Astonishing:
U.S. Republicans Turn Backs on History
"Not one, not even a single one, will vote with the Democrats for a
reform which, after all, doesn't hold a candle to health care systems in Europe
- but which will prevent over 30 million of their fellow citizens from having
to resort to
emergency rooms for access to a doctor."
There is perhaps twenty minutes of debate left
before a vote on the most important American social legislation since Lyndon
Johnson's "Great Society" in 1965, and a person can only wipe their
eyes watching the Republicans turn their backs on history by excluding
themselves from such a decisive moment for the purposes of
short-term tactical gain. At the moment, not one, not even a single one, will
vote with the Democrats for a reform which, after all, doesn't hold a candle to
the health care systems in Europe - but which will prevent over thirty million
of their fellow citizens from having to resort to emergency rooms for access to
a doctor.
There's not even the shadow of a public option or
direct care by the state in the plan, where the only redistribution takes the
form of subsidies to those unable to afford private insurance. The principal
affront to the status quo, and this is significant in this country, merely
requires insurers to cover patients with pre-existing conditions. But to listen
to a Republican representative from Wisconsin tell it, "this legislation
is paternalistic and condescending, it is a European-style system that violates
our Declaration of Independence and the ideals of liberty that founded this
great nation." [translated quote]. House minority leader John Boehner began
his speech by citing his "heavy heart." They were all choked up. It
was as though they could hear the tanks of totalitarianism driving toward the
Mall of America.
Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the House,
just came forward to speak: "Imagine a country where you could change jobs
without losing your coverage?" she began. Imagine. Yes, there is something
to be proud of. Well, almost ...
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
Obama should speak at about midnight, when the
last legislative hurdle is crossed. He has won. But what about the Democratic
Congress? Who would have imagined just a year ago, that support for abortion would
become an issue of discord among the majority? The high stakes made possible
the extortion of the White House by Representative Bart Stupak, one of the few
members of his party opposed to abortion. No federal funding will be available
for any insurance that covers abortion. For his support, Stupak demanded
outright prohibition.
Voting has begun in the House. In vain, John
Boehner appealed for a roll call vote of the House, requiring each member to
say "yay" or "nay" at the call of his or her name. The
Republicans hoped to obtain videos of Democrats "compromising" themselves
by voting for the reform that they could show off during the elections in
November. And if the "partisans of no" were mistaken about the mood
of voters, believing, probably incorrectly, that 53 percent opposed this "socialist
reform, thirty four Democrats still voted against.
It is 10:46 EST on Sunday, March 21. The law just
passed the House.
*Philippe Cost: Born in
1959, Bachelor in Law from Sciences Po Paris, I lived in Bogota, Colombia, for
two years before joining L'Express in 1984. Chosen as L'Express correspondent
in the United States in 1991, I live on the Upper West side of Manhattan and
write as much about politics as about society, the economy and American
culture.
