Reply #97: Accepting what the public supposedly now thinks is defeatism [View All]

[eridani]

If you mean that the insurance company ads will be screaming about "socialized medicine" you are of course right. That's what they did in 1994, after all, and Clinton's plan was nothing but a huge giveaway to the largest companies.

Here's a clue--fucking BREAK THE GODDAM REPUKE FRAME! Don't passively accept it--you lose before you even start that way. The aspects of their plans that are even remotely appealing to average voters will never, ever be tolerated by insurance companies. You'll get screaming about socialized medicine no matter what you do, so fucking go for broke, sez I. If you want a kitten, ask for a pony. If you want $3000 for your used car, ask for $5000. If they are going to hang you for starting off with a weak compromise, then start off by not compromising at all. If you are going to get hung for a lamb, at least go for the sheep.

Personally, I think hoping for a "middle step" is like hoping that electrons could really exist outside of allowed orbits. If the health care movement cannot convert the sentiment of 51% of Republicans who favor government paid health care and the 92% of Democrats who favor it into public policy, then we are really screwed and totally incompetent as activists. We might as well just say fuck it, let the 18,000 a year keep dying.

It isn't whether a Dem president wants to do it, it's whether WE want to do it. If we can get HR 676 passed, Obama will surely sign it.