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Howard Dean on Obamanomics

By Joseph Lawler on 12.17.09 @ 9:44AM

Howard Dean rips into the Senate health care bill in today's Washington Post.

The bill was supposed to give Americans choices about what kind of system they wanted to enroll in. Instead, it fines Americans if they do not sign up with an insurance company, which may take up to 30 percent of your premium dollars and spend it on CEO salaries -- in the range of $20 million a year -- and on return on equity for the company's shareholders. Few Americans will see any benefit until 2014, by which time premiums are likely to have doubled. In short, the winners in this bill are insurance companies; the American taxpayer is about to be fleeced with a bailout in a situation that dwarfs even what happened at AIG.

Sounds just like right-wing policy experts' warnings.

I know health reform when I see it, and there isn't much left in the Senate bill. I reluctantly conclude that, as it stands, this bill would do more harm than good to the future of America.

Which brings him into line with conservatives.

It's amazing on how many topics the administration and congressional leadership have managed to force progressives and conservatives into alignment. The Fed's record, and to a lesser extent Afghanistan, comes to mind. The important legislative battles right now are big business Obamanomics vs. everyone else instead of right vs. left to an extent that I wouldn't have thought possible.

ADDED:

I should make clear that the title of this post was an implicit reference to Tim Carney's book Obamanomics, the first of probably many to come.

View all comments (6) | Leave a comment

Walter Ronten| 12.17.09 @ 10:46AM

What do you know? Obama really IS a uniter President. He has the Left and the Right in total agreement on his health care reform. They both think it stinks!

Oldefarte| 12.17.09 @ 12:35PM

Howard Dean's rant concerning insurance companies is pure BS. The efficient management of health insurance now accompolished by INSURANCE COMPANIES will now be transferred to our inefficient GOVERNMENT [the same ones who now manage the Post Office and our public educational system]. For the thousandth time, let me 'splain it to ya, folks. This healthcare legislation is WELFARE, pure and simple. It's all about providing free medical care [via insurance] to the indigent population of this country. Why are Democrats so intent on providing same? The answer: V-O-T-E-S from this same indigent class [the same reason why Democrats want IMMIGRATION REFORM and CAP AND TRADE]. It is all part of WEALTH REDISTRIBUTION that Obama discussed with Joe the Plumber. If passed, this legislation will transfer from the PRIVATE insurance companies to the PUBLIC/GOVERNMENT administrative control over health insurance, and the 7-10% profit margin that same represents [which will be used by Democrats to further fund MORE WELFARE]. It's not ROCKET SCIENCE !!!!!

Bill From WV| 12.17.09 @ 1:11PM

and what will the next distraction be? Cap and Trade? Global Warming? Another Stimulus Bill?
Obama said today if we son't pass the Health Care Reform Bill the United States will be bankrupt!
Hey, butthead we ARE bankrupt! BROKE! TAPPED! We the people can't print money like you! We are EMPTY! And you and your Democratic cronies are trying to make us DEPENDANT on YOU for everyday survival!
I'll eat dirt first!

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