"THE" Healthcare Bill

I heard today that "51% of Americans do not support the healthcare bill". I assume they meant the Senate version. Don't ask me to source this - I was busy trying to work at home and the TV News was on in the background. It was likely a CNN report.

Since about Dec 15th (the last day I drove a car for any length of time), I heard at least three "progressive/liberal" talkshow hosts denouncing the latest iteration of the Senate healthcare bill. One was speaking in a loud voice, urging listeners to call their senators and tell them "NO!"

What do I think? I think it's time to stop calling it "The Senate Healthcare Bill".

I think it's time to call it "The Senate Medical Insurance Industry Government Giveaway of 2009".

1. Force The People to buy insurance
2. Do very little, or nothing, to force those insurance rates to be reasonable/affordable.

What else can you call it????

Once again, I hope the The People get off their collective butts (no Marxist reference intended) and get their employees in Washington (read Senators, House Members, and President, as appopriate) to:

1. Either dump the concept of filibuster (unendable debate, which nobody even actually DOES anymore....a Senator need only THREATEN to filibuster and the chamber treats it as a fait accompli), or amend the rules to allow debate (REAL debate, not mere threats) to be ended with a mere majority.

The Senate is supposed to be able to approve legislation with a mere majority, so why on Earth shouldn't they be able to end debate on such legislation with a mere majority? The filibuster was only allowed as a result of Senate rules changes. Although current Senate rules allegedly state that 67 votes are required for any future rules changes, I think there is authority for the idea that each new Senate that is voted in makes their rules anew (and the same is true of the House). That is, I do not believe the Senate is bound by whatever rules existed in the previous Senate.

2. Kill the current incarnation of "The Healthcare Bill" in both the House and Senate, and re-negotiate the legislation to serve the interests of The People and not solely the interests of insurance companies.

I heard that the Democrats won control of the Administration, the House, and the Senate during the last couple of elections. I heard that the Democrats were the part of of the The People. It's high time they started acting like it.