History will judge health care bill

Needless to say, debate and the controversy have swirled around health care reform legislation for months now, both in Washington and around the nation.

For better or worse, the debate is over for now and the implementation will begin.

Of course, we realize there are threats of repeal by Republicans and numerous indications that various aspects of the legislation will be challenged in the courts. Regardless, the reality is this bill represents the first major progressive legislation passed by Congress in more than 40 years.

As is the case historically with legislation such as this -- Social Security, Medicare -- it passed with minimal Republican support. In fact, not one single Republican in the House voted for the final measure, matching the earlier total for the GOP (zero) in the Senate.

Once legislation such as Social Security is passed, then it becomes an essential part of the "safety net" in our society, gains general public acceptance and one finds no Republican Senator or Congressman turning back his benefits because of the "socialistic" nature of the program.

But, for now, we are told the new health care legislation is socialism, though it certainly appears no more so than many other programs in our nation that benefit not only poor people, but the wealthy, as well. In that regard, votes for bail-outs and federal assistance for Wall Street firms, banks and insurance companies have far less difficulty gaining widespread Republican support.

So, in essence, the "socialism" tag rests heavily on who is gaining the benefits.

We are informed enough to understand this particular bill does not come close to approaching perfection, but it is a start in dealing with perhaps our nation's most critical issue at this time -- providing adequate health care services for our people while at least making an attempt to rein in costs on an economic issue that threatens our nation's well-being.

To do nothing is not an option -- so this is a start.

Republican leaders have stated over and over they have good ideas, but were never consulted in fashioning this legislation. Even a casual observer of the political scene easily could see this was not true -- obstruction and painting President Obama with "socialist" and even "Communist" name-tags was the strategy -- all pointing to the 2010 and 2012 elections.

Want proof the Republicans really weren't interested in health care reform? Here it is -- do you ever remember it even appearing on the radar screen when they controlled the Presidency and both chambers of Congress?

This legislation ultimately will be seen as a major step in joining the rest of the civilized world in providing some form of universal health care for its citizens. It is an issue of morality -- pure and simple.

Our health care system, despite its many obvious benefits to us all (and we are thankful to have them), is simply based too extensively on the profit-motive at various points along the way. That is certainly not to say we don't believe doctors, nurses and thousands of other dedicated health-care professionals should not be compensated fairly and well for their services.

But it is to say we do not support the current profit-based delivery system that rewards staffers who search for ways to deny or diminish care for helpless (and hapless) citizens based upon pre-existing conditions, technicalities or simple inability to pay.

Yes, in many ways we should indeed be our brother's keeper and being part of a society that is at least trying to help the less-fortunate gain adequate health care makes us proud, not ashamed, to be an American.

--REK