I’m so disgusted with the constant attacks on President Obama from the “party of no” – the Republicans, that I hate the idea of criticizing the President.  However, then I think back to the “rubber stamping” of Bush/Cheney by these same Republicans and I realize that when it’s appropriate, I’ve got to speak my mind.  I just don’t want to EVER be considered in the “same boat” as the Beck’s, the Limbaugh’s, the McConnell’s, the Savage’s, and others who are criticizing Obama – in my view – because they can’t accept the idea of a Black President.  To them, it would be worse for a Black President to succeed than for the country to fail.  Most of the leaders of the Republican party are financially secure, I’m sure in their minds -secure no matter what happens – I’ve heard Limbaugh is the $400 million dollar man – so if the rest of us “go down” it works in their favor, at least in their own minds.  Any criticism I have for President Obama is because I WANT HIM TO SUCCEED!

 I hope the American people have matured past the point where they judge their leaders by the news headlines and the Dow Jones Industrial average.  For example, in watching this present health care debate I hope the vast majority of Americans who want real reform are prepared to hold the Republicans accountable for their obstinence if a bill with true choice doesn’t pass (although, the reality is that the Democrats should be able to get something through without the Republicans – so I hope there’s some accountability for them as well if this doesn’t work out).  And, I’m really not that certain that it’s going to “work out” no matter what the Congress comes up with.  I mean, it seems to me that they have set their “target” way below what is best for the American people right from the start – AND THEY’RE WORKING THEIR WAY DOWN FROM THERE!

As the Democrats in Congress are presently talking, even if there is a “robust public option” in the final bill, it will not be an option for people like me who have employer funded health insurance as a benefit of employment.  In fact, if Max Baucus gets his way, I will be paying a tax on the benefits I receive in order to help pay for the insurance for those who are presently uninsured.  I suppose if my premiums went down correspondingly, that would be a “push,” but I can guarantee you that it will be marketed by Republicans as a tax on the middle class which President Obama PROMISED not to do (and, I’d be totally surprised if the premiums went down – EVER).  Also, unless Senator Wyden is successful in getting his “healthy choice” amendment passed – which seems highly unlikely at this point – only about 5 – 10% of Americans will actually get the choice of the public option.  I’m really feeling like the final bill will end up being a “boon” to the insurance companies who have invested half a BILLION dollars to sidetrack reform.  This whole process shows how pathetic our government has become.  The corporations REMAIN IN CONTROL of our government!

 If the President and the Congress REALLY had the best interests of the American people in mind the debate would be over a “Medicare for all” single payer health system – which would be less expensive (by a lot) than the present system and theoretically MUCH MORE EFFICIENT!  I honestly don’t understand how anyone can make an argument that having “middle men” (insurers) who are beholding to shareholders can be a good idea for a way to run a health system.  The only ones a system like that is good for are the “middle men” and the shareholders.  The losers are the people paying the premiums.  I just can’t see how it makes sense to take 30% right off the top for administrative costs and shareholder value and then, on top of that, come up with a system that forces doctors to spend an additional 20 -25% of their income on office workers to manage the billing issues raised by the insurance companies’ policies (my doctor doesn’t determine if I can have a procedure – he has to get permission from the insurance company first!).  For all those people who are saying “I don’t want the government between me and my doctor” I don’t think they’ve experienced an insurance company between “me and my doctor.”

Also, the insurance companies (in most states) have a virtual monopoly on services.  In my state there are basically two options.  THAT’S NOT WHAT WYDEN WOULD CALL “HEALTHY CHOICE.”  A single payer system would streamline costs, record keeping, and procedures in a way that would greatly reduce the expenditure of health care dollars, yet provide service that would be at least as good and probably much better than what we presently have.  You would put the medical decisions back where they belong – between the doctor and the patient.  I was once denied coverage on a procedure that was recommended by my doctor on the resurfacing of one of my hips.  The resulting hip replacement surgery which was my only option (other than disability from work) ended up a failure and the result was two surgeries plus the insurance company ended up paying twice what they should have for me to be able to walk again.  This kind of story is commonplace.

So, where does my criticism of Obama come in on this issue?  Well, I believe President Obama is too willing to get ANY legislation passed.  I believe he has taken a huge risk in pushing this through at this time (yes, it’s really needed – but they MUST get it right) and, if the bill that ends up on his desk doesn’t do what is intended, we could end up with a Republican in the White House in 2012.  Now, as I stated above, I’m really hoping the American people have gotten past that type of reaction to our government – I hope they’re as sick of these Republicans as I am.  However, Obama is walking a “tightrope” in my view with his “non-progressive” decisions that many who voted for him aren’t even thinking about.  There will be enough unhappiness with President Obama from his own party if this doesn’t end up well that it could set back the progressive movement significantly.

 I’ve said on this site many times that maybe it’s time for a third party.  I’m feeling like the extreme right wingers of the Republican party are probably already thinking along those lines – but they could have a lot of company from disaffected Democrats if this 60 vote caucus which so many people worked so hard to provide for the Democrats – doesn’t provide “fruit.”  Especially, if all the union workers in America end up paying for the health care reform with a tax on their benefits and Obama continues to refuse repeal of the Bush tax cuts on the top 1% of earners – especially in a severe recession – well, all I can say is his approval ratings will be heading toward Bush territory!

And, the fact that President Obama has chosen to allow EVERYONE from the Bush administration to walk away from their egregious lawbreaking SCOTT FREE is going to come back to haunt him.  Let’s take a quick look at that: Karl Rove – refusing subpoenas to Congress and politicizing the justice department, Alberto Gonzales – lying AD NAUSEUM to Congress (among other crimes), George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld AUTHORIZING TORTURE, Bush/Cheney authorizing illegal wiretapping, Cheney – outing a CIA agent (treason), Bush/Cheney LYING US INTO ENDLESS WAR, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Feith et al – war profiteering, and I could go on and on.  People like me won’t let that stuff die, and if the tide turns at all against President Obama, he’s going to have to answer to his own constituency at some point for his decisions.

I really do think President Obama is a good man, and I believe it’s too bad that his Presidency has to follow that of George W Bush – because there was an unbelievable MESS when he took office.  I truly believe that had Bush been President for even another month or two, we would now be in the second coming of the Great Depression.  Actually, I personally don’t believe we’re “out of the woods” just yet, but obviously things are better than they would have been had Bush stayed in office or had McCain/Palin won the election (can you imagine that?).  But, I still expected a more assertive statesmenlike President than what we’ve ended up with.  I’m thankful for the “progressive” caucus in the House of Representatives who, in my mind, are the reason there may end up being a health care reform bill that is a step forward.  I honestly believe that President Obama is willing to sign whatever the Congress sends his way and I TRULY HOPE THAT those House progressives will BLOCK anything that doesn’t make sense.  I don’t believe a coalition of Max Baucus and Barack Obama is what the President’s supporters were imagining when they voted him into office!