Republicanger

I have not gone on a political rampage of late- since HRC's campaign, really- but a conversation/argument that occurred this past weekend with an uncle rendered me sleepless for a second night in a row and I must vent. Bear with me, this is long. Said Uncle, quite genial in 'real life', becomes a hawkish punk when the topic of governance arises in conversation. The following is his premise and that which I said AND what I wished I had said:

- UncleGOP: Government should be run like a business: deficit spending should be impermissible

-- Blogger: Really? Which business did you have in mind? GM or AIG?

- UncleGOP: Our tax money should not be spent in support of those that do not contribute to the progress and success of the nation.

--Blogger: So the 9.6% of people nation-wide that have been laid off should just leave? I'm sure you know someone who has a family, is a good citizen but is currently not 'contributing' to society. Want them to leave?

-UncleGOP: There are no legal immigrants. In my mind, these 'legal immigrants' do not deserve to receive anything from me- especially health insurance.

--Blogger: They are Taxpayers! They are in the process! They are contributing members to society (you hypocrite. re: see above GOP assertion).

And on, and on, and on until this blogger looked at her elder and said: We clearly do not see the role of government and the importance of the safety net in the same way and I am just going to choose to disengage from this conversation.

But then I became very frustrated with myself.

If I've learned anything from my current job, it's that communicating a policy idea effectively is as, if not more, important as the idea itself. Health Care Reform efforts from Washington are being misrepresented-- both because of juvenile, outrageous behavior of its detractors but also due to failure to present the absolutely essential reform as absolutely essential.

Health Care is bankrupting the nation; those of us that are currently covered feel this inexcusable market pattern in the 8-12% increase in our premiums each year. The uninsured cost our country more and more each year and, the millions of adults aside, there are millions of American children who are not receiving the primary and preventative care that will set them up for a healthy, productive life as American adults (read: taxpayers/contributors to society/etc.). Our current situation, by any standard, is unreasonable, unsustainable and unacceptable. Yet, a majority of Americans (well-educated, thinking Americans) are unsure whether Health Care Reform is really necessary or just a giant leap into socialism.

Here are somethings that I want the Democrats to say in 5th grade language, with accompanying visuals and charts that any 2nd grader could read and understand:

- You are in charge of your own insurance. If you like it, keep it! No changes, nothing will happen to you. I see these people on the side of said visual--out of the legislated realm of HCR. Individuals as well-informed as my grandfather are confused by this point and it really should not be so opaque. President Obama has said this over and over yet the more emotive, simplistic language of the opposition is ringing louder among voters. Hence, we need some pictures and simplistic phrases (Karl Rove style...but for the good guys)

{A problem with producing the simplistic, visual presentation to combat the naysayers (some may call them LIARS) is that they need to be generated by the legislature, who have their heads so far up their asses that they can't decide upon a bill. There is a necessary, but daunting, tension for the administration to both 'sell' HRC but not 'drive' its progress. Congress needs to step up, get on message and just repeat the message over and over. Rinse and repeat.}

- Care Coordination means you will have MORE face time with your doctor, have less wait time for appointments and get exactly the tests you need. Rationing is a big scary word bandied about by the opposition. The administration is attempting to counter this scary one-worder with stats explaining the accepted truth that ~30% of Health Care spending is used on wasteful tests and procedures. The current system rewards quantity of care, not quality. Proponents of HCR need to get individuals out telling their stories about wasteful, unhealthy treatments and procedures they've received. They need to flood the blogs, the news sites, local community gatherings etc. and give real world examples as much as possible to get 'regular folks' to see that care coordination means more primary and preventative care (which, ironically, is way cheaper than secondary and mitigative care), more time with your doctor and more freedom/choice with what a person can do with their own health. Republicans love freedom and choice right? (unless it involves anything that happens in a bedroom, of course)

- Money. Yes, HCR is expensive. Super expensive. But not nearly as expensive as the war in Iraq has been. I'm telling you, draw me (and everyone else who doesn't hold a PhD in Finance) a picture about how we will pay for it. Compare it on a chart to other expenses to show how little it is in comparison to National Defense. Then promote health care reform as a matter of national defense. A sick, broke nation can not defend itself on the battlefield or in the battle for economic sustainability. I may be liberal, but I don't want another unsustainable entitlement to come home to roost in 10-15 years- especially when the precedent of such is two big government entitlements (SSI and Medicaid) that are on the verge of collapse. I want to be told, over and over, why HCR is different.

Keep it simple, keep it straight and be honest. The truth is on our side on this one- we just need to get a LOT better at speaking to it.