I don't often take the time anymore to bitch about political shenanigans, but this needs to be pointed out;
For months, the GOP has whined about the health care bill, refused to provide any substantial or meaningful input into a reform package that is long overdue, or offer any sort of useful alternative. They've focused on mudslinging and outright falsehoods in their efforts to smear and ensure the failure of the Democratic proposal. Now, when it is far too late to engage in any non-partisan cooperation or compromise, having shown their complete unwillingness to bend in any way,
they have whipped up a quick and dirty version of health care 'reform' of their own.This proposal does nothing to reform a broken system, but offers supposed breaks to those who
already have insurance or insurance options, and grants a pass to doctors and medical professionals who screw up other people's lives by limiting malpractice suit proceeds to a mere $250K.
Considering the cost of long term care and how expensive treatment is for the various issues caused by incompetence or negligence in a hospital setting, this is a ridiculous figure, and a slap in the face to anyone who suffers legitimate damage from such types of failure. The figures for infection, surgical mistakes, and deaths from negligence in hospital settings are way too high to grant such reprieves. (My own prescription to lower malpractice insurance would be to penalize those who bring frivolous lawsuits, rather than limit the liability of the insurance companies in the case of actual negligence.)
The whole bill appears to be aimed at helping out the health insurance industry, which is one of the key failures of this broken system.
Considering the state of the Republican party, its total disconnect from reality or the people it supposedly represents, and its continued exodus from a 'conservative' party to a party of extremists, it is well beyond time for this party to be relegated to its proper place as a fringe element in politics. The recent incident in NY where
the Republican candidate, Dierdre Scozzafava, withdrew because the GOP was backing a more extremist right-winger from a third party is a perfect example of how far out of touch they've become. They don't even support their own, unless they espouse the same extreme views of such paragons of moderation as Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh. (Scozzafava didn't hold with the right-wingers stance on abortion or gay marriage. She has since thrown her support behind the
Democratic challenger, because she's more interested in what's good for the people than what's good for the party. The link above is just a starting point for this incident. Or you could read Hannity's article where he makes out that this has nothing to do with the GOP becoming out of touch and marginalized. Riiiight.)
ETA: I should point out that the $250K cap on malpractice settlements is not my only complaint with the GOP package. I am actually fairly incensed about every single thing mentioned in that article. The Cap thing is just an old thing they've tried to pass before, and it galled me back then. I note there's been no adjustment for inflation since the last time, either. How... realistic... of them. Overall, the bill shows no original thought at all, but is just a basic rehash of all the crap they have tried to push down our throats for the last couple decades.
Also, I'm not entirely smitten with the Dems' primary package, but at least they put some work and thought into it.
Current Mood: Disgusted
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