Justice Prevails for Health Care Progress

Last night, thanks to President Obama and a majority of Democratic House of Representative members, our country stepped forward in the direction of universal health care. Between 30 and 50 million uninsured citizens will soon be able to get health care when needed. People who suffered and died prematurely because they were uninsured and unable to pay for care will no longer be left without care. Insurance companies that controlled the care that insured individuals obtained will now be prevented from denying needed treatments. If you were unable to get health insurance because of preexisting conditions that were used as reasons for rejecting your coverage, you will now be covered, and your cost for insurance will not be prohibitive.

The progress toward universal health care is not complete, but a giant step was taken under the energetic leadership of President Obama and Democratic Party members of Congress. Every Republican member of Congress opposed the legislation and attempted to prevent its passage by deliberately misinforming the American people. The Republicans in Congress continue to oppose any and all health care reform that leads to universal health care for all citizens of our country. They have employed every possible deception to derail President Obama's plan to provide health care for all citizens regardless of their ability to pay. The estimated 45,000 Americans who die annually because they are unable to pay for care will be provided a life jacket to regain their health and live a full life thanks to the majority of Congressional Democrats and President Obama.

Although the benefits of President Obama's health care plan will not all occur immediately many benefits will, including coverage for young adults until the age of 26 under their parents policies, and the ability to obtain care if you were previously denied insurance coverage. Federal subsidies will be provided to those whose income would otherwise be insufficient to pay for insurance. Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates will improve and the donut hole for Medicare covered prescription drugs will be eliminated. Cost controls inherent in the legislation will reduce our Federal deficit by almost two trillion dollars over the next 20 years according to the independent Congressional Budget Office estimates.

Even though Americans will finally be assured of adequate and affordable health care the Republican Party and all Congressional Republicans oppose the legislation on the basis that socialism will result as the Federal government gets involved. They believe that the giant socialist demon will devour our liberties and enslave us. They reject the use of any taxes for health care and would eliminate Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security if given the opportunity.

One of the Republican's most prominent and popular media supporters, Russ Limbaugh, said "let's eliminate the bastards", referring to the Congressional Democrats and President Obama and probably all progressives as well. One Republican Congressman, Randy Neugebauer, Texas, shouted out "Baby Killers" in the House of Representatives as the legislation was being supported by a Democrat who opposes abortion, Bart Stupak, Michigan. Crowds outside of the House of Representatives shouted hate filled and racial epithets at those who favored passage of the legislation. They also denigrated disabled and sick individuals who were nearby and who supported passage.Will the hate and venomous opposition inflamed by Republican Party over-the-wall messages of doom and gloom if passage of the health care legislation succeeded, as it has, continue? Will the right wing Republicans continue to control the Party of Abraham Lincoln, Dwight Eisenhower, and Ronald Regan, or will moderate and respectful Republican's speak out and tame the rabid, irrational right wing?

What do you think Republican Presidents' Abraham Lincoln, Dwight Eisenhower, and Ronald Regan would say if they were confronted by the Republican Party of today? Would they have joined the chorus of Republican right wing extremists, even though they might have been opposed to the Democratic legislation itself? Not likely!

President Lincoln freed the African American slaves and over a century later voting rights were assure for all American citizens regardless of race or sex.

President Eisenhower promoted and signed the Federal Highway system legislation in 1958 that was the largest non-military expenditure of federal taxes ever enacted up to then. We all can be thankful that President Eisenhower, a Republican President, led the way for the biggest social program since the enactment of Social Security under President Roosevelt in 1935.

President Regan, although generally opposed to taxation for social programs, never uttered a demeaning, hateful word against anyone, let alone Democratic members of Congress. President Regan believed that all Congressional members, indeed all politicians, all people, deserved fairness and respect regardless of differing views.

Today health care Justice prevails and the pathway toward universal health care begins just as the Federal Highway System opened the concrete and asphalt pathway to economic growth and mobility for American workers. In the same manner as the federal highway system, the new health care pathway opens opportunities for all Americans to travel the path of life with the knowledge, confidence, and security that health care will always be available to you and your loved ones. Thank you President Obama and the Democrats in Congress, and all progressive supporters of health care reform in our Country for leading us to a brighter more just future for all.