Consensus? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Consensus

There comes a time, after much effort to reach a consensus decision, when a group may conclude that consensus is not possible, because one of the parties to the "discussion" clearly is not interested in the objective and not willing to compromise or modify it's position in a meaningful way. This happens in all aspects of life. The conclusion in such a case is that consensus is not possible. The question becomes "what now?"

In the case of reform of the American health insurance system, the objective for many of us remains to provide all Americans with health insurance so they can obtain necessary health care. The Democratic Party has clear majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Republican Party has made it clear that it is more interested in protecting the monied interests in the insurance industry and is not interested in a consensus decision.

The answer for me to the "what now?" question, is move forward. No reform of our insurance system is possible without a real public option. This country is the only industrialized nation that even allows for-profit health insurance companies. (For more info about how other nations provide health care, listen to the "Fresh Air" interview of TR Reid or read it.) A public option is the only way to break the strangle-hold that private insurance has on our health care system. It's wrong for the President to back off a public option and we should all tell him that, loudly and clearly. You can do that by clicking here and signing a petition to the President.

The Democrats control the House and Senate and should stop wasting time and energy trying to reach a "consensus" plan with the GOP. The House and Senate should draft a true reform bill and vote on it before the end of September, 2009. As Froma Harrop says, what voters will remember in November 2010 is whether the Democrats passed reform, or did not:

Democrats: Don't worry about November 2010 at the moment. Voters gave you the White House and commanding majorities in Congress to fix America's long-festering problems. Let Republicans go to their corner and holler, afraid that Democrats might get credit.

Democrats have the power to reform health care now and to do it right. They should use it.

It's time for President Obama and the Democratic Party to tell the GOP to take their fear elsewhere and pass health insurance reform with a government option now, without the GOP.