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Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Health Care reform: Those darn Blue-Dogs
Posted By Greg Wilcox on July 29, 2009, 4:37 PM
As I usually do, I will make a point by appealing to someone smarter than me. During this health care reform debate, I invoke the wisdom of Paul Krugman.---
In a recent NY Times article, Krugman notes that Obama's proposed health care reform would prevent insurance companies from denying coverage based on history, preexisting conditions, etc. This keeps them from gaming the system by covering only healthy people. But the money is made up for by not allowing individuals to game the system, as all Americans would be required to buy insurance even if they are healthy. In other words, the cost is off-set.
Additionally, Krugman points out the confusing blue-dog opposition to employer mandates. The blue-dog democrats cite fiscal responsibility in their opposition to reform, but the Congressional Budget Office has already said that without employer mandates employees would be forced to seek federal aid for medical bills, creating a huge cost of subsidies, and far from fiscally responsible.
The blue dogs reasons for opposing health care just don't add up—just like the conservatives reasons. Though it surely stokes their ego to be both a democrat and conservative, and appear more 'sane' than liberal democrats, they are really doing a disservice to America in their opposition.
In a recent NY Times article, Krugman notes that Obama's proposed health care reform would prevent insurance companies from denying coverage based on history, preexisting conditions, etc. This keeps them from gaming the system by covering only healthy people. But the money is made up for by not allowing individuals to game the system, as all Americans would be required to buy insurance even if they are healthy. In other words, the cost is off-set.
Additionally, Krugman points out the confusing blue-dog opposition to employer mandates. The blue-dog democrats cite fiscal responsibility in their opposition to reform, but the Congressional Budget Office has already said that without employer mandates employees would be forced to seek federal aid for medical bills, creating a huge cost of subsidies, and far from fiscally responsible.
The blue dogs reasons for opposing health care just don't add up—just like the conservatives reasons. Though it surely stokes their ego to be both a democrat and conservative, and appear more 'sane' than liberal democrats, they are really doing a disservice to America in their opposition.
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