"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."
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.
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.
