23 March 2012
The Value of Ryan's Plan
Of course, it’s valuable to have a reasoned alternative plan for reforming our health care system to the Affordable Care Act; that’s the way it can be made more effective. Unfortunately, the Republicans weren’t in the mood for reasoned compromise when the Act was drafted and passed two years ago, and the Republican candidates for office this year don’t seem to be any more disposed to compromise either. The House Democrats under Pelosi, too, were unwilling to make concessions that might have made the Act more palatable to conservative congressmen. Now we’re left with a deadlocked federal government, frustrating many of us, including effective legislators like Olympia Snowe.
Irreconcilable views are the nemesis of effective government. I don’t believe Paul Ryan is that hard-nosed, but his party and those who oppose the Obama administration have cast his plan into a sledgehammer that they seem to want to use to break up any practical reform of our fiscal programs, starting with Medicare and Medicaid. I hope that the re-elected Obama administration will find a way to collaborate with a smart guy like Ryan to complete workable healthcare, tax, and other reforms over the next four or five years.
Of course, it’s valuable to have a reasoned alternative plan for reforming our health care system to the Affordable Care Act; that’s the way it can be made more effective. Unfortunately, the Republicans weren’t in the mood for reasoned compromise when the Act was drafted and passed two years ago, and the Republican candidates for office this year don’t seem to be any more disposed to compromise either. The House Democrats under Pelosi, too, were unwilling to make concessions that might have made the Act more palatable to conservative congressmen. Now we’re left with a deadlocked federal government, frustrating many of us, including effective legislators like Olympia Snowe.
Irreconcilable views are the nemesis of effective government. I don’t believe Paul Ryan is that hard-nosed, but his party and those who oppose the Obama administration have cast his plan into a sledgehammer that they seem to want to use to break up any practical reform of our fiscal programs, starting with Medicare and Medicaid. I hope that the re-elected Obama administration will find a way to collaborate with a smart guy like Ryan to complete workable healthcare, tax, and other reforms over the next four or five years.
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