Health Care Reform Slogs On

So it looks as if the Senate version of health care reform will come down soon to a showdown vote to end debate and have a final up-or-down vote on passage. With the more progressive features like the public option and its substitute of Medicare extension to age 55 cut out, the bill's fate still confronts anti-choice Democratic Senator Ben Nelson, who is determined to add more restrictions on abortions to the bill before giving it his approval. Considering that former DNC chairman Howard Dean has already come out in strong opposition to the bill as it currently stands, too much of a concession to Nelson could tear away the support of some of the most ardently pro-choice senators.

I've already stated on this blog (and have been affirmed in this opinion by Dean and others) that it is disturbing to have the following scenario facing us if this bill is passed:

--Legally-imposed mandate that everyone purchase health insurance from private health insurance companies, which are not subject to federal antitrust laws; fines levied on those in violation.

--No public option available to keep companies honest and competitive with their prices.

The combination of the above two, at best, is corporate welfare at its worst. And there can be a strong argument made that this is an underhanded way of establishing a fascist type of society, without the overt ideology. For what is fascism anyway, but the partnership between the state and the big money interests and corporations to the detriment of the general population? Yes, I think that there is definitely something wrong having the government, with its police powers, shaking down already financially-struggling people to help further enrich the fatcats in the private health insurance industry!

Maybe, though, I have it all wrong. Maybe, if this bill is enacted, the pool of choices (albeit all private) may drive prices down and make health insurance more affordable, even without a public option. As might the idea that having more participants (albeit forced by law to participate) would keep prices down. But the Senate bill, even if finally passed, still has to be reconciled with the more liberal House version in conference. With the final product subject to up/down votes in both houses. No done deal, I say. Ironically, the President seems so mellow on this extremely divisive and passion-stirring subject that he is likely to sign a final passed bill into law regardless what garbage it contains!