isany1listening

One of my favorite television shows is “The West Wing.”  I love Sam, Toby, Josh, Leo, C.J., and of course President Bartlett.  There are moments when the President has a great attitude of “I don’t take crap from anyone” and it leaves me with the feeling of awe and wonder.  It makes me think why can’t our President behave that way in real life.  Why can’t the President, as leader of the Democratic Party, march on up to the Hill and lay down the law for the reforms and bills he would like to pass?  I guess that real life, unlike dramatic television, gives us limits and we can only do so much.  But just once, oh just one, what I would like to see President Obama lay down that law to the Dems….

 These thoughts cross my mind on a daily basis concerning Health Care Reform.  A few weeks ago, I travelled with two busses to Washington D.C. for the Health Care for America Now rally.  I heard polticians, labor leaders, and ordinary citizens speak to a crowd of thousands.  It was a wonderful experience.  Truly amazing.  I then got to lobby in the Capitol Building and I am still recovering from that spectacular feeling.  You know, the feeling that comes when you participate in something and know you are making just the slightest difference.  For me that always comes in politics and I have never felt more proud to be an American than on that day when I actually had a chance to participate in the political process up close and personal.

What is the point of this particular blog entry?  Well my point is that I believe in a firm Public Option on Health Care, and I don’t think we can have real reform without it.  The time has come for change and that is what we elected Congress and President Obama to accomplish.  If it doesn’t happen now, it never will.  I had hope, but after some weeks have passed, I am seeing the President waver just a bit on the Public Option, wanting the bill to be bipartisan.  But Republicans will never vote for his Health Care Reform, so the time has come to say screw bipartisanship.  And I think he has reached that moment.  It came today in a speech he gave, and I think more forcefullness is forthcoming. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I think we should all work together and have consensus.  I know this first hand from my academic and student poltical experiences.  But there comes a time, and it is only every so often, where you have to draw a line and take a stand.  You have to fight for what is right and even if you are in the minority, you fight with everything you have and sometimes you even end up winning because you gain people’s respect.  I have had those moments, and trust me, they are delicious.  They are rare, but are they good.  This is what we need for Health Care.  Enough is enough.  Bipartisanship be damned, the majority of Americans, from recents polls, have said loud and clear that we need a viable Public Option.  And if Republicans want to be the Party of No, then let them be that. 

For me the issue is so simple.  I think of young kids who are sick and have no health insurance because their parents have lost their jobs or just cannot afford it.  Those kids end up dying and receive the lowest possible quality of care because of money.  If I were in Congress, I would think about this and ask myself, do I want to contribute to one more day of young children dying needlessly due to HMO’s needing to turn a profit?  Do I really want to be responsible for killing sick kids?  Now this may seem oversimplified and a tad melodramatic, but I don’t care.  The time for debate is over and we need real reform.  Because this is the reality and if we need to put it in such simple terms, then so be it.  If that is what gets quality affordable health insurance for all passed, then that is what must be done. 

I still have hope that real change can happen.  It has to happen because if not, then I feel we ended up with the same old type of politics: fancy rhetoric, empty campaign promises and no real change.  I hope the President gets it done.  I hope he tells the Senate Finance Committee the way things need to happen.  And he must since the majority of us are telling everyone including Santa Claus that we want change and we want a Public Option.  Get it done Washington, otherwise you will not be so lucky when your terms are up.