Health Care Passed! The Rage Is (Somewhat) Leaving Me!
Monday, March 22, 2010 at 9:25AM 
Happy Health Care Reform Day, y'all!
As some of you may recall, I didn't blog much about health care because of the fact that I can't talk about it without going into a blind, frothing rage and that's just not healthy. I'm for health care reform. And I was for the most sweeping of health care reform (universal, single-payer, blah, blah), so it was hard to watch the bill get kicked around and widdled down and pissed on while Tea Baggers danced with their "Obama Iz a Socializt" banners in the sunlight without RAGE creeping over me. Hearing folks say "keep government out of my Medicare." RAGE!!!!! It just wasn't good for me. So I spent my Sunday night not watching C-SPAN, but getting drunk with my friend Savvy at Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar for Sunday School with my girl Kristi Love. They had RIBS and drinks called "The Awesomeness!" But that didn't mean I didn't pay attention! And what do you know? The President won one (just barely) as Congress passed the most sweeping reform legislation in forty years. No Republicans voted for the bill (surprise, surprise), but the Democrats managed to pull this one out, so they can take this brief moment to pimp walk around the Capitol Building all day long -- Senator Burris style, doing the George Jefferson walk.
Then ... back to work!
(Photo via New York Times)
Reader Comments (24)
Don't put your rage deflector in the attic just yet - I'm sure there will be some post-passage monkeyshines bubbling up from somewhere. Give it another week or so.
I'm sure that if you won't have to pay the new taxes to fund this monstrosity then you would be happy it passed.
I wanted the whole 9 yards, but the Dems were reluctant to pass the necessary taxes, so I was leery. I'm very pleased in the end that it has passed in the House. It's a step in the right direction. I just hope we re-structure the tax system to pay for all of this.
As a Canadian I am completely mystified by why healthcare has become such a hot topic. The amount of rage being expressed is ridiculous. I cannot fathom why valuing people enough to understand that health care is a priority is such a difficult concept. I admit that I have grown with soialized medicine and at times take it for granted; however, shouldn't everyone be able to have comfort that comes with knowing that in times of need, their best interests will be taken care of?
Yes. I will be taxed a little more because I make over $200,000. But so what? I have health insurance and I can spare the change! I understand that my money comes from GOD and we are to use our God-given money to help others. It's really that simple. But this simple Judeo-Christian concept is so hard for the average republican to understand because they tend to support any financial endeavor that benefits the wealthy, corporations and health insurance companies. They republicans in the house and the senate have health care. Why should they care if the poor black kid down the street has it? Why should they care? The republicans care more for the down-trodden haves and have mores!
Dems, you did a good thing. Keep you spine and your head up!
Keep the government out of my Medicare. ROTFLMAO!!!! Luv it Snob!
@Renee
A lot of that rage was from those health insurance companies using many of these "teabaggers" as fronts. Too worried about profits to even want or care for HCR. The rest of them, well, who knows...
Nita:
So God spoke to you and told you to use your money to help others? Personally, I work hard for my money and want to keep it to support my family and not someone else's family, which is clearly what Obama wants. I guess Obama is keeping his campaign promise to "spread the wealth around."
Renee:
Some Americans don't believe that heath care is a right or that it is even the gov'ts purpose to pay for it.
CDF:
Your factual incorrect comment about the Tea baggers aside, what do you think happens to a health care company's profits? Surprise, the profits go to it share holders and the biggest institutional shareholders are state pension funds. So who do you think you are hurting if a company makes less profits?
I had to watch the whole thing, and was jumping up and down and clapping loudly at 10:45 pm last night when HCR was passed by the House.
This is history. I am extremely proud of President Obama (and always will be) and the Democrats for finally growing a spine and using it!!
TWO BIG THUMBS UP!
@Scott
If people aren't covered, then the government still pays for it, just more. I work in public safety and the fact is when people have no health insurance they use the 911 system and Emergency Rooms as their primary care physicians, which is exponentially more expensive.
I know you work for your money but, we live in a greater society and sometimes the needs of the many outweigh our own wants and needs. If you own a car, then you get car insurance. If you can get sick, then you need health insurance.
This is only the first step, we still need torte reform, help with doctors student loans as well as a hundred other reforms that are needed.
Real talk, I feel for you brother, I get taxed to death also, but there is a bigger picture here.
Scott -
I already pay for it, so I'd rather pay for preventative care than over expensive emergency room care. So yes, my taxes will go up, but honestly, I LOVE paying taxes. It means I have INCOME. Ok, so I don't love it, and I don't want to pay more than I am required, but I like driving on smooth roads, hell paved roads, I like knowing that there is a minimum education standard (more minimum than I'd like but...), I am THRILLEd to know that if my child is somewhere without me and something should happen, he will get the best emergency care, not just the minimum until they discover I have insurance, thrilled that little children will get coverage (take that Arizona that just cut CHIP-which is why we can't just leave it to the states!), thrilled that young adults will remain covered until they are reasonably able to obtain their own coverage etc...
Having watched the outrage and dispicable behavior around this issue, I can only conclude that the Republicans and their ilk aren't threatened by healthcare per se, but ARE threatened by the removal of yet another competitive advantage in their favor, because when you start stripping away those unspoken advantages, you end up with people like Barack Obama.....
Miguel - we don't need tort reform. That's bs. If doctors and companies stop screwing up, or making the business risk that a few lives are worth a couple cases, then you wouldn't have so many lawsuits. Instead of decreasing damage limits in med-mal suits, how about punishing the doctors that majorly screw up so they don't keep screwing up. Dollars to donuts, the folks with a claim have many more than one. Full disclosure, I am an attorney, but not a litigator.
Quit crying about paying more taxes. My taxes pay for roads I don't drive on, schools that my kids don't attend, subsidies for factory farms that I don't support, wars that we shouldn't be fighting, & benefits for politicians who don't think others should have the same quality of care. Hell, I pay taxes and I don't even have the same rights as you! Guess what? It's called being a citizen. Don't like it? Move.
GB:
You sound like you come from the Joe Biden, paying taxes is patriotic line of thought. Why not just the Gov't take it all and spend it as they see fit?
@divaliscious11
I thought that the current state of over test driven medicine was prompted by doctors scared that they would be sued if the didn't do all x amount of tests that the patient thinks they might need.
Scott
Indeed, God speaks to me and He speaks to everyone. Some choose to hear Him and others don't. As I understand His Word, it is crystal clear: It is God Almightly, by his grace, that allows one to claim a job and hence, it is His money. And He expects that to "much is given, much is required." This is my mantra that I live by and as a result, my life has been greatly abundant. And He impressed upon me that "we are our brother's (and sister's) keeper."
And since, you can't take the money you claim as YOURS with you, one might as well spread it AROUND. It's all about LOVE.
God Bless.
Scott
By the way. . .
Do you drive a car? The government makes you pay car insurance or you suffer penalty by laws in all states. So are you going to move to Costa Rica with Rush Limbaugh because of car insurance and now health insurance is mandatory?
And the roads you drive on are paid with tax payer money!
Peace and love.
Thank goodness a majority of Democrats stepped to the plate. This foolish talk of "socialism" and "it's too expensive" is baffling. Uhhh, I thought the Declaration of Independence gave EVERYONE the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...not just those who can afford health care or those who have jobs. Without access to affordable health care there is no LIFE or HAPPINESS. Selfish people suck. If we can afford to continue funding this 'neverending' war it seems we should also be able to take on health care. Where there's a will, there's a way....right?
stupid and irresponsible people suck even more than selfish people. the real fact of the matter is that this bill wouldn't have as expensive as it is if people took more of a proactive role in their health instead of a reactive role to poor test results. we live in a society where excess, indulgence and sloth rule.
there are some good things that are a result of this health care bill, and i don't mind paying for some of it, but the majority of the people don't take care of themselves, and i am not keen on the increasing amount of money i'm taxed to help an individual who put himself in the hospital in the first place because he wanted to eat at golden corral 4 nights a week and has a gym membership that never gets used. and people like that are more common than those who have hereditary conditions or suffer from accidents or catastrophes. but oh well, it's passed. the democrats showed they can actually do something.
people need to do their part first before crying to the government for help.
they did it...
give Pelosi a lot of props.......she kicked ass
Hell, as far as I'M concerned they get to swag on the hill like George Jefferson all YEAR for this one here ! Howerver, to re interate the first poster, I wouldnt' put that rage deflector away quite yet either..one old dirty GOP bastard, Bill McCollum, the Republican attorney general announced that 10 states are in line to 'sue' the WH and the Admin for this legislation that somehow "violates" the constituion on grounds that it is a tax on the living and a violation of the states "rights" all whilst completely ignoring the fact that once something becomes federal law it supercedes state law and that INCOME TAX is also a LIVING tax..
yeah, I LOL'd too.
idiots.
Kudos to Nita and Rene. Some people are on the Right will never want to do what is equitable and just. You're never convince them that they're being selfish. They say, "I made the money and it's mine. You have no right to get to take it." Save your breathe and raise the taxes. That's constitutionally correct.
Drats! I pushed the create post button by mistake. I meant this:
Kudos to Nita and Rene. Some people are on the Right will never want to do what is equitable and just. You'll never convince them that they're being selfish. They'll say, "I made the money and it's mine. You have no right to take it." Save your breath and raise the taxes and take it from them. That's constitutionally correct.
@ nita
is driving a car required?