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February 28, 2004
The End of ... Something?
I don't know if postmodernism is the right word. But I have this feeling that the country is about to be ushered into a "new seriousness" when it comes to politics. The WaPo says that American's aren't buying Bush's Medicare reforms. Good for them!
The lesson of Bush's first two years in office that Karl Rove and Bush seemed to learn was that the appearance of doing something was more important than what you did. Who was the bigger obstructionist when it came to Homeland Security? Was it Max Cleland et al who held up the bill because of relatively minor work provisions, or was it Bush himself for opposing the bill outright for 9+ months only to change his mind at the last minute? Duped voters thought it was the Cleland's...and Bush ran with it.
The Medicare bill, unfortunately for Bush, is the perfect example. When confronted with all the gory details in the legislation, pretty much everyone but the most partisan K-street hacks would have preferred no bill at all. Liberals and centrists such as myself like the idea of a prescription drug entitlement, but would prefer it to actually kick in to help a larger number of poor seniors (which it does not) and would like the government to have bargaining power with drug companies so that our money goes further.
Conservatives didn't want to give out a new entitlement, and are enraged at the cost-efficientness, or lack thereof, in the bill. Everybody pretty much agrees that it doesn't comply with the values of the free market when the government has to pay private insurers to "compete" with what the government can essentially do cheaper.
Finally, results seem to matter more than appearances. Bush should think about this, now that he's agreed to meet with the 9/11 commission selectively -- and for only one hour. The public's not buying what he's selling anymore.
Posted by Chris at February 28, 2004 07:09 PM
Comments
The other conservative criticism I've heard is this: The bill covers the prescription drugs which the private pension plans of big companies already cover. So the government is essentially taking away a big cost from the likes of GM etc, because now GM will be able to cut off prescription drug benefits for their retirees, which GM promised to pay for from the beginning. Corporate giveaway.
Posted by: wellbasically at February 29, 2004 03:28 AM
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