A Monthly Publication

Clive Jones sends a seasonal rant about health care – or lack of – in the US of A

 Dec. 17^th 2009: The awfulness continues... made the mistake last night of watching coverage of the well-co-ordinated right-wing populist 'Tea Party' movement against the introduction of any worthwhile health care plan.  A total stitch up by the insurance companies making squillions out of the privatised health care industry here, at a cost to the individual of twice as much as any nationally-run system in any other country.  People bought off, ignorant people cajoled into demonstrating against their own interests, Obama lampooned as Hitler (???) and charged with introducing communism (no less) by the back door. A truly dismal but not entirely unforeseeable situation.  We shall end up with a pile of poo, health-wise: the health insurance companies' cartel will have scored a massive victory since, if the proposed legislation comes into force, it will be illegal not to have health coverage - but the lack of a 'public option' (coverage provided by a public body such as a state government department) will mean that the coverage will come from - guess where - the same old insurance companies as are in the business now. 

The inability of people to disconnect the two words 'health' and 'insurance' is one of the main stumbling blocks.  We don't need health insurance - we need health care.  Of especial chagrin is the fact that the opponents of health care cite the British system as an example of failure of government to provide it!  My god, if the NHS is failure, whatever is success? But if your audience is composed entirely of straw-headed know-nothings you can make the most outrageous statements and no-one will question you.  The 'British' component is the reason why opponents call themselves the 'Tea party' - invoking a visceral antagonism based on a very questionable historical incident in Boston harbour.  Or harbor.  The connection is made out to be, to them, 'big government' interfering with individual freedom.  What total poppycockle.  And where are the Democrats in all this Republican fist-shaking?  Divided.  The right-wing goes along with the Republicans (who, like the British Tories, know how to stick together).  The centrists are more-or-less on board.  The left wing is against the bill because of no public option.

Will Obama sign the bill?  It's a far cry from what he intended, indeed it's counter to what he intended.  He has kept a distance from the debate, thinking that the democratic process needed to be seen to be working, but this has worked against him because he will now have to bring into effect legislation which few of his supporters want.  Consequently, he has reduced hugely his chances of a second term.  He has even opened up the possibility of facing a 'primary' - an election within his own party against other Democrat candidates - before the vote for president is conducted in three years’ time. 

Compared with the euphoria of a year ago, this New Year looks like being anything but happy.  If the health bill becomes law, having insurance will be compulsory, punishable by a fine if you don't. Not a problem if you have a full-time job, but over 10% of the workforce doesn't have a job.  They can expect to shell out about 17% of their income for the health cover they will have to have.  Plus deal with the real possibility of losing their home to the bank - the legislation and funding established to prevent that happening has been singularly ineffectual so far, mostly, it seems, because it put the running of the plan in the hands of the banks: the same people that created the mess.

So: Happy New Year, Hunstanton!  Get the food parcels ready.