GUEST EDITORIAL: Reform effort is a dubious achievement

Editorials

November 14, 2009

Anonymous The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Sat Nov 14, 2009, 02:57 AM EST

House passage last Saturday of a health care reform bill was hailed (and condemned) as a major legislative event.

But the reality is something far less dramatic. No one expects the Senate to pass the House version. So the nation still does not know what shape health care reform will take.

That’s assuming Congress can come up with a reform package that will attract a majority of lawmakers in both chambers.

Despite a sizable Democratic majority, Saturday’s House vote was a close one. As it was, liberal lawmakers had to be cajoled into supporting the reform bill, while conservative Democrats balked at costs and other factors.

This suggests there is minimal wiggle room within the party, while Republican support for the measure was all but non-existent.

Among the more contentious aspects of the House-passed legislation was the so-called public option, which would allow the government to provide health insurance as an alternative to private companies. Critics claim that the public option would eventually drive private insurers out of business. We’re not so sure of that, but we wonder if it’s wise policy to have government in the health insurance business.

One compromise being considered would establish a trigger mechanism for a public option. It would be used only if private insurers failed to cut costs for consumers.

But that begs the question: How would they reduce premiums? One obvious way is to deny coverage, one of the complaints that’s now aired against insurers.

This brings up the underlying dilemma of health care reform. The effort is supposed to make health care more affordable, while making it more available. These two concepts directly conflict with each other.

To date, Democrats have failed to adequately explain to the American people how this is going to happen. In particular, skeptics doubt any cost control claims.

Much of the public debate over health care reform tends toward the silly, heavy on ideology and thin on meaningful detail. The real issues regarding health care reform are whether or not it can expand coverage, control costs and improve the methods of paying for it all.

Democrats, as flawed as their efforts may be, deserve points for at least trying. Republicans who have mostly divorced themselves from constructive attempts at health reform didn’t even try when they were in control of Congress.

And for those who suggest the best approach to health reform is to leave well enough alone, we counter that this is a recipe for disaster. With health insurance rates far outpacing inflation, and Medicare looming as a fiscal disaster, blind opposition is irresponsible.

If health care reform is not addressed, it won’t be just a Democratic failure. It will be an American failure.

— New Castle News, New Castle, Pa.

Text Only

Editorials

OUR VIEW: Time for Mongielo to face the music
Town of Lockport auto repair shop owner David Mongielo has gone over the line in his violation of a town sign ordinance.

January 2, 2012
OUR VIEW: At dawn of New Year, a call for civility
Each new year brings with it an inherent hopefulness in our own lives and the larger world around us, this one in particular — if only because it isn’t 2011.

January 2, 2012
Have a safe New Year's Eve
This isn’t the Prohibition era, and we’re not into moralizing about alcohol consumption.
We have no beef about adults having a few drinks on New Year’s Eve, as long as no one else gets hurt in the process. Your choice — hangover, no hangover. Check yes or no.
But, with one very important proviso: Don’t drink and drive.
And we’re very much against hosts of a New Year’s Eve party sending their guests out to their cars when their guests have overindulged. Especially when there are safe options to avoid behavior that risks your life and that of others you may encounter on the road.

December 31, 2011
The bus stops here
The NFTA’s proposed cuts to local bus routes have the potential to really hurt the little guy, the rider who relies on the bus to get to work, to shop, to get to the doctor’s.
It just shouldn’t happen.

December 28, 2011
OUR VIEW: Lockport taxpayers lose again
We find it highly inappropriate that the City of Lockport — via its development corporation — is again punishing taxpayers for renovations to 57 Canal St.

April 26, 2011
CHEERS & JEERS
We applaud Lockport Town Court and Judge Leonard G. Tilney Jr. for recusing themselves from the driving-while-intoxicated case against local attorney Daniel E. Seaman due to conflict of interest.

April 26, 2011
OUR VIEW: Recharge N.Y. is a plus for us
We’re encouraged that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s visit to Niagara County this week brings a new and improved version of the Power For Jobs program to our area.

April 21, 2011
CHEERS & JEERS: The US&J’s view on the best and worst of the week
April 21, 2011
OUR VIEW: Cleanup is up the creek
New York state had an Eighteenmile Creek cleanup within its grasp — and now it’s trying to change horses in mid-stream. And that could leave the cleanup effort up the creek without a paddle.

April 21, 2011
CHEERS & JEERS: The US&J’s view on the best and worst of the week
April 21, 2011
More Editorials Headlines

Editorials

Search Results

GUEST EDITORIAL: Reform effort is a dubious achievement

Site Map

Contact Us