Part III of What the Democrats need to win in 2006
Ok, the Democratic party is looking for something they can do to show the country that they have ideas, can act, can implement, and are not just the party of Anyone but Bush.
But the Republican's control all three branches of government in Washington. So what can the Democratic party do? They are blocked from passing any initiatives. And this makes them look weak (they are) and bereft of ideas (they are not).
I think solving the health care crisis can be done now by the Democrats. And in doing so they would show themselves as the party that is solving one of the biggest problems facing people in this country. Here is how I think this can be done today.
There are numerous proposals on how to fix health care. And the bottom line is no one knows which will work well (forget best - just well is a question). At the same time, if we change the system for the country, we get at best one chance to do so and we will have to wait until 2008 at the earliest to start as it will require a collective effort of the President and Congress.
What if instead each state fixes health care for their state? Hawaii has a good statewide system (has had it for years). Massachusetts is about to start one. So the Democratic party makes it a top priority to come up with a solution in the remaining 48 states.
This has a number of advantages over fixing health care at the federal level:
- We have 50 different experiments as to what approach works best. As we learn from these individual approaches, we can determine which system works best and either make that a single federal system, or work with the states to make all state systems more effective.
- The Democrats control many state governments. This can be implemented now. And by making it part of a national program, as states improve health care in their state, it does not reflect just on the politicians in that state, but on Democrats across the country.
- The states controlled by Republicans will then have a choice, join the Democratic program or tell their citizens that they don't get improved health care. Either way the Republican party loses.
I think to do this effectively the Democratic party should keep it simple.
- Each state is different, both in terms of it's needs and what it's citizens will find acceptable. Support each state's politicians but do not try to jam a centrally designed system down their throats. Help them as they decide what works best.
- Make a commitment to introduce a plan in every state legislature by a specific date. Even states that are fully controlled by the Republican party, a plan will be introduced.
- Have a national list of requirements. Keep it short and simple, a sentence would be best. Something like catastrophic coverage for everyone.
- Start the discussions in each state now. So as we hit the November elections, voters will see that the Democratic politicians across the country have done the hard work to have a plan to introduce in each legislature in early 2007. In other words, a vote for a Democrat will be a vote for a health care fix that they know will be ready to introduce in the next session. A vote for a Republican means health care may not be fixed.
And at the federal level? The Democratic senators should put together a bill to encourage and support the states in their effort. This can include things such as allowing medicare & medicaid to be included in the new state system as long as the coverage remains as good or better for those affected.
There if the Republicans at the federal level oppose it (as the ones in the House will almost certainly do), then again in the 2006 elections a vote for the Democrats is a vote for fixing health care and a vote for the Republicans is a vote for the status quo.
But the key part of this is the politicians in each state have to start doing the hard work of crafting a plan for their state. It's easy to promise "a fix." But if voters see the work being done, the arguments and trade-offs that show a workable bill is being created, then they will believe and then it can have a significant impact on their vote.
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