URBAN :: THINKING
exploring technology, social media, education, art & urban lifestyles
At What Cost Will Health Care Reform Come?
Health Care Conundrum is Close To End Game
46+ million Americans are currently without health care coverage or insurance of any kind.
Republicans and the far right believe that any effort by the govt to provide a state run health consortium to those uninsured would take away and or slash access to services for those already covered.
As people of color, we should be the biggest group of Americans demanding a 'public option', but curiously enough the White House has not yet engaged it's perhaps largest base constituency to provide political cover on arguably the most contentious legislative package offered by any president in 40 years.
The biggest challenge at this point is to allow all the stars to align so that our US Senate can pass the most important piece of legislation we will see in our lifetimes.
But under what political circumstances and to which degree real reform can be achieved in this very polarized political climate remains the sticking point: in other words when is the President going to flex his political muscle and will to pursuade Congress to get this done before the New Year?
When and how President Obama begins to use his Bully Pulpit is critical to this effort's potential success. And the how is especially important in understanding when it will be passed, because ultimately it will get passed, the only remaining question being how much it will cost and who can be covered under any reform package.
46+ million Americans are currently without health care coverage or insurance of any kind.
Republicans and the far right believe that any effort by the govt to provide a state run health consortium to those uninsured would take away and or slash access to services for those already covered.
As people of color, we should be the biggest group of Americans demanding a 'public option', but curiously enough the White House has not yet engaged it's perhaps largest base constituency to provide political cover on arguably the most contentious legislative package offered by any president in 40 years.
The biggest challenge at this point is to allow all the stars to align so that our US Senate can pass the most important piece of legislation we will see in our lifetimes.
But under what political circumstances and to which degree real reform can be achieved in this very polarized political climate remains the sticking point: in other words when is the President going to flex his political muscle and will to pursuade Congress to get this done before the New Year?
When and how President Obama begins to use his Bully Pulpit is critical to this effort's potential success. And the how is especially important in understanding when it will be passed, because ultimately it will get passed, the only remaining question being how much it will cost and who can be covered under any reform package.
Views: 0
Comment
-
Comment by Urban Universe Productions on September 16, 2009 at 7:14pm -
Very good points...well stated.
I agree Obama has not mobilized minority communities as much as is needed to pass this bill. His strategy to be very "race neutral" staying away from issues that could brand him as biased toward minority issues has distanced him from groups that can and should be mobilized to rally in his support at this point in the national health care debate. I do not disagree with this strategy (see Is Obama The End Of Black Politics? for more info) but I think a bit more "sensitivity" can be projected by his camp without fear of the bias card being played, after all they are going to call him biased either way...right?
Anyway, this is indeed one of the most important bills in our lifetime it will be very interesting to see in whose favor the cards will fall. As long as bloggers keep writing about it we are doing our part-- it is very evident that the Obama camp has their finger on the pulse of what is being said via the "social web" so rest assured they are "listening" to us.
TWITTER FEED :: [@UrbanThinking]
Curated posts on Mobile Education
© 2012 Created by Urban Universe Productions.
You need to be a member of URBAN :: THINKING to add comments!
Join URBAN :: THINKING