Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Bad Faith

I see only one or two possible conclusions after yesterday's Senate committee vote on health care: that Republicans are simply choosing not to think beyond purely ideological lines, to put party allegiance and self-interest ahead of this country's self-evident needs, and to ignore the voice of the majority of people in favor of the more profitable voice of the insurance companies. Or that they are so vengeful, and so concerned with their return to power that they are willing to do anything to obstruct even the least liberal of efforts by the Democrats--and particularly this democratic President.

Why else would it be impossible to gather more than a single, very reluctant vote for this pitifully watered-down version of health care reform?

If those Senators and those Republicans were actually giving serious thought to the moral and economic implications of their lockstep opposition, there would surely be some tiny glimmer of dissent among their ranks. Nothing. There is no serious debate, no engagement of ideas, no compromise from that side of the aisle. And yet the Democrats have offered compromise after compromise. I'm sorry, friends, this is cannot be considered a matter of honest disagreement. This is bad faith, pure and simple. Bad faith on the part of the insurance companies. Bad faith on the part of those whom they have apparently bought off with their money and their influence.

It's a disgrace, and one that leaves the rest of the world aghast at the inability of this "beacon of democracy" to achieve what every other affluent country achieved years ago. Despite all our wealth and privilege, we are apparently still unwilling to make the moral and financial commitment to provide for the health of our own citizens. We are, however, willing to make it possible for those with power and influence to increase their wealth and power at the cost of the suffering of those who lack them. As I say, it's a disgrace.

I understand that the legislative process still allows for modifications to the proposal that received a bare nod of approval yesterday. I would like to believe that they will lean in the direction of access and affordability for all Americans. But, given the deplorable political comedy that has characterized things thus far, I don't hold out much hope.

9 comments:

John Torcello said...

'Bad Faith'...let's see...does this mean there's such a thing as 'Good Faith'...(?)

'Faith' (?)...In my mind, the recognition of the reality of 'now'; accepting I can't really know tomorrow...my concern is today...with the hope that if there is a tomorrow it might be better than today.

Under those terms, healthCARE is needed now...

All the estimations, planning, guessing, pricing, debate being ludicrous and false...just 'excuses' to justify clinging to 'ignorance' of the fact, the reality of the now...that each of us, under the current system, will, most likely, face our own healthCARE 'story' one day...when, it's too late...

For once (and then again), 'imagine nice things even nicer than they are'...(Ben Hecht)

robin andrea said...

Our country does not belong to us. Our paltry one vote gets us very little. We are owned by the rich and powerful, and our representatives do their bidding to the best of their abilities. It has never been more clear than it is now. We can't even get a good public option, and the health care bill is a boon to the insurance insurance. Sad, really sad.

Peter Clothier said...

Thanks, John. I think "bad faith" is actually a legal tern, meaning purposeful deception or argument without real intention. And yes, we agree on the basics.

Right, Robin. Too sad. I had hoped Obama might be able to halt the decline, but now I'm not so sure. There are clearly forces more powerful than the President.

mandt said...

It's heart breaking to see the Fall of America. Those of us once loyal to the old Republic are moving on......

Taradharma said...

I am mystified....watching this circus is Washington...everybody in bed with everybody...seems to me that campaign finance reform is the first step in severing the ties that bind big business with OUR "representatives." How is it that congress has debated this for 40 years and comes up with this drivel?

what to do? what to do?

CHI SPHERE said...

Is the root of this "bad faith" disgrace a knee jerk?

Is this the unspoken Republican base 'dis race thing' emerging like an unwanted pimple on their
pie in the face a rain storm of tea pots and sour grapes during the single most important national discourse of our times?

I think ram rod a public option and a senate reformed bill by a 60 vote majority and let the pigs loose some weight.

I hear this in board rooms, taxi cabs, subways, the
base ball stadium, at the airport, and it makes me concerned that class division has become highly defined by a black president and a body politic bail out for the rich.

"it's better to be pissed off than pissed on!"

Unfortunately both conditions are present for those who are paying for the plantation owners insurance
investments/building programs, banking reinforcements and retirement programs.

We are watching the harsh and blatant rip off of the last vestiges of a middle class that has spoiled its soil, water and air and rights to maintain a standard of living at the ultimate expense of nature.

Perhaps mother nature will enact a climatic response quickly enough to wash and tumble dry this giddy and greedy bunch of money lovers from their dream of 'unsustainable standards of living'.

roger said...

seems to me that your two possible conclusions are kinda the same. will that ice their minority status? how dumb are we.

CHI SPHERE said...

Roger we sure are about to find out if we are dumb or not.

Can an intelligent and articulate majority find a way to reason with the wise minority voices that have the patience to work with those across the isle, even if they only number a few, and create a senate version with a PO added?

Can science and money come together in time to balance the tipping point of carbon and CO2 sequestration quickly enough to deliver a restored climate to a world that can only 'share the limited bounty' that still exists by funding green industries fast enough?

Is our democracy efficient and swift enough when it comes to delivering the obvious answers in time?

Will we have to mull over a half baked health plan without a public option for the next 3 years while rewriting the thousands of amendments like the trigger clause while the insurance companies continue to fund their 'health' lobby grifters which outnumber the politicians by a factor of 50?

I hope so! My children's life and their planet's future absolutely depends on it!

Peter Clothier said...

Thanks, all, for sharing my sense of urgency and outrage!