Everyone's covered and we know who's stroking the checks. Now what?

Ok, so I'm underwhelmed by the Baucus proposal. As with everyone else, he's worried about covering everyone and how to finance care. It is very light on cost cutting or even cost containment. Washington needs a wake up call. Insurance company profits are a very small cost driver in the grand scheme. Covering everyone is a worthwhile goal, and contrary to reports from the left, everyone would like to see that become a reality. Unfortunately, no one is talking about the fact that it will be easier to cover everyone if we first start tackling the cost issues. After all, it is those cost issues that are the reason the uninsured total has risen to the level it's at now.

Everyone wants to be a hero in Washington. Obama wants to be seen as the president that finally tackled healthcare reform. He knows full well that he won't "tackle" it unless he proposes watered down legislation that doesn't piss off too many constituents. That's the Washington Way.

I can't voice too much opposition to what's out there for fear that Jimmy Carter might call me a racist. After all, if you aren't siding with Obama on this, it must be because he's part African-American. Also, if I voice opposition it will be because I don't want ANY reform. It's the Liberal Way or the highway, or so it seems.

Ask me what reform looks like and I'll show you something that directly addresses the major cost drivers. Many system stakeholders won't like it, but the good ones will benefit in the end because it will make the whole stronger than the sum of the parts. I'm still waiting on the call from President Obama...