Yesterday president Obama reconstituted his presidential campaign team to centralize control over Democratic party strategy and respond to the Republican win by Scott Brown in the Massachusetts special Senate election; growing public anger over unresponsive government and insufficient 'change', and Republican challenges in the coming midterm elections. This move by the president represents a response to the failure of his initial strategies for reform.
While the criticism being purported now by many conservatives that the president ignored the jobs issue is not supported by the facts, the presidents economic initiatives have not delivered as promised or met the expectations of many. The interests of citizens have always been in dire conflict with those of business and the wealthy elite, but what's new here is the appearance that the president is considering (or being forced to) shift the governments policy positions to directly side with citizens interests. "Instead of a government that works for the entitled and special interests, a government that looks out for Wall Street, they wanted a government that works better for them, a government that plays the role it should to help foster the security of the middle class.", said former Obama campaign chief David Plouffe in his recent Washington Post column where he characterizes the change voters demanded in the 2006 and 2008 elections. Amidst a sea of anger and rabid partisanship that has undermined every major initiative, it appears the president may now look to new courses to live up to that promise.
Hati has a way of highlighting the work we need to do to be a truly civilized and humane society.
With each incidence of disaster in Hati the world has a new opportunity to display its compassion. I am grateful for the hundreds of volunteers from around the world who are giving of themselves and making a difference. for the nations that sponsor them and have contributed aid and resources. For the millions who have made donations despite facing economic challenges at home. There is truth in the saying "I am my brothers keeper." When we see ourselves in others we are connected to the only real source of security we have. When we care for each other we can count on one another, and we are then never alone. The benefits of brotherhood are perpetual.
But the selfish, self-interest based way in which we typically choose to live leaves us with small circles of support. Support that is then contingent on a negotiated exchange of benefits, and only available when it serves the interests of others. Reading about a group of doctors who elected to leave critically wounded survivors to secure their own safety, and took the medicine and supplies at hand with them, is a perfect exemplification of the selfish, misguided, and ultimately cruel beliefs we hold that prevent us from achieving real peace and security.
May peace be upon us…
May we love ourselves richly…
with bold thoughts,
thoughtful and measured steps,
fearless actions,
and faithful vision.
May we love our children…
with principled direction,
compassionate interaction,
loving responsiveness,
and unconditional acceptance.
May our labors enrich the world…
with passionate initiative,
respectful and attentive collaboration,
and open and receptive issue resolution.
May love fill our souls…
The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee access to health care as a right of citizenship. 28 industrialized nations have single payer universal health care systems, while 1 (Germany) has a multipayer universal health care system like President Clinton proposed for the United States.
The financial crisis serves as a testimony to the failure of the market to adequately correct itself. Over the past few decades the movement to deregulate and set free big business has proven to have flawed models and elusive benefits beyond the elite owners, managers and stakeholders. The promise of more choice and lower prices has not been fulfilled. And what's clear is that it is still not an effective policy to have foxes watch over hen houses.
The inability to see how what benefits shreholders may adversely affect customers and the market is illustrated by comments from leading executives like John S. Reed who appologized for co-engineering and presiding over the creation of Citigroup in 1988. In a rare interview Mr. Reed exclaimed when asked about why he previously supported positions and policies he now derides, “When you’re running a company, you do what you think is right for the stockholders. Right now I’m looking at this as a citizen.” Mr Reed also said it was wrong for lawmakers to repeal the Glass- Steagall Act in 1999 which prohibited banks that provided customer services (accounts and loans) from being part of banks that dealt with securities (stocks, bonds, derivatives, etc.).
Another major issue at cause is the complicity between government and business. The Fed failed to do its job of oversight and regulating the industry. And to further cloud the already bleak landscape, the guy who presided over the mistakes was just reappointed and named "Man-Of-The-Year" by Time magazine.
The US Senate passed a health care reform bill (HR 3590) in a rare Christmas Eve session by a party line vote of 60 to 39. The $871 billion Senate bill must now be reconciled with the House bill when Congress returns to work in January. This Senate bill marks a monumental moment in history, a moment when private interests, working in concert with so-called public government, openly plunder American citizens tax funds while also passing a law that forces citizens to buy private insurance. Dictatorships across the globe must envious. And it was all done by creating divisive public debate and stoking visceral and sometimes violent protest to successfully deflect attention from facts and the real issues, while creating a sense of 'rightness' in expressing either support or dissent.
I predict this will go down as one of the greatest mass communications schemes of all time, and combined with the selling of public support for anything private that fails, it paves the way for a new era that will be marked by bankrupt and ineffective public government, higher prices, fewer and fewer choices and the effective disenfranchisement of millions who once claimed to be among America's 'middle-class' (not to mention the poor who have been and will continue to be screwed).
Let's get right to it. Here are highlights of health care reform as passed by the Senate in plain language.