Dem Congressman: Obama Willing To Be One-Term President Over Health Care
Dem Congressman: Obama Willing To Be One-Term President Over Health Care
Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-IA) told a local town hall meeting that President Obama told him he would deal with health care — even if it cost Obama re-election. Said Boswell: “And he said, ‘No, if it makes me a one-term president, I’m going to, we’re going to take it on because the country is in need of us taking this on.’ I respected that very much.
I know as a bride-to-be I am not supposed to think about such complicated, undainty, and unlady like things as politics. I know I am supposed to be choosing the perfect pink palate for my princess dream wedding, but this is really interesting, and makes me like Obama even more.
I am very interested in the conflict between politics and policy. In an ideal world these two things would never clash, and the creation and implementation of good public policy would be rewarded with reelection. But we don’t know what a perfect piece of public policy is. I imagine a perfect public policy would benefit everyone individually, and at the same time benefit the group as a whole in perpetuity. There would be no losers, only winners. I can’t think of any policy initiatives that would fit this definition. Regardless what is good policy is often terrible politics, and vice versa.
No matter what piece of public policy we are talking about, there are going to be some people who will ultimately be worse off. When healthcare is reformed (I am an optimist!) there will legitimately be people who had it better before. Health insurance companies (as well as big PHRMA, private hospitals, and individual doctors) do stand to lose out. You might say who cares about insurance companies, but that is a judgment call. The owners, employees, stockholders, and (I am sure in a few cases) the clientele of the insurance companies care about the Insurance companies. In addition people are scared that they will lose what coverage they have or that going to the doctor will become similar to going to the DMV. I refuse to believe that people actually think that we are going to kill old people.
The government works for the people and they are held accountable at each election. If a politician pisses off too many of their constituents, they lose the next election. So they are beholden to what the public thinks. A politician’s job ultimately is to make their constituency happy. Our system is set up to punish those leaders who do not adhere to the public’s desires. But the public is vast group with many different interests, and all too often the groups who are the loudest have the smallest amount of members.
I think our system works. I also think the most ethical thing Obama can do is shove healthcare through without regard to his own future elections, but I trust that public opinion will prove to be ultimately favorable. Our healthcare system is shameful. If Obama turns out to be a one term president who gave us universal healthcare, he will have done more for the domestic policy in the country in his four years than has been done by any president in the last half century.
There is a rule in presidential politics that says all major legislation should be passed as far away from the next election as possible, or it won’t get passed. People have a few years to chill the fuck out and with their new health plans will be able to get that much needed anti-anxiety prescription. The world won’t seem like such a dangerous place to the protesters after popping a valium or two.
