Is the Proposed Health Bill Worse than Nothing?
by: Rabbi Michael Lerner on November 17th, 2009 | 11 Comments »
Dr. John Geyman thinks so. Whether or not you agree, it’s worth considering his argument. He writes:
The negatives far outweigh the positives, and adopting this bill would delay real reform for years to come. Despite a chorus of accolades about the bill by its supporters, even comparing it with the historic importance of Social Security and Medicare, this monster bill instead bears the heavy imprint of corporate stakeholders who themselves are largely responsible for out-of-control health care costs. After months of lobbying and campaign contributions to legislators crafting the legislation, their multiple conflicts of interest and political compromises, this bill ends up being a bailout for the insurance industry and a bonanza for stakeholders in the medical industrial complex.
Read Geyman’s article on HR 3962 for his explanation of the specific problems with the health bill.
Geyman doesn’t even address one of our main concerns in his critique of the Health Care for America Act: the inclusion in the House bill of a hard-line anti-choice provision, despite earlier promises that this reform would be neutral on the longstanding abortion debate. Many are angry at Nancy Pelosi, who promised to allow a vote on the Kucinich Amendment that would have allowed each state to opt in to a single payer plan if they so chose, then at the last moment refused to allow that vote on the floor of the House. Meanwhile, she allowed the anti-abortion amendment to come to the floor where it passed with overwhelming support of the Republicans who then voted against the whole bill.
Not all of us at Tikkun or in the Network of Spiritual Progressives agree with Dr. Geyman’s conclusion, even while we think that this article is a rather important statement. Some believe that the reforms in the bill passed are better than nothing, and that later reforms of the reform might fix the errors in this version. Others agree with Geyman that, once instituted, this approach to “reform” will be hard to change for decades to come, the abortion provision outrageous, and the further institutionalization of the insurance companies and health care profiteers and pharmaceuticals elements that make the whole thing worse than nothing. (On our website, on this blog, and in Tikkun magazine, we print many articles with positions that do not necessarily reflect our own views — it’s part of our notion of how one gets to the deepest truths, by allowing vigorous debate. Our views are presented only in our editorials. But even if you don’t agree with the positions in articles we print, post on our website or blog, or send out, we think that what we present our ideas with which we believe we ought to be grappling).
I, for one, strongly disagree with Dr. Geyman. First of all, as I diaried earlier this week, Goldman Sachs thinks that doing nothing is far better than passing a reform bill, as it will allow insurance companies to run rampant for at least a decade. If we pass nothing, democrats will become dispirited and refuse to vote, thus bringing a Republican Congress to Washington. There is no way Republicans are going to move us forward. They are going to move us backwards very, very quickly.
Once people realize they can win a battle, they will fight harder and demand more. It is important to win.
Having been active in the struggle for health care justice for a period of time spanning several decades, I have found discernment to be an ally.
Physicians for a National Health Program, the California Nurses Association, and Dr. Geyman are far better informed than are most politicians and some spiritual progressives when it comes to health care. Dr. Geyman, PNHP, and the CNA know why our dysfunctional health care system is the way it is, and they also know how to “cure” it. They know single payer is the answer.
If I want a tour of our nation’s capital a Member of Congress can fix me up. When I have a thirst for spirited discussion regarding social and economic justice, I seek out progressive friends. But when it comes to health care, I’ll put my life in the hands of professional care givers.
And pundits? I’ve discovered they are often a lively, yet ill-informed lot who sometimes cite spokespeople from financial institutions when the subject is really about health care. Really now, who would go to a banker for a physical?
I have no idea if this bill is good for the consumer. I do not trust our politicians. Health companies say that do not like this bill. It is only a smokescreen for them. They probably love this bill.
I am continually experiencing a BOHICA DAY 24/7 in my country. BOHICA means Bend Over Here It Comes Again.
This article by Jeffrey Flier, Dean of Harvard Medical School, sums up the effectiveness of the new bill succinctly. In short, it will only make matters worse. A political victory is not worth further break down.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704431804574539581994054014.html
Wow. I’m glad to have read Geyman’s critique and now Flier’s as well.
Maybe my inner-redneck is showing up but I can’t help but think of two things everytime I interact with the health care reform thing:
1. No matter how many times I cut this board it just ain’t gittin’ any longer.
2. If somethin’s worth doin,’ it’s worth doin’ right… and doin’ it the first time out.
If “reform” means women don’t control their own bodies anymore and there will still be people uninsured and many more underinsured, then, frankly, that version of “reform” aint’ worth its salt. When you’re one of those that fall through the cracks all the time, it’s a little tough to try to accept the notion that “better than nothing” is something…. it ain’t. It’s still NOTHIN’.
Seems to me both the Hosue and Senate have offered a guaranteed FAIL. Can we just go back to Universal Single Payer already? Only 76% of the American public support it, afterall. This don’t appear to be rocket science but for the greedy parasitic ilk who think it is (and happen to own the process).
I can’t add much more. This current bill will set us back for a long time.
I’d say it was more of a sell-out, but really not very much was ever promised to us.
Universal single payer health care was not even allowed to be considered at the hearings. Both the president and congress blocked that method from being considered, and its advocates for taking part in the discussion.
I am disappointed for the people of the country, but not surprised.
Why not call it by what it actually is? What do you call it when you deny people mammograms that will save lives, to save money to keep bailouts and bonuses going?
It’s called the “people are useless eaters,” policy.
It is a carbon copy of Hitler’s argument in 1939 when he said there are “lives not worthy of life.”
Hitler said we need the money for the war effort. These guys say they need the money for bailouts.
Remember when Dr. Leo Alexander said at the Nuremberg Trials, NAMELY it was the SMALL STEPS taken by the Nazis in the beginning that led to the GREAT CRIMES of Hitler!!!!!
As a Jew, I will not sit by and let people get away with this useless eaters policy.
We should never have let it happen before, and we should never let it happen now.
NEVER AGAIN!
As a purveyor of health insurance policies, let me assure you that Dr. Geyman is right: doing nothing would be better than this bill.
Apparently Americans aren’t suffering enough under our current system to demand a robust public option or, even better, national single payer health care. If this bill passes, millions of Americans will still go bankrupt from medical bills, millions will still die from absent or delayed treatment, and most will still pay ever higher premiums and out of pocket expenses. And health insurance executives will still lavish obscene compensation upon each other (they serve on each others’ boards, you know).
And we’ll be lulled into thinking something was actually “reformed”. But if no bill is passed it will be business as usual, things will get much worse, and enough Americans may finally demand real reform to make it happen.
I agree that doing nothing would be better than the bill that has been offered–but for none of the reasons given above. Spiritually, we have ALL allowed the high cost of health care, the high cost of insurance, and the painfulness of the medical procedures to happen–FOR A GOOD REASON. We and The Great Mother have pushed it away from ourselves because we do not need it any longer. We are being challenged to discover that all healing power exists within us–all of it. It is totally free–which makes it a big threat to the patriarchal market place mind set. As a 35 year practitioner ( and counselor) of spirit/mind/emotion/body connection, I know for a fact that no illness we get can be healed better byallopathic medical approaches than by simply going within and finding the limiting beliefs, their precipitate emotions that have cause the energy blockage in the body. Qunatum physics tells us that there is nothing in the Universe but energy and consciousness. Our consciousness has manifested a body that acts as a teacher for us. When the soul is ready to deal with a spiritual ( mental emotional) issue, and the mind resists, then eventually it shows up in the body, in a more and a more severely energy-blocking manner–until the mind finally “gets” the message and sees the basic spiritual truth that has been offered in dreams and other symbolism, form the soul. But if the mind continues to resist the body simply dies. We cross to another reality where understanding the spiritual issue behind the disease is shown to us–when we are ready.
Allopathic medicine treats only symptoms. Allopathic medicine is the medicine contrived by the intellect–the part of our mind that is designed for looking at the short range and superficial aspects of our reality. We need the Feminine mind in order to be able to apprehend the true way to heal our bodies–and that will always be by using the mind to exmaine our beliefs, to be aware of our feelings in a more honest way, also to use art, dreams, intuition, meditation, prayer and revelation–and most of an attitude of “allowing everything” to get to what we need in order to thrive spiritually–and therefore physically.
This bill would make superficial management of symptoms even more readily available to a public than it already is. This is something we have all allowed–but can stop allowing. As with the rising cost of gasoline, which makes us use it less, which is a good thing–so too the rising cost of allopathic medicine/treatments will make us use it less–which is also a good thing. So I gibe the bill a big thumbs down and agree with Rabbi Lerner that it is most definitely worse than nothing. Nothing OUTSIDE is exactly what we need. It will allow us the space to discover our INNER power to heal ourselves of any illness. That is what is needed.
If you are interested in hearing from Americans who live in Canada please visit http://healthcare.democratsabroad.ca.
Whether the health care reform bill will pass or not is academic at this point in my opinion.
1. If it passes it will be the start of a wholesome debate. Even if the bill is stillborn at least it is the start of a real debate on what really SHOULD be done. Blaming Republicans or Democrats on the outcome is a useless exercise which will cost any politician real votes when costs skyrocket beyond any control in the next 5-10 years.
2. If the bill does not pass, then the Republicans will blame Democrats on the lack of any ability to act and create real “change.” The end result of that will be a backlash against Republicans showing everyone that they just want the status quo. It will be quite transparent what the real solution will be.
Inevitably, the American public will get the proverbial 2×4 over their collective heads when it costs 50% of a salary to pay for health care and small businesses begin to really suffer. As was said above single payer is probably the only real way to do health care.
Read more about real Americans experiences north of the border here: http://healthcare.democratsabroad.ca.
Stumbled across your post while searching through google. I read the first paragraph and its great! I do not have time to read it all now, but I have bookmarked this site and will read the rest tonight. : )