OP - Republicans Prevent Progress

It's been a long debate over health care--about sixty years long. As it bubbles up to a seemingly climactic end, our editors spill their thoughts. Here, our A&E editor, Chris Zivalich takes a look at the republican side of the equation. Stick around; join us in the comment section and follow our further debunking.

THE POSITION

The past few months in American politics have been marked by an unnecessary series of volatile emotions and malicious campaigning in an effort to besmirch our president and Democratic members of Congress.

Sadly, as elected officials attempt to solve the health care reform crisis, much of the American public has reacted absurdly and viciously, labeling our Commander-In-Chief a "Socialist" in favor of abortions, death panels, and rationing.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, most of these accusations and concepts have been perpetuated by the Radical Right, a euphemistically fitting phrase for those Republican Party affiliates who seem to believe fabrications and well marketed fear-mongering are more representative of bipartisan endeavors than public options or insurance exchanges.

As a result, understanding what it means to pursue universal coverage has been dramatically and inaccurately transformed into a debate on government-run lives over individual liberties.

Quite frankly, that's ridiculous.

THE PROBLEM

None of us have been "victimized" by underlying political schemes or forms of Democratic propaganda. In fact, the most detestable, unprovoked conflict tainting the health care reform process today is radical behavior as demonstrated by some outspoken, far-right activists. 

Regrettably, our most conservative and concerned U.S. citizens have demonstrated and asserted this anger and disapproval with no sense of professional or mutual respect whatsoever, convincing vulnerable Americans to act the same way.

Watch any of the town hall meetings during the August break and you'll see dozens of upset citizens who do not voice their opinions in a civilized, thoughtful manner, but rather attack politicians with questions regarding preposterous proposals that no such bill on American health care reform has ever contained. More importantly, note the conduct of Republican officials in Washington who have proportionately matched their discontent constituents and supporters in unequivocally hostile and uncompromising behavior. 

THE PARTISANSHIP  

Republicans have repeatedly stated that bipartisanship is key to true reform, yet they have consistently refused to incorporate any form of a public option that is federally funded - an essential component to most Democrats' ideology and thus, one side of a bipartisan coin.

I understand that Republicans are allowed to favor lower taxes and less government involvement-which is perhaps why they may not endorse a single payer system despite its incredible financial and social benefits. It is part of their very basic set of political values. However, they cannot protect their corporate support any longer in hopes of securing a solely capitalist-based control on health.

This is not bipartisanship - it's greed and an unwillingness to accept necessary readjustments to an inefficient and convoluted system.

THE PRIVATIZATION

After all, the private insurance industry, bolstered by record-breaking profits, consumes more than it contributes. We know it's earning millions of dollars while our current system becomes more and more expensive. And most importantly, we know that approximately 50 million Americans do not have health care insurance in our almost entirely privatized world of medicine and socioeconomic discrimination. 

In an almost inevitable contrast, the Republicans have failed to provide a comprehensive plan that acknowledges these very real, very scary realities. Yes, they have aimed to protect small business owners, but the employer responsibility requirement as stated in H.R. 3200 would actually benefit small businesses quite handsomely even with a public option - something Republicans have claimed kills small businesses and competition.

According to the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, Phillip Cryan, an economist from the University of California-Berkley, noted that an 8 percent employer responsibility requirement-a new idea that would only apply to 17 percent of firms nationwide-would result in a net gain of 55,365 jobs, a rise in productivity, and a slowing in the rate of health inflation.

Republicans' bills won't support this kind of development for local entrepreneurship; it supports big businesses by requiring the continuation of the unregulated health care market and avoiding any mandated insurance.

THE POSSIBILITIES

In all honesty, Congress cannot revamp the American health system as holistically and as well as it could given their current state and specificities, but it is at least it's fair to say the Democrats have been putting forth a reasonably admirable effort despite internal disputes and unclear messages regarding what the party as a whole desires.

Republicans, on the other hand, are consistently undermining this moderately commendable legislation that would at worst, force Americans to test out options other than private insurance. Instead, they hope to showcase the government's inability to successfully engage in health care in any shape, way, or form.

These catalysts of sensationalized health care agenda, ascribed to innate ideology and inspired to commit ethically unsound acts of political manipulation, should find a fairer way to present their own ideas and values if they wish to maintain a reputable identity while passing laws that are, at the very least, reasonably acceptable within their own fundamental beliefs. Otherwise, the Radical Right will continue to delude and persuade American citizens toward a false sense of reality in which customized and cheaper insurance plans will somehow entice less well-off Americans to find money and acquire health care, adding a few more dollars to every insurance company CEO's already inflated bank account.