Those four words have come to epitomize compromise in our society. "Hey," these words say. "Quit whining. You're just lucky to get anything at all." It's the pathetic lament of the defeated. And lately I’ve been coming across this lament more and more often in the various online discussions and news stories analyzing the health care reform bills coming out of Congress.
Wait a minute. Weren’t we going to get real reform this time? Wasn’t President Obama going to ride the wave of his big electoral victory and fix this country’s health care crisis? Surely this was one thing that we could all agree on—that when it came to our broken health insurance system, it was clearly time for Change We Can Believe In. Right?
Maybe not.
The grand rhetoric of Obama’s campaign speeches and the euphoria of his victory (was it really only a year ago?) are fading memories now. With congressional Republicans screaming like two-year-olds every time Obama opens his mouth, it’s been a rough road for the new guy in Washington. His appeals for bipartisanship have gone unanswered, his proposals met with skepticism. His public support has ebbed as the months have gone by without much in the way of significant accomplishments (something “Saturday Night Live” had great fun with in this skit).
Nowhere is this situation more apparent than with the ongoing cage match over fixing our broken health care system. It seems like Obama and the Dems have been playing defense since this battle broke out, whether it’s about the so-called death panels, illegal immigrants accessing health care, federal funding of abortion, or the “socialist” boogeyman. With every step backward, the chances for meaningful reform just got smaller. Right now they’re about as miniscule as the likelihood that Obama will be attending the Limbaugh family’s annual Christmas party.
After months of wrangling, Democrats are currently celebrating their big win in getting a bill passed in the House over the weekend. After some major last-minute concessions on abortion, the measure finally passed by five votes. Five. In a chamber where Democrats outnumber Republicans, 258-177.
The bill itself is no prize. Desperate to get something passed, the Democrats watered down the public option, which was the big symbol of reform that Obama had been trumpeting. And with an even tougher battle looming in the Senate, the final bill might not even contain that.
However, the thinking goes, as long as something is eventually signed into law on health care, Obama can claim a symbolic (Pyrrhic?) victory. This will theoretically boost his approval numbers and help the Dems who are up for re-election in 2010.
Which brings us back to the original question, is something really better than nothing? Since this is about health care, let’s ask a doctor to weigh in. In this article from Huffington Post, Dr. Marcia Angell is unequivocal. “Is the House bill better than nothing? I don't think so," she writes. "It simply throws more money into a dysfunctional and unsustainable system.”
Something to think about, isn’t it?
I didn’t want to even think about it before yesterday, but now I can face the truth: I don’t know if I would want to live in a county and state that would elect Susan Hutchison and overturn domestic partnership rights. Shudder.
I’m glad I-1033 went down hard too, of course, but I just couldn’t manage to get excited about budget issues. I know it was a really important vote, but it kind of put me to sleep. I need some red meat, so to speak, something juicy to chew on.
The Constantine-Hutchison race was certainly that. I had a great time reading all the gossip over on The Stranger’s The Slog (which I think is a horrible name for a blog, but that’s a different subject). The story itself is pretty much fluff about how dumb Hutchison is, but the comments are a lot of fun. Then there was the whole religion/Discover Institute angle to the election. When I heard this morning that Hutchison had refused to concede, I wasn’t surprised—if you can deny evolution, you must be able to live in an alternate reality without trouble. Ultimately, I guess God, in His infinite wisdom, didn’t want her to win this election.
I have to share a snippet from the Times article linked above. It’s simply too good not to reprint here:
"Later, as a dark techno tune began to play, one worker dove into the DJ's chair, declaring the music "too ominous!" It was replaced with the ever-bubbly "Celebrate" by KC and the Sunshine Band. [Actually, the song is called “Celebration,” but we’ll let that go.] A troupe of red-shirted King County Young Republicans got into the spirit of the song, hopping on stage for a group photo. "Party Right!" their shirts read on their fronts, as some bobbed in time to the tune. They were giving celebration a good try, victory or not."
Speaking of the Bee Gees, Mike McGinn and Joe Mallahan are both “Stayin’ Alive” in the mayor’s race. I’m still not even sure who to root for on this one. I predicted that Mallahan would win in our Fuse election pool—the kiss of death, as I suck at pools—but McGinn is from my neighborhood (Greenwood), so I’ve got to root for the local boy. Maybe the viaduct will crumble before they announce a winner, so we don’t have to argue about it for another five years. I’m so sick of the viaduct issue that I could punch an unstable support column.
(By the way, if you haven’t seen the viaduct disaster video that WSDOT coincidentally released just before the election, you gotta check it out. It will freak the hell out of you. Someone send it to the Obama administration and FEMA—that should free up some federal money right quick.)
I hear there was quite an election-party-hopping scene last night in Seattle. Wish I could have been there, but I’m too old for that stuff. True story: On Election Night last fall (exactly one year ago!) I wound up at a quiet bar in Greenwood, nodding off after a long day of phone-banking at the campaign headquarters. I am very bitter that I missed the rockin’ outdoor party on Broadway. Sigh.
Well, I have to go shoo some kids off my lawn. When time does the World Series game start tonight?
Always vulnerable to the usual public outcry about anything they do, district officials once again reveal how confused they are about how to fix a broken system. I’m not here to pile on, though. I think the Seattle Schools are really in a no-win situation: Lower the traditional passing grade, leaving it open to charges of low standards and poor quality of education; or keep things the same and watch as dropout rates remain unacceptably high.
As the former spouse of a veteran Seattle public school teacher and the parent of one current and one former student in the district, I’ve seen some of these challenges play out firsthand (or, I suppose, secondhand). And I don’t envy the challenges that the SSD faces.
The numbers are daunting. Seattle is the largest school district in the state—more than 45,000 students in 88 schools. And many of those kids aren’t coming from the tidy English-speaking-two-parents-in-a-tidy-house-located-in-a-safe-neighborhood situation, which is more common in the suburban districts. No, the district must deal with poverty, homelessness, unstable home life, racial imbalance and de facto segregation (their race-based assignment plan was struck down by the Supreme Court), and more than 90 (!) different languages spoken in their schools.
I bet some SSD teachers and administrators feel more like security personnel, mental health counselors and cultural studies experts than educators in dealing with some of their students these days.
But in the end, dropping the passing grade to a D is a really a horrible symbol. It basically says, “We have so many students who can’t maintain a C average that we have to lower our standards.” This surrender also suggests the district is in serious trouble. If it is failing its students, maybe it’s the Seattle School District that needs to get a D—and that’s not acceptable.
Friday the Times endorsed Susan Hutchison over Dow Constantine for King County Executive. I read the endorsement they published. I read it again. I couldn’t believe how empty it was of any kind of analysis or good reasons for the recommendation. You can read the endorsement here, but I’ll save you the time and pain by summing it up: “This election is about change, and Susan Hutchison represents change.”
That’s pretty much it. The piece runs more than 550 words—using the word “change” five times—and that’s the best they can do? It’s full of platitudes, such as Hutchison is a “political outsider” who brings “a host of fresh ideas” to the table. What are these fresh ideas? The Times doesn’t tell us, which, to be fair, is possibly because Hutchison herself won’t reveal what they are, just like she refuses to discuss her political party affiliation or her positions on many issues.
She’s the stealth candidate—we don’t know what we’re getting if Hutchison is elected. Except, I guess, that she’s all about change. She’s not Constantine—apparently that’s good enough for the Blethens (the family that owns the Times).
Heck, I’m as much of political outsider as Hutchison is—I could certainly promise bring fresh ideas without saying what they are. Like Hutchison, I’m a former journalist who has never run for, let alone served in, any public office. Sure, I’ve never had the experience of fundraising for the Seattle Symphony or giving away money provided by Microsoft billionaire Charles Simonyi, but I wouldn’t consider those stellar qualifications for running the state’s biggest county.
The Times says Hutchison will sit down with unions right away, whereas Constantine will “revisit concessions only once they expire.” Yeah, it’s called a contract. Since the employees of the Times are unionized, just like King County workers, the Blethens know a little bit about union contracts. And I’m thinking they are not a big fan. How can they cut salaries and benefits if those damn unions won’t go along with it? Maybe Hutchison can break the county's employees union, which will certainly solve all the budget problems, right?
The editorial also mentions that Hutchison really cares about the potential flooding in the Green River Valley this winter. The Times says that their preferred candidate has been “focused on helping South King County residents before and after flooding.” Gee, that’s really nice. I suppose Constantine doesn’t give a poop about those folks. Let ‘em drown, I’m sure he’s thinking.
What is Hutchison going to do—go down there and help fill sandbags? Send them a check? The Times doesn’t say.
In yesterday’s paper (the big, ad-filled Sunday edition—and yes, I do still get the paper), the Times profiled both candidates side by side on the front page. The Constantine article (“Constantine Trimmed Budgets, Yet Some Blame Him for Rise in Spending”) basically implicates him in creating the County’s budget woes. The Hutchison article is 1,700 words about how she did a really great job of turning around the financial problems at the Seattle Symphony in her 30 months as chair of the board. (By the by, she got the position the old-fashioned way: She gave the symphony $10 million of Simonyi’s money.)
The article does note that the symphony still faces a dire financial picture, which a spokesperson blamed on the economic downturn—I’m sure the recession didn’t affect the County budget, though!
The article quotes Hutchison as saying her work at the symphony (138 employees) has trained her to take the reigns of King County (14,000 employees). Sure, sounds plausible to me. The article also quotes the paper’s music writer, Melissa Bargreen, offering this analysis of Hutchison’s work at the symphony: “Susan's success entailed persuading people to part with large amounts of money.” That skill should definitely translate to the King County budget issues—she’ll just get rich people to make up the large debt she will inherit if she wins.
With coverage like this, it’s no wonder that newspapers are bleeding money and that a recent study show that a majority of people don’t trust the mainstream media. But maybe it’s just because people want change, and newspapers are so last century.
Anyway, for a decent analysis of the race, see the endorsement published today at the blog Publicola. I’d also recommend a column by Joel Connelly of the PI Web site: “Election Is Mired in Trivialities, Missing the Bus."
Having failed in his effort to bring the 2016 Olympics back to the United States, President Obama was (fittingly?) asleep when the Nobel Peace Prize committee named him the 2009 winner of the prestigious international award.
In betting terms, this was a mild upset—British oddsmakers had given him a 14 to 1 shot of taking home the prize, the same as Bill Clinton.(1) But reaction in this country was a little more... puzzled. Obama himself admitted to being surprised at winning the award and owned up to it not being “a recognition of my accomplishments.”(2)
Predictably, the Republicans slammed Obama for having done nothing to deserve it. (I think they’d rip him for saving an old lady who was about to be hit by a bus. “Why was he even out in the street? He should be solving the country’s problems, not going for a stroll!”)(2) The right-wing blowhards weighed in: Rush Limbaugh said the award proved that Obama was “emasculating this country” and Glenn Beck opined that he should turn it down so that the committee could give it “to the Tea Party goers and the 9-12 Project.”(3) (Likely because those folks were noted for their peaceful demeanor at town hall meetings over the summer.)
Perhaps a more interesting response came from some on the left, who similarly condemned Obama’s win because of his recent commitment of thousands of more troops to the conflict in Afghanistan. Emblematic of this response was outspoken lefty Michael Moore, took time out from the relentless promotion of his new film to thrown down his usual blunt gauntlet: He told the president that he must “end our involvement in Afghanistan now. If you don't, you'll have no choice but to return the prize to Oslo.” (After watching the right attack Obama relentlessly for winning the prize, Moore backed off a bit over the weekend, which frankly I thought made him look wishy-washy.) (4)
Although the chairman of the Nobel committee denied it, some pundits and political leaders felt that Obama was giving the award based not on what he has done but on the hopes (expectations?) of what he will do over the next three years of his presidency.(2) Another popular theory was that it was the “thank God you’re not George W. Bush” award, welcoming America back into the international community.(5)
I prefer the theory that it was simply his speech to the Muslim world in which he noted that we don’t necessarily need to hate each other. What a concept! Here’s my take: Who cares? It’s an award, nothing more. See above about how Obama can’t do anything right, according to Republicans. And perhaps it opens a dialogue about what it means to work for peace instead of war (ahem, Bush).
Let me put forward another idea: At least winning the prize distracted the Party of No from hammering on the health care issue 24/7. At a time when Congress and the public seem to be generating some positive buzz and good signs on health care, this is a welcome respite. In my mind’s eye, I see the Repubs as a bunch of dimwitted dogs barking like crazy while running after a piece of meat, while the Democrats quietly scale the fence and get something done. What other awards can Obama win? This strategy has promise!
(1) http://www.economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14626903
(2) http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/world/10nobel.html?hp
(3) http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/feature/2009/10/09/reaction/
(4) http://michaelmoore.com/words/mikes-letter/get-obamas-back-second-thoughts-michael-moore
(5) http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/09/oakley.obama.nobel/
It’s called Basic Health, and it’s paid for by the state government. If you meet certain requirements, chief among them having low income, you can qualify. Since I’m unemployed, receive no unemployment benefits, and haven’t found any freelance work in the last few months, my income is essentially $0 per month. I would hope that makes me eligible.
According to the calculations of the Basic Health web site (http://www.basichealth.hca.wa.gov/), I do qualify, and my premium would be $17 a month. I think I could handle that.
However, a few months ago the state announced that due to huge deficits caused by the recession, Basic Health would have to kick 40,000 people off its rolls. Ooops. The recession (in the form of a layoff) took away my health care, then just when I need public assistance, it gets cut due to that same recession. Kind of a Catch-22.
Not surprisingly, when I applied for Basic Health a month ago, I got a polite letter from the state (just dug it out of the recycling, where I must have tossed it in disgust). It says: “Thank you for your interest in Basic Health coverage. Unfortunately, due to budget limitations, we cannot add new members to the program right now.”
I shouldn’t despair though! They are putting me on their waiting list. I just won’t get sick in the meantime, I guess.
The point is, a patchwork of state basic health programs subject to the whims of the economy is not a true public option. A real government health program would be like Social Security—a guaranteed benefit that is available to everyone when they need it. You can’t force people to deal with waiting lists and arbitrary funding cuts that deny them care. The so-called trigger plan would be similarly unreliable.
The Republicans who oppose Obama’s health care reform plan would love Washington state’s “public option.” Sure, there’s a government insurance plan—but unfortunately, it lacks adequate funding. So you might want to check out these private plans, especially since we’ve made it illegal for you not to have insurance. Good luck!
At last night’s meeting, the city council voted 7-0 to disassociate itself with the Beck’s demagoguery and race baiting. This came after Mount Vernon native and Fuse member Phillip Holder presented a petition with 16,000 signatures calling on the city to cancel the planned Glenn Beck Day on September 26. The council then rejected the politics of hate.
For a more in-depth acount of the meeting, you can read this Seattle Times report. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009930887_beck24m.html
Mount Vernon mayor Bud Norris—no doubt a big Fox News watcher—told the council that this was his thing and didn’t require council approval. How can the mayor declaring an official day honoring someone at a ceremony be considered a personal decision? Doesn’t he know he represents the entire community? He’s honoring a man who called President Barack Obama a racist and is witch-hunting in the administration.
Fuse and other progressives are not done. There will be two more protests against Beck on Saturday. One is in downtown Seattle, where Beck will be the keynote speaker at an event at Safeco Field sponsored by the right-wing Evergreen Freedom Foundation. The protest will take place at 11:30 am across the street from the stadium, in front of the Pyramid Brewery (great place to convene afterwards!). Click here to RSVP:
http://www.fusewashington.org/page/st/BeckRally
The other event will be Saturday evening at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, where Beck will actually be given the key. (Actually, it’s a plaque with a picture of a key, which even Norris admits is the “key to nothing”). The protest starts at 5:30 pm. Let us know that you’re coming:
http://www.fusewashington.org/page/st/mvbeckprotest
We need a big turnout. When Glenn Beck Day was first announced, a few people in Mount Vernon immediately took to the streets in an informal protest, which was shown on a local news channel. On his Fox show, Beck mocked the reaction.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLu078umRsY
This time, if Fuse members and other local progressives have anything to say about it, Beck won’t be laughing.
This is a man who has called the president a racist amid his many other outlandish and dangerous statements on the airwaves. Even Beck has admitted that he's crazy--a condition apparently shared by Mayor Bud Norris. Beck is so flattered and excited about this honor that he is showing up on September 26 in person to receive it. (Maybe he thinks it's going to be three feet long and filled with chocolate. :-)
Can you take a moment and sign our petition to the Mount Vernon City Council condemning this outrage?
http://www.fusewashington.org/page/s/glennbeck
Come on, we're not gonna take this lying down. Don't make us have to boycott your tulip festival!!
The petition page includes a number of bonus videos of Beck at his worst. WARNING: This is not suitable viewing for young children or liberals with heart conditions.
Again, if you think this kind of thing has no business happening in Washington State, sign the petition:
http://www.fusewashington.org/page/s/glennbeck
Thanks!
The guy’s not a half-bad public speaker, is he?
President Barack Obama's bold, visionary speech to Congress last night was a beacon of light in a summer-long stretch of darkness regarding the fight for meaningful health insurance reform. Together with you and our partners we have been working hard to get this critically important reform passed.1 The President's speech recognized our hard work, and his resolute determination as he called on Congress to end the tactics of political gamesmanship and stonewalling and act now was inspiring.
In his speech, the President boldly challenged members of Congress to make good on federal lawmakers' century-old promise to finally fix our nation's broken health care system and put an end to the "partisan spectacle that only hardens the disdain many Americans have towards their own government."2 He called for an end to the shameful scare tactics employed by reform opponents entrenched in "unyielding ideological camps that offer no hope of compromise."
It's time to stand up and demand Congress pass the President's plan for real health insurance reform.
Stand up for President Obama's plan. Write your lawmakers today urging them to act quickly and pass all elements of the President's plan, including a public health insurance option.3
Click the link below to speak out to your lawmakers:
http://www.fusewashington.org/page/speakout/HCPlanSpeakOut
The plan President Obama laid out in his speech will make those who already have insurance more secure and make their policies more affordable. At the same time it will give those without insurance affordable coverage and a public option to keep the costs of private insurance in check. Under this plan it will be against the law for insurance companies to turn people away or drop coverage because of a pre-existing condition. And arbitrary caps on how much insurance companies pay for your care will be eliminated. We cannot let the opposition undermine the public option and force a toothless “coop” plan—a message that Obama and Congress need to hear loud and clear.
The President's plan offers a direct path to health care for every American and economic stability for the nation. It is time to let Congress know you stand behind the President - and that you expect them to do the same. Click the link below to speak out to your lawmakers today!
http://www.fusewashington.org/page/speakout/HCPlanSpeakOut
Your voice matters. Thanks for all you do.
1 Check out this great video from the recent Stand Up for Health Insurance Reform Rally in Seattle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouYXq5tSXb0
2 Text and video of President Obama's Sept. 9 speech to Congress: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/09/obama-health-care-speech_n_281265.html
3 About President Obama's Health Care Plan: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/health_care/plan/
President Barack Obama's impassioned speech to Congress last night gave America a renewed sense of hope for true health care reform. But there's much more work to be done. Together with you and our partners we have been working hard to move critically needed health insurance reform forward.(1)
The President's speech recognized our hard work, and his resolute determination as he called on Congress to act now to pass his comprehensive health care plan was inspiring.
In his speech, the President boldly challenged members of Congress to make good on federal lawmakers' century-old promise to finally fix our nation's broken health care system and put an end to the "partisan spectacle that only hardens the disdain many Americans have towards their own government."(2) He called for an end to the shameful scare tactics employed by reform opponents entrenched in "unyielding ideological camps that offer no hope of compromise."It's time to make our voices heard and demand that Congress pass the President's plan for real health insurance reform.
Stand up for President Obama's plan. Write your lawmakers today urging them to act quickly and pass all elements of the President's plan, including a public health insurance option.(3) Click the link below to let your lawmakers know your views:
http://www.fusewashington.org/page/speakout/HCPlanSpeakOut
The plan President Obama laid out in his speech will make those who already have insurance more secure and make their policies more affordable. At the same time, it will give those without insurance quality, affordable coverage and a public option that will keep the exorbitant costs of private insurance in check. Under this plan it will be against the law for insurance companies to turn people away or drop coverage because of a pre-existing condition. It will also eliminate arbitrary caps on how much insurance companies can pay for your care.
The President's plan offers a direct path to health care for every American and economic stability for the nation. It is time to let Congress know you stand behind the President - and that you expect them to do the same. Click the link below to speak out to your lawmakers today!
http://www.fusewashington.org/page/speakout/HCPlanSpeakOut
Your voice matters. Thanks for all you do.
Cheryl and the Team at Fuse.
P.S. Want to do more to show your support for reform? Join reform supporters and members of SEIU Healthcare 775NW as they rally outside the Cigna Insurance office in downtown Seattle on Monday, September 14 at 2:30 PM. Click here to let us know that you plan to attend:
http://www.fusewashington.org/page/s/HCsigna
1. Check out this great video from the recent Stand Up for Health Insurance Reform Rally in Seattle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouYXq5tSXb0
2. Text and video of President Obama's Sept. 9 speech to Congress: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/09/obama-health-care-speech_n_281265.html
3. About President Obama's Health Care Plan: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/health_care/plan/
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