A historic day; no cosmic shift

The health insurance reform bill passed the House of Representatives last night. They needed 216 votes for passage and received 219. Not a single Republican supported the bill and 34 Democrats voted against it. The bill goes to the president for his signature and the Senate will debate and vote on changes the House made to the bill. Want to bet on how that vote will look?

I am in favor of the bill. I don't think that it is perfect, as many don't, but I do think the country is moving in the right direction. We are the only "first-world" country that does not provide coverage for its citizens. Many "second" and "third" world countries provide coverage for their citizens. Surprisingly, Iraq and Afghanistan have universal coverage provided by U.S. war funding. (http://www.gadling.com/2007/07/05/what-countries-have-universal-health-care/) I have heard the arguments from those who oppose the bill. But having gone without health insurance when I was a single parent because I had no coverage from my job and I couldn't afford it otherwise, I understand how necessary this is. So yesterday was a historic day towards universal coverage.

But one thing remained unchanged. The Republicans were still the party of No. They cried foul because it wasn't bipartisan but offered no real alternative. They complained about the "back-room deals" and the lack of transparency. They used fear to undermine support for any reform. They voted as a bloc. One shouted an insult at a fellow member of the House. They showed themselves to be unified in their rudeness and ignorance.

I wonder though what would have happened had John McCain won the election. He supported making health insurance accessible to every American and making an affordable option for middle-class families. (http://usconservatives.about.com/od/johnmccainontheissues/tp/McCainOnTheIssues.htm) That sounds like universal health care and a public option. Could we have had a similar bill with Republican support?

We will never know. The U.S. has taken a step towards ensuring every American has access to health care insurance. And the Republicans have once again shown that they would rather pout and whine about not getting their way instead of engaging in the work of the country.