GOP wins in Massachusetts!

[matthiasrat]

I am delighted by last night's victory of Scott Brown for the Senate seat in Massachusetts. Not only will this likely mean the death of the gargantuan monstrosity known as the Health Care bill, it also means that the Democrats will have to ask themselves what's really important to them, and perhaps, it will even lead some of them to actually try

Comments

[ziabandito555]

How on earth did I end up on your watch list again...

[matthiasrat]

*shrugs* I never took you off my friend's list, Bandito. I saw you'd taken me off yours, but about six months ago I noticed we were mutual friends again. I hope all is well with you.

This is also the first political post of mine since before the 08 elections. I've kept pretty quiet on that front. But what happened last night was rather stunning, so I felt like commenting.

Dominus tecum

[ziabandito555]

obviously an error on my part. I don't remember seeing other posts from you. obviously I need to clear out that list.

[matthiasrat]

I don't really post much on LJ anymore. And when I do it's usually pretty short. Take care, Bandito.

Dominus tecum

[linnaeus]

I'm not sure I see the one-party rule. Not that the Democrats have necessarily been all sweetness and light, but if they really had been taking a "my way or the highway" approach, wouldn't they have rammed through a health care bill by now?

[matthiasrat]

Well, by that I mean that they tried to pass bills with only the support of their own members. On major initiatives, they've garnered almost zero GOP support, because they've never tried to obtain it. While they did try to get Olympia Snowe's vote on Health Care, it was so superficial even she saw through it and became an opponent. At that point, they had to bribe the moderate members of their own party to support the bill (Landrieu, Nelson).

That's how I've seen the events at least. Now they won't be able to do that because they will need at least one GOP vote to overcome any filibuster.

Dominus tecum

[jeffreycwells]

I don't know about this. Seems to me the reason the whole health care thing is the debacle that it is comes from an elaborate series of knee-cuts and bastardizations intended to make "health care for all" more palatable to the Right. If the Democrats had been trying to muscle Single Payor System through the legislature using the power of party-line majority, then, sure, I could see your point. But the bill as presented? Not so much.

For the sake of argument, what kind of "Let's Spend Tax Dollars To Give Medical Care To Those Who Can't Afford It" plan would garner anything other than party-line rejection from the G.O.P.? Is Sen. Brown actually committed to the concept of passing a "reasonable" health care bill? Have any specifics been mentioned, or is this just more election-night speech? Did I miss the part where the Republican party had a superior counterplan beyond saying "No" and shutting the book? (I do actually want to know the answer; I'm not the world's closest study of modern American politics.)

[linnaeus]

If one were to look at it in a crassly political way, it doesn't seem like there's any real benefit to the GOP to compromise with the Democrats at all. It's in their best interest politically for the Democrats to fail to make any headway on their agenda going into the midterm elections, or barring that to force them to push through a bill without any bipartisan support, giving lie to Democratic promises of bipartisanism and therefore strengthening the Republican hand going into this year's elections. I support the idea of fiscal responsibility, but considering the fact that the prescription drug benefits package passed by a Republican controlled congress and signed by a Republican president not long ago costs more than the bill currently under consideration, I'm not sure I believe that's really what they're objecting to...

[linnaeus]

Also, you might want to visit http://www.livejournal.com/manage/banusers.bml assuming LJ support hasn't banned Spammy McSpamsalot here already. :)

[matthiasrat]

Thanks for that! Definitely not something anybody needs to see there!

Dominus tecum

[kamau_d_lyon]

I don't usually comment on politics but I've got to say that Obama himself pointed out just what is going on. People, like the ones who elected him, are still angry and frustrated with what is going on. They want action and assistance not 'business as usual' Washington style. I'm hoping that we will see more elected officials who are willing to take the hit and do what is right for the people not just for themselves or their party. I'm not sure if Scott Brown will do that but in any case it is a hopeful sign to me.

I continue to pray for your success on the adoption.

[matthiasrat]

Indeed! Had Obama done that in the last year, this probably would never have happened. As it is, I'm glad it did, as its good for one-party states to elect folks from the opposite party from time to time to keep everybody honest.

Thank you, Kamau!

Dominus tecum

[wyld_b_wolfy]

I think the term 'honest politician' is generally an oxymoron. The only way honesty could ever come into politics is if the public were well-informed of all government going-ons.

[pathia]

Wondering what your thoughts are on what happened with the healthcare mess after he was elected and it was passed. Especially now that the furor has died/been fed down as fodder for primaries/November.

I'm ambivalent myself, but to be honest I can't argue with the result, it being the first time I would have insurance in my life. Not long after I moved away from VA, I had to file my second bankruptcy for medical bills. Third will be in 2013 if the bill doesn't work out.

[matthiasrat]

I am completely opposed to the legislation for several reasons. First off, if I understand the bill correctly, it is not that you would have insurance, it is that you would be required to purchase insurance or face a heavy fine. This will not help you financially in the slightest. It is more likely to make things worse for you

[pathia]

I have a job, they will be required to provide me insurance and have already announced they will do so by next year, before the bill even goes into force officially.

That is how it is helping me.

As it stands, I still use the ER as my doctor and will have to until things change.

[matthiasrat]

Then your employer is doing this to avoid paying fines later on. Still, you will be paying for it because the most likely outcome is that the employer will deduct money from your paycheck to cover the insurance. That's generally how employee coverage works.

You may see some short term improvements for yourself, but over the long run, this is going to reduce the quality and availability of coverage and health care in general.

Dominus tecum