Healthcare Setback?

If you haven't heard, Obama's healthcare reform law has been appealed to the Supreme Court:

WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The Obama administration on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to back the centerpiece of Barack Obama's sweeping healthcare overhaul -- the requirement that all Americans have health insurance.

The appeal was largely expected as a high court ruling against the law could be a fatal blow to the president's signature domestic policy achievement and could have major implications for his re-election bid.

The case is important because healthcare reform has been on of the corner stones of Obama's presidency. Additionally, the ruling will come down only a few months before what should be a heated reelection campaign for the President. Obama supporters are confident:

“We believe that a prompt resolution of the constitutionality and severability of the individual mandate is in the best interest of individuals, employers, states, and the federal government. We are confident in the merits of our legal arguments, and we look forward to presenting them to the Supreme Court.”

What may be more concerning than the constitutionality of the law at this moment, is the rising costs of healthcare:

Even a slow economy can't stop healthcare costs from rising. A new report by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust shows that the cost of employer-provided insurance rose 9% this year — even as workers and their families were cutting back on trips to the doctor's office — and has more than doubled over the last decade.

Costs are growing out of control since Obamacare was passed:

The report was based on interviews with more than 2,000 employers between January and May. Researchers found that premiums rose three times faster from 2010 to 2011 than they had the previous year, pushing the average cost of policies for single workers to $5,429 and for families to $15,073.

The Republicans are having a field day:

“As this survey shows, the president’s promise that his partisan health law would lower costs was just empty rhetoric,” Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah), the top Republican on the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, said in a statement. “The fact is employers aren’t hiring, in large part, because they have to spend more and more money on health insurance.”

And Paul Ryan is always lurking with a fiscally responsible plan:

“Giving patients and consumers control over healthcare resources would make all Americans less dependent on big business and big government for our health security; give us more control over the care we get; and force health care providers to compete for our business,” Ryan said.

Until there is a ruling on this, healthcare will continue to be a hotly contested issue. In addition, all the Republican presidential candidates have said that if they are elected, they will repeal the law. The shelf law for Obamacare might not be that long anyway.

On a more concerning note, at the moment, it appears that healthcare reform may not reduce the cost of healthcare, thus making the law expensive. This will make it anti-jobs because company growth will be restrained by these costs. Furthermore, with our national debt crisis, it is important that the legislation we pass has a positive effect on our economy. I'm not convinced that this is the right move for that.

Defining The New America

Back at commencement, at the University of Michigan, Barack Obama expressed his distaste for partisan politics. He told us that it was important to put aside differences and work together for the greater good. His frustrations were clearly symptomatic of the direction of his administration. It has been tough for the President to accomplish his objectives. The continuous oscillation between right and left has not been quelled by Obama's historic election, but perhaps heightened. The problem with this is that we're not making any progress; we are moving from wing to wing instead of forward.

I've been reading about fascism this week and there are some values that I found significant. The nationalistic spirit and the ability to engage people is an essential part of fascism. Also, there was a sense of machismo, at least in italian fascism. There was a strong sense from Mussolini that a weak Lira conveyed a weak Italy to the world. America used to have that masculine snarl to it. That seems to have disappeared. Obviously, the racial aspect of fascism, uniting a race against others, is not something that is just. Nor is genocide. It's not something that would work in the US anyway. Look at Franco and Spain; if anything, fascism divided that country. The idea to unite a people of a nation has significant value to me.

I've noticed is that people take a lot of pride in this country, but there are a lot of tangible things that we do not have anymore. Our manufacturing isn't leading the world anymore. Our technology, our products, they're not the best. We still have intangible rights to be proud of like the freedom of expression which we will always have. However, we need to do better to ensure that people can hold grasp onto these tangible things that instill pride in our nation. In order to do this, we need to provide an environment of success.

The United States is an open nation, a nation that believes in competition and free markets. This is why I get weary when people mention tariffs, quotas, or taxes. Outsourcing doesn't really bother me. If you can coordinate your business where you can have employees half way across the planet, more power to you. Efficiency is important. The costs of hiring are straining our businesses and we need to provide ways to ease this burden. Businesses, particularly those in technical or specialized fields, are looking for candidates with specific qualifications. Truth is that we're not providing our businesses with these candidates, so they have to resort to hiring foreign workers. These foreign workers cost money because they need to be sponsored for their working Visas. This hampers small and medium businesses in particular. The costs of sponsoring these workers and keeping them in the US adds up. This is a more prevalent problem.

Quite simply, we need to provide a better educational system such that our workers are more competitive. We need to provide the technical backgrounds. While the amount of technical knowledge that a person needs has increased, the educational system has not changed much at all. We need to reform education and provide more stringent requirements through out the schooling process. We need to build the workers of tomorrow. We have been greatly surpassed by foreign powers such as India and China because they invest heavily in their human capital. The US needs to give the same kind of investment to education.

Another of my pet peeves is people complaining about the increased cost of healthcare in this country. Have people stopped and thought "may be it isn't the drug company or insurance company's fault?" No, because everyone needs someone to blame. Well, I'm not afraid to point the finger. It's all of our fault. We're exercising less and eating poorly. This is why I call this country a nation of fat cats. We have become complacent. We need to be healthier as a nation. This means exercise, diet, and hygiene. If we take care of ourselves, we take care of our health. The healthier we are, the less we're spending on healthcare and insurance. It's as simple as that.

These are a couple dilemmas that have really struck a cord with me recently. I don't think it would be hard to change. The problem is that the leadership in this country needs to come out and convey this to the public. I'm a blunt and straight forward person. I want to get to the point and I want to share the point. I'll do it myself if I have to.

Healthcare Debate Starts

Now that the bill is passed, the debate has begun over how it will affect Americans. Democrats and Republicans are taking their stances:

"If you have health insurance, this reform just gave you more control by reining in the worst excesses and abuses of the insurance industry with some of the toughest consumer protections this country has ever known -- so that you are actually getting what you pay for," Obama said.

Republicans:

"His health-care bill is unhealthy for America," said Mitt Romney, a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2012. "It raises taxes, slashes the more private side of Medicare, installs price controls, and puts a new federal bureaucracy in charge of healthcare."

I'm not too happy about the tax increases myself, but I think we need to wait and see how it is implemented to truly see how it affects the country. Tort reform was a major issue that was not addressed.

Our President in all his Glory

I'm still having trouble learning what exactly was accomplished. This sums up my thoughts:

Many Americans, particularly those with private insurance from their employers, remained in the dark about whether the overhaul would help or hurt — even the grandson of President Harry Truman, who fought for universal health care more than a half century ago.

"How much damage is this going to do? How good a bill is this going to be?" said Clifton Truman Daniel, public relations director at the Harry S Truman College in Chicago. "My assumption is that it will improve things, but who knows?"

I've said all along that the Obama administration had not done a satisfactory job of making known what was happening. I have no idea how things have changed. Everyone having health insurance seems nice, but how does it affect me?

We're Back!

The Obamacrats passed the Healthcare Reform Bill:

I'm watching Obama give his address on the matter right now. I'll post the video later.

ObamaCare Gaining Momentum

Someone watch this and explain it to me, I can't understand anything right now.

Issue of the Year: Healthcare

All we've heard for the past few months is healthcare, healthcare, healthcare. Well, we've actually heard it for over a year, since the Democratic primaries and debates. Does anyone know exactly what they trying to pass in terms of a bill?

To be honest, I didn't really know what was in the bill until I read up on it. It doesn't sound bad. Unfortunately, it comes at a time when we have bigger issues, and I believe these bigger issues should be taken care of. However, the current administration feels this is THE important issue and will continue to fight for this bill.

At the same time, they are willing to make compromises:

Vice President Joe Biden says the White House is ready and willing to listen to health care ideas from Republicans.

President Barack Obama has invited members of both parties to the White House for a televised meeting on Feb. 25 in hopes of reaching a deal on health care.

Obama's top domestic priority has stalled since Democrats lost their filibuster-proof Senate majority.

Biden says the keys are to control rising insurance premiums, control government spending on Medicare and Medicare and address insurance coverage issues.

Part of me wants this bill just to pass so that we can deal with real issues like the economy.

Review: State of the Union

As I previewed earlier, today was Obama's State of the Union speech. In the speech, which lasted well over an hour, Obama discussed a wide range of topics, from healthcare, the economy, gay rights, a high speed rail, the supreme court and national security. What I want to do is see reactions over the different issues.

First off, Here's the Republican response:

Health Care
Obama called for the senate to resolve the healthcare bill:

“This is a complex issue, and the longer it was debated, the more skeptical people became,” he said. “I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people. And I know that with all the lobbying and horse-trading, this process left most Americans wondering what’s in it for them.”

It doesn't appear like he's getting a favorable response.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) said that, after watching the speech, health reform appeared unlikely to pass as one comprehensive package.

"I think right now it's less than 50-50," she said of a consolidated bill passing. "It's very hard to see a path forward in the current arrangement."

The healthcare bill has been much maligned. I personally felt that the senate was pushing it when there were other issues that were more prevalent such as the economy. I've heard criticisms from both sides and statistics and what not, but I have absolutely no idea what the bill entails. If the senate wants public support, it's important that the public know clearly how they will be affected by it. John McCain criticized the Obama administration for promising transparency, but not delivering. The healthcare issue is exhibit A.

Economy
Obama has called for a new jobs bill:


Gay Rights

John McCain's response:

“In his State of the Union address, President Obama asked Congress to repeal the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy. I am immensely proud of, and thankful for, every American who wears the uniform of our country, especially at a time of war, and I believe it would be a mistake to repeal the policy.

“This successful policy has been in effect for over fifteen years, and it is well understood and predominantly supported by our military at all levels. We have the best trained, best equipped, and most professional force in the history of our country, and the men and women in uniform are performing heroically in two wars. At a time when our Armed Forces are fighting and sacrificing on the battlefield, now is not the time to abandon the policy.”

High Speed Rail
Here is the plan that will arise from the speech:

President Obama will kick off his post-State of the Union tour with what aides describe as a major economic announcement -- $8 billion to begin building a high-speed rail infrastructure in multiple states.

The money is a "downpayment" on the rail system, officials said, and will go to local governments for distribution. A total of 13 major areas will benefit from the project, whose reach will be felt in 31 states, the administration said.

Supreme Court
President Obama criticized the Supreme Court:

"With all due deference to separation of powers, last week the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that, I believe, will open the floodgates for special interests, including foreign corporations, to spend without limit in our elections."

Justice Alito was not very pleased:

"Not true, not true," he appeared to say, as he shook his head and furrowed his brow.

Conservative legal groups aren't happy either:

"The President's swipe at the Supreme Court was a breach of decorum, and represents the worst of Washington politics -- scapegoating 'special interest' bogeymen for all that ails Washington in attempt to silence the diverse range of speakers in our democracy," said Bradley A. Smith, a former FEC member and chairman of the Center for Competitive Politics.

Citizens United had this to say:

"President Obama's remarks tonight reflect a woeful disregard for the fundamental First Amendment rights of American citizens," said Citizens United President David N. Bossie.

But he added: "That being said, I absolutely support President Obama in his call for a ban on spending in American elections by foreign corporations. While I unreservedly support the rights of every American citizen to have their voice heard, there is no place for foreign actors in our political process."

It will be interesting to see how the Supreme Court ruling will be challenged in the future.

National Security
Here's a taste of the reaction for National Security:

David Rothkopf, a former Clinton administration official and foreign policy expert, said Wednesday night that he “can’t recall a state of the union that devoted less time or attention to foreign policy issues than this one.”

Preview: Obama's State of the Union

Pushing the healthcare agenda:

“By the time I’m finished speaking tonight, more Americans will have lost their health insurance,” the excerpts say. “Millions will lose it this year. Our deficit will grow. Premiums will go up. Co-pays will go up. Patients will be denied the care they need. Small business owners will continue to drop coverage altogether.”

But, he adds: “I will not walk away from these Americans. And neither should the people in this chamber.”

A large reason people are losing healthcare is because they are losing their jobs. If we improve the unemployment rate and create more jobs, I have no doubt that less people will be without healthcare. Dire times lead to dire measures. Cutting healthcare is one of those methods. I hope Obama focuses heavily on improving the economy and more so takes action to improve it. He's a great speaker, but he needs to be a great president.