My group and I headed outside to watch Representatives leave the Capitol building. We cheered them as they left and said thank you. It was a moment I will cherish for a long time to come.
I spent the day on the Hill that day and tensions were high. I spoke with pro-reformers and people who really did think the world was going to end if this bill passed. People were exhausted. I met Representative Lewis. He was very kind and informed us that they had the votes and we did not need to worry about the bill not becoming law. We spoke with some staffers who had had horrible experiences the day before with people storming offices and not leaving.
No one will tell you this bill is perfect. Most on the left will say it doesn't go far enough and many on the right will say they want the government out of their healthcare. It raising taxes on many people and on services (such as tanning beds). There is no public option and our government just mandated 32 million new customers to private insurers. Fortunately, the sky is not falling, and instead people will hopefully have access to healthcare. This is something that has not been the case ever before.
The battle was ugly and has only gotten uglier once it was passed and became a law. I have struggled with what I wanted to happen with this bill. I am disappointed with the unnecessary arguments about aborting funding and disappointed that we have an unnecessary and unconstitutional Executive Order to limit a woman's right to choose. I am not sure that this is the best thing that we could have gotten. Democrats gave up a lot and got nothing in return from the Republicans. I still do not know if we could have done better and I am settling, which is not something I am fond of doing. I do believe it is a GIANT step in the right direction.
However, Congress did it! Now, we have officially signed Healthcare Reform into law. We need to take a minute to celebrate. This opens up opportunities for so many people with chronic disorders or any pre-existing condition. I have the ability to get back on my parent's insurance because my employer doesn't offer me anything. This opens up choices for so many young people around the country.
We need to take a moment to celebrate because starting this year no one will have a lifetime cap and starting in a few years, there will be no more annual caps. These are battles that people have been fighting for a long time.
The bill is not perfect and the implementation process is vital to ensuring that people get what they should get out of this bill. My hope is that it is a step toward a public option and more competition. It is my hope that it will lessen discrimination and it will give people more choices in their life. I have been a part of some debates online over the last few weeks. They have been interesting and I do understand people's frustration with the process and with the bill. I have found through my many hours of reading about the bill and listening to people talk about the bill that it will have many positive impacts on our healthcare system. States are already being hit hard by the passage of the bill.
I also want to take a moment to give President Obama some credit. Some still argue that his rhetoric needs to end and action is needed. it seems like people are ignoring the fact that his rhetoric is different than any president we have ever seen. He is willing to say things that aren't always politically popular but are necessary. I admire his passion and compassion. Our President is taking on some of the biggest issues our country faces. Financial Reform and Immigration Reform is next. I may not agree with everything he is doing, but he moving our country forward and creating the debate on things most shy away from.
It is with optimism that we continue to progress towards a better society. I am trying to epitomize the realistic idealist.
No one will tell you this bill is perfect. Most on the left will say it doesn't go far enough and many on the right will say they want the government out of their healthcare. It raising taxes on many people and on services (such as tanning beds). There is no public option and our government just mandated 32 million new customers to private insurers. Fortunately, the sky is not falling, and instead people will hopefully have access to healthcare. This is something that has not been the case ever before.
The battle was ugly and has only gotten uglier once it was passed and became a law. I have struggled with what I wanted to happen with this bill. I am disappointed with the unnecessary arguments about aborting funding and disappointed that we have an unnecessary and unconstitutional Executive Order to limit a woman's right to choose. I am not sure that this is the best thing that we could have gotten. Democrats gave up a lot and got nothing in return from the Republicans. I still do not know if we could have done better and I am settling, which is not something I am fond of doing. I do believe it is a GIANT step in the right direction.
However, Congress did it! Now, we have officially signed Healthcare Reform into law. We need to take a minute to celebrate. This opens up opportunities for so many people with chronic disorders or any pre-existing condition. I have the ability to get back on my parent's insurance because my employer doesn't offer me anything. This opens up choices for so many young people around the country.
We need to take a moment to celebrate because starting this year no one will have a lifetime cap and starting in a few years, there will be no more annual caps. These are battles that people have been fighting for a long time.
The bill is not perfect and the implementation process is vital to ensuring that people get what they should get out of this bill. My hope is that it is a step toward a public option and more competition. It is my hope that it will lessen discrimination and it will give people more choices in their life. I have been a part of some debates online over the last few weeks. They have been interesting and I do understand people's frustration with the process and with the bill. I have found through my many hours of reading about the bill and listening to people talk about the bill that it will have many positive impacts on our healthcare system. States are already being hit hard by the passage of the bill.
I also want to take a moment to give President Obama some credit. Some still argue that his rhetoric needs to end and action is needed. it seems like people are ignoring the fact that his rhetoric is different than any president we have ever seen. He is willing to say things that aren't always politically popular but are necessary. I admire his passion and compassion. Our President is taking on some of the biggest issues our country faces. Financial Reform and Immigration Reform is next. I may not agree with everything he is doing, but he moving our country forward and creating the debate on things most shy away from.
It is with optimism that we continue to progress towards a better society. I am trying to epitomize the realistic idealist.
