Can We Afford True Reform Right Now?

   All of the obvious signs point to a big day for health care reform today, as President Barack Obama addresses Congress in a joint session in Washington on Tuesday evening.

   Most administration "watchers" (and most cable tv networks, newspapers, bloggers, and your know-it-all office mate) already know what the meat of the speech is going to be: bringing health insurance coverage to the 1 in 7 Americans who currently lack it.

Great, right? Our job here is done. Right?

Unfortunately, not so fast.

With the stimulus funded, is there money left for health care???

Stated quite simply, no.

   It isn't necessarily that the money is lacking in Washington to pay for meaningful reform after close to 800 billion was spent on the economic stimulus package just last week. Rather, it is the political will, that's lacking.

   President Obama always needed 100% support from his Democratic brethren if there was going to be any hope of challenging the health care status quo. On top of this, he, and his Administration, would have needed considerable support, tacit if not actual votes, from across the aisle.

   Now, however, most Republicans in Congress are smarting from what they perceive to be a defeat over the stimulus package that (supposedly) went against everything they stand for. Because of this, they are not likely to give the President an inch in their stance on an issue, that, as I've described earlier, borders on holy doctrine for many in the Grand Old Party and their K Street supporters.

   Not only are President Obama and his health care team going up against formidable opponents in the form of Republican Congressmen and Senators, but the Administration may receive a lukewarm response from a smattering of fiscal conservatives in his own party as well. Some of these Democrats voted along party lines for the stimulus, but are privately appalled at the amount of new federal spending that the bill authorizes. These Democrats are not as likely to toe the line so readily again, especially not when it comes to any new programs that involve massive Treasury outlays.

How it might get paid for could piss off your rich uncle

   The "total cost" figure of 65 billion is one that has been floated by the administration in the press for some weeks now. It is a figure that is probably ridiculously low, realistically-speaking.

   But even if one assumes that the (initial? final? total? yearly? what?) cost of revolutionizing the way we Americans pay for health care is going to be only 65 billion dollars, where does President Obama plan on getting this money? Especially after spending 800 billion we already didn't have on the economic stimulus bill and promising to cut the budget by 50% before his first term is up...

Where will this money come from???

   Well, if you want Western European-styled government services, you're going to need Western European-styled taxation. Which is exactly the idea that is being tossed around in the West Wing these days. That's right: tax the rich.

   A repeal of the Bush tax cut on the wealthy was just a matter of time, but now the President and his allies in Congress (i.e. The Congress) have the excuse to get it done: tax the rich, in order to save our health care system, and provide insurance for all. It may sound socialist, and to many, it may sound un-American. It may also be the only option that is left.

   We can only hope that President Obama will present a logical, bipartisan plan on Tuesday, laying the groundwork for meaningful and true reform later in his term. In any case, it is going to be a long year for those of us who hope for meaningful change in the way that we all pay for health care.

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