I’m not sure I agree fully with Howard Dean that the healthcare bill now on the table should be scrapped — I think he’s correct on his criticism of the bill, but I’m not sure killing it will bring us back to a place where we can start over. The system as it exists is rigged against real reform, so killing this bill might just mean the end of any chance for reform.
That said, Ruth Marcus is being too dismissive — Dean’s argument must be addressed head on.
Author: hankkalet
Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie.
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Hank Kalet 
I'm afraid Howard Dean's take is the correct one. This version of \”reform\” should be called the insurer windfall package of 2009. I would rather see the failure left out in the open instead of wrapping it in happy talk and standard-issue talk about \”realism\” and \”don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.\” The facts are on the side of reform, and the reasons for this travesty are there for all to see.
Single payer was off the table from day one but catering to the right wing, to moderates and centrists, catering to the insurance and drug companies, oh yeah, that's definitely on the table all the time. The insurance and drug companies have so much money to throw around that they have bought off most of the Democrats and all of the GOP. Even Menendez and Lautenberg voted against the Dorgan amendment (buying Canadian drugs to lower drug costs). Menendez and Lautenberg have been bought off by the NJ drug companies. I voted for these two men, I am disgusted. I will be sending them e-mails and will call their telephone numbers to complain. I would not be surprised if the NJ drug companies threatened to move out of state if these two senators did not play ball with them but that's just speculation.Will the Democrats, who are now in control, push to allow Medicare Part D to negotiate with the drug companies for lower prices? The VA does negotiate with the drug companies for lower costs but Medicare is forbidden because of the rules in Bush's 2003 Medicare Part D legislation.It looks like Menendez is the senator from Merck and Lautenberg is no better.
I just read the Paul Krugman blog. I have absolute respect for Krugman and his opinions. He feels that we should go for the current health reform bill even with its warts and pustules because this is an historic milestone that can't be passed up. People are suffering and dying now from lack of health insurance or from being under insured or crappily insured. Medicare and Social Security were not perfect when they were enacted decades ago; they were improved upon over the years and Krugman feels the same would be true for health care reform. Krugman has been right about so many things in the past, he's probably right about the health care bill. Pass it and then fix it over the years. It's not ideal but this is America, the land of corporate dominance and right wing/libertarian crazies.