Comments on: Why Bills Are Long

By: Len

Len — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:22:11 +0000

I agree Jim. Neither the Senate nor House bill is bad. Both will put cover more people and reduce costs. I don’t want to junk them.

I want the People to see the Republicans are not negotiating in good faith. I like how Obama used the House Republican retreat to engage them on the issues. I think that he is preparing to do the same with the health care meeting. If they have a conversation, rather than monologs, then the People can see who has ideas and who does not. I would like to see Obama ask the Republicans, do you want to cover all Americans. If they say no, they we at least know where they stand. If they say yes then he can challenge them on any proposal they have as to how it covers all Americans.

By: Jim Hufford

Jim Hufford — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:42:58 +0000

I agree that we—or Democratic legislators, at any rate—should be more focussed on the goal of the process. But the first and only truly non-negotiable goal should be to pass something that fits the description of a good or decent bill. I don't think it's necessary to get perfection on the first go. Improvements like further coverage expansion, the public option (already being revived), and better cost controls will be pretty straightforward and achievable goals once the framework is in place. Pass this bill, and we build from there. Don't pass it because it doesn't do X, Y, or Z, and we will never be in a position to do X, Y, or Z. The ultimate goal is universal coverage, but the immediate goal should be, simply, progress. I think Democrats uniformly do agree on the ultimate goal, but sadly don't see the necessity of achieving the immediate goal.

By: Len

Len — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:37:09 +0000

My comment is not meant to imply that just because the bill is long it must be good. I hope that policy makers know more than I do and because they are experts I trust them toake the right choice. I realize I may be wrong, that some policy makers only want the other guy to fail, and other policy makers lard up the bill with trinkets dear to them that may or may not advance the purpose.

What I would like to see is them agree to at least a goal, that whatever bill emerges must cover all Americans? Can’t we at least agree on that?

By: Len

Len — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:02:30 +0000

I’ll go with footnote 1.

Whether it is healthcare reform, global climate change, or evolution, I hear many opponents (yes, opponents of evolution) say “It’s too hard, I don’t understand” and default to the magical belief system that will fix it, whether the invisible hand or the invisible spaceman. Yes, the bill is long. But when you want to do something that is complex then you need good instructions. Would you launch the Space Shuttle with a ten page owners manual?