only in America.

 

The passage of health care reform through Congress is now more than an initial, significant success. The United States has introduced compulsory insurance and has taken the decisive step toward universal health coverage.

 

As it was in other industrialized countries, this is of course a watershed for the U.S. - which is why the reform was fought so bitterly and took so long to be adopted by Washington. Now, one of the great pieces of social legislation in U.S. history will bear Obama’s signature. On that at least, supporters and opponents agree.

 

But the political cost could be high. The president, who has been under enormous pressure, has demonstrated his capacity to act. More than a few voices in Washington had already declared the reform dead - and Obama’s agenda blocked. But in the short term, his hope that public skepticism of this by-no-means popular reform will abate once people benefit from the greater security it provides is by no means assured.

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

The gaps in the legislation are too wide and the weaknesses too significant, with a number of key provisions only coming online in 2013. Many Americans are simply afraid of rising contributions and decreasing benefits, once health care is secured for the 32 million people who have no coverage.

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:  

Folha, Brazil: Stop the Presses! Barack Obama Has Been Resurrected!  

Financial Times Deutschland: U.S. Health Reform a Foreign Policy Win

L'Express, France: Astonishing: U.S. Republicans Turn Backs on History  

The Telegraph, U.K.: It's a 'Dark Day' for Freedom in America

The Times, U.K.: Win on Health is Obama Win Around the World  

The Times, U.K.: Now, Change Really is Coming to America

Estadao, Brazil: Americans 'Blind' to 'Extraordinary Progress' Under Obama  

Folha, Brazil: Brazil 'Envies' America's Public Health Care Debate

 

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Absurd as the fear campaign mounted by Republicans against a threatening socialism, real are the doubts of the American center, of whether expanding health coverage is the right priority at a time of economic crisis and enormous debt.

 

It's quite possible that Obama's reform could cost Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections. But as far as historic achievement is concerned, this changes nothing: Barack Obama has accomplished what half a dozen other presidents before him failed to achieve.

 

CLICK HERE FOR GERMAN VERSION

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US March 25, 2:19pm]

 

 







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