Blog assignment # 2

Blog assignment # 2
By Joe Bassi

I chose to answer question 3 for this blog post. I shall restate it here for those who may not be in the class. It asks’ “Why are so many people uncomfortable with the idea that many problems don’t have a single solution? Give an example of a current controversy in which there are different factions arguing that theirs is the one RIGHT answer and explain why there is in reality no one right answer to the issue”. I will answer the opening question in the previous statement first. In my opinion, people are uncomfortable with solutions that conflict with their own and people are uncomfortable with complications of any kind; especially in the realm of the controversial .Tempers arise. Ideals clash. We are all familiar with the saying “Do not discuss religion or politics at the kitchen table.”

A current controversy that encompasses all of the above elements is illustrated in our country’s Health Care Reform Bill. I do not follow the news frequently, so in an attempt to better understand this controversy and what all the squabbling is about I shall examine a few websites. According to Thomas Bates http://www.rockthevote.com/issues/health-care-center/
Featured Video on Rock the Vote.com .He sums up the current state of the Bill as the Senate has passed a bill, the House has passed a bill that is similar, but both versions of the Health Care Reform Bill are supposed to be compromised upon and the result would be a conference report. After it is voted upon it would then be up to the President to approve it. ( I’m a bill , I’m a bill on capitol hill that’s how I remember civics’ lessons).

Yesterday a 7.5 hour White House summit and debate ensued in D.C. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_health_care_overhaul
To summarize whets happening, Democrats disagree over the President’s plan but they are moving forward with the goal of achieving some kind health care reform.”It’s time to do something, and were going to do it.” Said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada. President Barack Obama says “I don’t need a poll to know that most Republican voters are opposed to this bill and might be oppose to the kind of compromise we could craft... And if we can’t… I think we’ve got to go ahead and make some decisions and that’s what elections are for.” The article includes Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky who said “Frankly, I was discouraged by the outcome” and “I do not believe there will be any Republican support for this 2,700 page bill.” The only voice from this article I read and hyperlinked here that made sense to me was that of our own John McCain, a republican from Arizona who said on ABC’s “ Good Morning America “ that the White House summit was beneficial and a good learning opportunity. I like when he said it is time “to start over. What we’re saying is, let’s start out on the areas we agree upon.” According to the article further on it says those items are dropping sick policyholders, ending annual and lifetime monetary benefits, and letting young people stay on their parents insurance longer, into their 20’s. All these quotes and the information from this paragraph can be found in the hyperlink at the beginning of this paragraph.

Through my research I have stumbled upon the White Houses’ official site. http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting. The opening page asks “what will the Presidents’ Proposal mean for you?” then I click on “I have insurance through my work.” This leads to an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) screen. The Q (question) says “will my premiums / costs go up because of health care reform” The A (answer) says No. I like the sound of that, but I know that someone has to pay for it, probably me in the form of higher taxes.

From my research I can see that there is no one solution to our health care dilemma. No easy way to care of our people, we are the richest country in the world we should have health care for all of us. How to accomplish this? I think law makers should put into effect those things that both parties have agreed on. This would be a victory in bipartisanship and would help some people in the country. Mostly it would get things started, even it was just those three little things it would still be a win/win for Washington and the people. It would be something to build on, and it would lessen the frustration of people like me who just want to see our elected officials accomplish some form of bipartisanship.