The People's Seat

In case you've been under a rock and/or tune into the news only to learn about Heidi Montag's latest plastic surgery disaster, we've got a new Senator in our fair Commonwealth. He is handsome. He is a GREAT campaigner. He has a truck. That's all I really know about him. Oh, and I also know a lot of things he's against- like health care reform (which he voted FOR in MA (will return to this in a bit)) and calling the his seat Senator Kennedy's seat. He REALLY hates those things. Yet, it remains to be seen what he actually is FOR. He is like one of those grumpy guys on the Muppets, complaining about everything that the other, more proactive Muppets do but not ever taking a position on what would be better.

The national media is all over this story. OBAMA FAILS! CHANGE of the CHANGE! HEALTH CARE REFORM IS DEAD! THE PUBLIC SPEAKS! AMERICA! WOO!

The thing is, this election meant a lot and is hideous for the democrats and our futile attempts to salvage vulnerable seats in next year's mid-term. But one thing that this election is NOT is a repudiation of health care reform. Despite unprecedented global shit-storm, health care reform maintains a 76%+ approval rating in MA- those are numbers that are of political dreams. 97.4% of our citizens are and have been insured for the past two successful years of reform. How you like 'dem apples, Norway? NINETY-SEVEN POINT FOUR PERCENT. Only 1% of the budget is a result of health care reform associated costs (according to the non-partisan, right-leaning Mass Taxpayers Foundation). In other words, and let me be clear here:

HEALTH CARE REFORM IS WORKING.

Naysayers can shrug, selectively ignore facts and use simple phrases to miscategorize it, but on this one, I can assert that I am right and they are wrong. I work with the numbers people. Thus I can say: it is hard, we need to really focus on system delivery and the cost of care in general. The tenets of health care reform are not the problem, but the ass-backward market that establishes rates that promote excessive use and specialty care and financially punishes doctors for going into the proven preventative type of medicine, primary care.

So, to Mr. President and Congresspeople I say this: we are women and men not Muppets. Let our emotion-laden election not interfere with real progress. I'm not saying push a bill through, but stop pretending that your job is anything BUT creating and implementing meaningful legislation, with or without a super majority. As Jon Stewart, the smartest American of our generation said, "W. didn't need a super majority when he did WHATEVER HE WANTED for 8 years."