The Democratic Checklist for Obama’s Second Year

My boss’s boss recently circulated an article about the importance of checklists. It was part of a forthcoming book on the same subject (a whole book on checklists, really?).

The gist of the article was that using checklists can help us maintain control in the face of sometimes unpredictable circumstances. They act as the standards in a world full of variables. It occurred to me that there was no more unexpected variable than a Republican in Ted Kennedy’s seat, and with the State of the Union coming up, this would be a good time for a checklist – things that Obama and the Democrats need to find a way to do between now and November.

Election years are tricky – legislators too often want to be cautious about the actions they take, fearing electoral backlash. This year however, doing nothing will be far worse than taking bold, decisive action, even if there are a few failures mixed in. They must take charge and be the ones to frame the debate in Congress and to the American public.  So, I’m putting it out there:

The Democratic Checklist for Obama’s Second Year 

Banking and Credit Reform – serious and fair regulation of banks with an aim to halting abusive practices. I put this one first for a couple of reasons – it’s desperately needed, it’s already being discussed, it will have an impact on the general public, and it is a “language war” with Republicans that can be framed in terms of doing the right thing for the American consumer and the American investor.

 Dodd’s Consumer Protection Agency – Don’t let him weasel out of this one because he wants a job in the private sector when he retires. Let him become a consultant to companies looking to do well by doing right. If he’s still reluctant, do it without him. The guy was one of Ted Kennedy’s closest colleagues. He should behave better.

 Close GITMO – Or at least report on the progress and the hurdles. We know you are working on this. We know it’s harder than you anticipated. Remind us why it’s the right thing to do. Communicate.

 Repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell – It was a misguided attempt to make things better. It failed.  We need this small step toward equality and we have no business codifying discrimination anywhere.

Kill the Healthcare Bill – yep, you read that right. It’s a terrible bill, it’s too confusing, it gives away too much to the pharma and insurance companies, it's barely reform, and I don’t know anyone who likes anything about it. The GOP got way out of the gate in defining this bill and all sorts of misinformation exists that is going to be difficult, if not impossible to overcome. The president needs to take a look at the bill, pronounce it unfit to serve and direct Congress to start again.

 Revive Healthcare Reform – This time Obama needs to frame the debate. He needs to direct Congress to come up with a bill that:   

• Eliminates coverage or price discrimination for pre-existing conditions
• Forbids insurance companies from halting coverage for those who have paid premiums for five years or more.
• Makes it easier for individuals to obtain coverage at a reasonable price by joining a group or guild (think of the credit union model)
• Allows for government agencies to negotiate for drug prices just like any private sector entity – pharma can stop their stupid Cialis-type commercials to make up the profit margins. Imagine what that will save
• Incentivizes pharma to research meds for actual diseases, as opposed to the vanity medicine that is too often their bread and butter.
• Provides tax credits for people buying their own health insurance – if people don’t like the public option, we still need to make health care more accessible for those at the lower economic ends.
• Provides money for states looking to increase their public coverage for the same reason and the item above.

 Create jobs – easier said than done, of course, but you were on to something with the infrastructure projects. They need to get done anyway. Identify the next Sputnik Challenge. I’m not so sure it’s going be “green jobs” unless we are talking about serious research into alternative energies. Also do away with tax incentives for companies moving jobs overseas. That’s just insulting.

That’s seven items. The other thing about checklists is that they should be short and manageable.

Comments

[jacksmith]

A LINE IN THE SAND - From jacksmith - WorkingClass

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/01/21/fixing-health-reform-through-the-reconciliation-sidecar-13-improvements-6-ways-to-save-money-4-important-benefits/

My Fellow Americans and People Of The World

A strong Government-run MEDICARE like Public Option is STILL! CRITICAL!

We have had a long hard struggle to find out what would be the BEST! that this congress and the Whitehouse could do to fix our highly dangerous, poor quality, most costly, and MOST! disgraceful healthcare delivery system in the world. It is clear that congress can do much more for the American people than what is proposed so far.

It is clear that congress can pass a strong GOVERNMENT-run public option CHOICE. Available to everyone on day one. Expand Medicare and not levy any new taxes on workers healthcare benefits and plans. LET THIS BE YOUR LINE IN THE SAND!

Lastly, there can be NO! INDIVIDUAL MANDATES without a strong Government-run MEDICARE like Public Option CHOICE. Or the American people WILL! and SHOULD! revolt with an all out CIVIL WAR against congress and this Government.

House and Senate progressives and the tri-caucuses should aggressively push for the inclusion of a strong Public Option, Medicare expansion, and no new taxes on workers healthcare benefits and plans. If the obstructionist kill meaningful healthcare reform, then you should kill this bill. Because it will be far worse than the healthcare disaster we have now. It's failure will be on the obstructionist heads. And they will be punished and replaced.

WITHOUT A PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE, THIS BILL WILL KILL FAR MORE AMERICANS THAN IT WILL SAVE.

What is proposed in the Senate bill is the worst case scenario for health-care reform. It would shift trillions of taxpayer, public and private dollars into the hands of the private insurance industry (The single most costly, deadly and dangerous product sold in America). And it would compel by law millions of Americans to financially support this oxymoronic criminal enterprise. You cant have a individual MANDATE WITHOUT A STRONG PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE!

You will have NO! realistic way of controlling cost and quality. Cost will continue soaring through the roof bleeding the American people dry, and KILLing our economy. And our quality of healthcare will continue to decline below our current ranking of "WORST! quality of healthcare delivery in the developed World".

From the very start, the American people have been crystal clear about what they wanted. They wanted a humane single payer system like the rest of the developed world has (HR676). Or at least a humane strong GOVERNMENT-run public option CHOICE!! This is what the American people gave the democrats control of the house, control of the senate, and control of the Whitehouse to do.

Those of you that can, should prepare now to remove every member of congress that fails to support YOUR healthcare reform with a strong Public Option, Medicare expansion, and no new taxes on workers healthcare benefits and plans. Run against them in teams if you have to. But take them out. And replace them with a strong single payer or PRO PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE candidate.

Now! is the time to bring maximum pressure on your members of congress. Contact your representatives and spread the word.

The Public Option http://tinyurl.com/yfftf76

H1N1 IS A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION!

I have to tell you now that the H1N1 virus is a man-made WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION! and TERROR! It is a WEAPONIZED version of a flu virus. It has swept the planet infecting millions. And causing a global pandemic that has killed tens of thousands, and injured millions.

The H1N1 virus is the product of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! It was released in the U.S. in Texas in early January of last year, but not recognized until around April 2009 in California. The reason I know this is because when it came to America, it came to see me FIRST! How sweet...

This was around the time the MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! assaulted the Whitehouse with all their devils deals to cripple and weaken YOUR! healthcare reform. Especially your right to have a single payer system like HR676 (Medicare For All) which most of you wanted.

They don't even want you to have your HUGE!!! compromise position of a strong government-run MEDICARE like Public Option CHOICE. To compete with their DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, MURDEROUS, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT PRODUCT (The single most costly, deadly and dangerous product sold in America).

They also wanted to take away your rights to have your government meet it's responsibility to use it's full power to regulate, negotiate, and control drug cost, healthcare cost and quality. Something every other civilized country in the developed World has done for it's people. Their Greed! moral degeneracy and lack of patriotism knows no bounds.

Many of you will remember that before we knew about H1N1. I posted a open message to the President and Congress warning them to be vigilant about their health, and cautious about any medical advice they received. As I said then "they will not hesitate to try and hurt you".

The U.S. and the World have been under a BIOLOGICAL TERROR ATTACK! for over a year now. It is CRITICAL that We The People Of The United States take away control of our healthcare system from the GREED DRIVEN MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX!

For our own National security, and the security of the world.

A Strong, government-run, MEDICARE like Public Option CHOICE. Available to everyone on day one, with the full unfettered power of the federal government to regulate, negotiate, and control cost and quality. Would be the most workable way to deal with this global crisis at this time. Including patent suspensions as needed for national security or the greater good.

As an American I invite the peoples of the World to help us fix our healthcare crisis. And bring pressure on our government to meet it's responsibility to protect global security by controlling, and removing the corrupting influence of GREED and the PRIVATE FOR PROFIT motivations from healthcare in the U.S. and around the World.

I call on the governments of the World and the global intelligence community to track down these MASS MURDERERS, and bring them to justice. CONNECT THE DOTS! And be vigilant that they don't slip in another viral strain on you under the cloak of H1N1 sequestration.

Further, the proposed patent protection on biologic's must be stripped from the US bill. And greatly shorten/restricted, or abolished completely. This is a grave danger to humanity and global security.

I think President Obama is doing the best he can at playing the disastrous deck of cards he inherited from the previous administration. And I think he is doing an excellent job. But the wolves and devils of the medical industrial complex! are trying to exploit, and take advantage of his good heart, and desperate desire to help suffering Americans. But we must be strong and insist that healthcare reform be done right for the American people. Or everyone loose's.

This is all I can say in a message post. I'll try to find a way to tell you more later.

God Bless You My Fellow Human Beings

jacksmith - Working Class

p.s. The so-called nominal H1N1 virus is designed in such a way as to make it more lethal to children and young adults. The medical community must be more vigilant of secondary bacterial infections in the young caused by H1N1. And remember, a viral infection is also a transfer of genetic code to you. Think about it, and be vigilant. :-(

[sparkly jules]

I'm with you on all seven. *applause*