What Now On Health Care?
It ain't...I mean it isn't over yet. The Senate must now follow through with the so called "fixes" to the legislation that just passed and is now the law of the land.* I must admit, especially after the loss of the senate seat by Democrats in Massachusetts in January, that any attempt to pass health care legislation was doomed. So what changed? Well, the President finally stepped up to the plate just a few weeks ago and actually put some specifics to what HE wanted in the legislation, and also what HE didn't want in the legislation. The President and the Democratic leadership in Congress also made the choice to keep going, in spite of the odds. Many, but certainly not all, Democratic House members seen as either vulnerable in their re-election bids, or pretty much already "toast," along with some retiring members, were convinced to vote for the bill, regardless of any political considerations for the upcoming election. Trust me folks, that is no small accomplishment. In fact, the main reason I thought the legislation was essentially dead, is that congressional members almost always look out for themselves (not unlike "us" out here in the public). It took tremendous courage for some members of Congress to vote "yes." Polls showed an uptick in public support for the legislation to varying degrees, I'm sure at least partially due to "Democrats coming home," if you will, as many Dems were disappointed in the legislation. However, when given a choice between something or nothing, they chose "something," and it is a foundation. It will cover millions of presently uninsured Americans, it will allow children to remain on their parents' insurance until age 26, and it will bar denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions.** If you lose your job, at least you will have somewhere to turn for medical help, too. These are some significant and history-making changes. They should help alleviate much suffering and potentially save many lives.
If you're weary of all this debate over health care, you more than likely will need to be prepared for this to go on for quite some time yet, even if the Senate passes the "fixes" soon, followed by passage by the House and then the President's signature to a final health care measure. By "final," I only mean about the current legislation, as this will undoubtedly be an ongoing process, probably for years to come. The legislation is not perfect, in my opinion, but it is a start. Further, Republicans are drooling to use this legislation to beat Democrats over the head in the midterm elections in an attempt to take control of the House of Representatives, some thing they may well do, although everything will now have to be reassessed since Sunday's House vote.
No question about it, Democrats OWN this legislation. Not one Republican broke ranks. In all of my years of following politics, I've NEVER seen such nastiness come from so many people from one political party. I thought some of the conspiracy stuff about George W. Bush and 9/11 was way out there, but this stuff makes that pale in comparison, as the 9/11 stuff was out on the fringe.*** This was a concerted effort by many Republican officeholders, and as David Frum, a Republican and a former member of the Bush Administration (George W., that is) said in a television interview, the Republicans have been giving encouragement to some of the most nasty elements in our society (that is NOT a direct quote, but rather a paraphrasing of his comments), and attacking a bill that is essentially what Mitt Romney supported while he was governor of Massachusetts. Romney is a Republican and a potential presidential candidate for 2012.
The Republicans had some good ideas, like creating more competition for insurance companies by permitting insurance sales across state lines. They had some valid concerns, too, like the overall cost and if the legislation would add to the deficit, but for quite some time, they really just did NOT want ANY legislation to pass. The idea that the Republic is somehow in danger because people might actually get health insurance is pure NONSENSE! (A "Word History" is below the notes)
* Of course the President must first sign the legislation, if he hasn't already.
** To be quite honest, insurance companies are (and have been) only following what is in their best interest (financially). If I go to an insurer and say I have XY & Z wrong with me, they are more than likely going to turn me down, or they'll make the premiums so high that I can't afford the insurance. The rich suffer (no pun intended) no such problem, as they can either afford the high premiums or they just pay for whatever treatments and medications they need, as money is no object.
*** I recently heard some people on the political Right say they believed that "the government was behind 9/11," so it wasn't just leftwingers spouting this stuff. I may be wrong, but I believe they identified themselves as "Tea Party" supporters.
WORD HISTORY:
Hospital-This word goes back to Indo European "ghostis," which meant "stranger." The Latin offshoot was "hospes," which meant "guest or host" (I suppose depending upon usage. For instance, "rent" can mean "something you pay" or "something you collect," depending upon usage). This then gave Latin the stem word "hospit," and then "hospitalis," (with a long "a" sound) which meant "of a guest/host" (again, supposedly depending upon usage). From this later developed the noun "hospitale," for a "guest house, inn, place where guests are sheltered." Old French, heavily Latin-based, continued the word as "hospital/hospitale," but still with the same meaning. English acquired the word from French during the 1200s with the meaning "charitable place to care for the needy." By the 1400s, the meaning also included "care/shelter for the elderly and infirm." During the 1500s the modern meaning of "place to care for and treat the ill or injured" came into use. Hospitality, derived from the same source, still retains the "treatment of guests" notion.
If you're weary of all this debate over health care, you more than likely will need to be prepared for this to go on for quite some time yet, even if the Senate passes the "fixes" soon, followed by passage by the House and then the President's signature to a final health care measure. By "final," I only mean about the current legislation, as this will undoubtedly be an ongoing process, probably for years to come. The legislation is not perfect, in my opinion, but it is a start. Further, Republicans are drooling to use this legislation to beat Democrats over the head in the midterm elections in an attempt to take control of the House of Representatives, some thing they may well do, although everything will now have to be reassessed since Sunday's House vote.
No question about it, Democrats OWN this legislation. Not one Republican broke ranks. In all of my years of following politics, I've NEVER seen such nastiness come from so many people from one political party. I thought some of the conspiracy stuff about George W. Bush and 9/11 was way out there, but this stuff makes that pale in comparison, as the 9/11 stuff was out on the fringe.*** This was a concerted effort by many Republican officeholders, and as David Frum, a Republican and a former member of the Bush Administration (George W., that is) said in a television interview, the Republicans have been giving encouragement to some of the most nasty elements in our society (that is NOT a direct quote, but rather a paraphrasing of his comments), and attacking a bill that is essentially what Mitt Romney supported while he was governor of Massachusetts. Romney is a Republican and a potential presidential candidate for 2012.
The Republicans had some good ideas, like creating more competition for insurance companies by permitting insurance sales across state lines. They had some valid concerns, too, like the overall cost and if the legislation would add to the deficit, but for quite some time, they really just did NOT want ANY legislation to pass. The idea that the Republic is somehow in danger because people might actually get health insurance is pure NONSENSE! (A "Word History" is below the notes)
* Of course the President must first sign the legislation, if he hasn't already.
** To be quite honest, insurance companies are (and have been) only following what is in their best interest (financially). If I go to an insurer and say I have XY & Z wrong with me, they are more than likely going to turn me down, or they'll make the premiums so high that I can't afford the insurance. The rich suffer (no pun intended) no such problem, as they can either afford the high premiums or they just pay for whatever treatments and medications they need, as money is no object.
*** I recently heard some people on the political Right say they believed that "the government was behind 9/11," so it wasn't just leftwingers spouting this stuff. I may be wrong, but I believe they identified themselves as "Tea Party" supporters.
WORD HISTORY:
Hospital-This word goes back to Indo European "ghostis," which meant "stranger." The Latin offshoot was "hospes," which meant "guest or host" (I suppose depending upon usage. For instance, "rent" can mean "something you pay" or "something you collect," depending upon usage). This then gave Latin the stem word "hospit," and then "hospitalis," (with a long "a" sound) which meant "of a guest/host" (again, supposedly depending upon usage). From this later developed the noun "hospitale," for a "guest house, inn, place where guests are sheltered." Old French, heavily Latin-based, continued the word as "hospital/hospitale," but still with the same meaning. English acquired the word from French during the 1200s with the meaning "charitable place to care for the needy." By the 1400s, the meaning also included "care/shelter for the elderly and infirm." During the 1500s the modern meaning of "place to care for and treat the ill or injured" came into use. Hospitality, derived from the same source, still retains the "treatment of guests" notion.
Labels: Congress, Democrats, English, etymology, French, health care, Latin, Republicans
posted by Randy at 1:28 PM
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