Will delay help or hurt health care deform?

July 24th, 2009, 5:16 pm · 8 Comments · posted by by Alan Bock, Register editorial writer

The Senate has announced that it won’t have a vote on health care reform — heck, it won’t have a bill — before the August recess. Most people, but not all, think this is a major setback for the president. Peggy Noonan thinks he has seriously misjudged the mood of the people, which is less open to change now that the depth of the financial crisis has registered. Kimberly Strassel, also at the WSJ, offers a pretty good recitation of Obama’s missteps. And John Fund of the WSJ clearly hope that more publicity about those who would be losers under reform that he delineates in his column will help to torpedo Obamacare.

On the other hand Ben Pershing at the WaPo thinks delay might be a blessing in disguise. He cites Nate Silver at 538, who thinks delay might not be such a bad thing, noting that economic indicators have been looking up and people might be feeling more optimistic and open to reform in September.

What do you think?

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Orange Punch bloggers write from a particular libertarian point of view. We’re dedicated to advancing human freedom and believe that the primary role of government is to defend Americans’ liberties. We seek a smaller, more limited government, expanded and freer trade at home and abroad, open markets and secure property rights. We believe in the power and goodwill of the individual; that he or she will aspire to a better tomorrow for themselves, for their family and for the community. We would hope for people to exercise integrity and self-responsibility along the way. The bloggers are Alan Bock, Brian Calle and Mark Landsbaum. The genesis of this particular brand of libertarianism is R.C. Hoiles, founder, Freedom Communications, Inc., parent company of the Orange County Register.

Catfish says:

July 24, 2009 at 9:58 pm

I don’t see why Obamacare is always presented to us as health care reform. I mean is it always reform when the Government steps in and takes over a huge segment of the economy and tries to manage it differently than the private sector?
I’ve always wanted to purchase an HSA for our family, but if this plan proposed by the President and Congress passes, I seriously doubt it will be worth it. They don’t want people to be in control of their medical care, because they want us to become dependent on the Gov’t and it’s resources.
Why? Aren’t most people who currently do not have insurance covered in one way or another by the Gov’t anyway? There are so many questions and complex issues surrounding this debate, but the one thing that troubles me the most is that Obama will come back with even greater vigor and energy and get this bill passed without really knowing all the ramifications. The ramifications to many individuals and families could be enormous and it will be a heavy cost to society.

Johnny Vegas says:

July 25, 2009 at 9:09 pm

I think that this will pass-just not right now….maybe 12 momths down the road.

Im behind it.

OldSki says:

July 26, 2009 at 7:17 am

So you can gey those “rolling eyes” checked for free?
- Johnny Vegas says:
  
  July 26, 2009 at 8:54 am
  
  So you can gey those “rolling eyes” checked for free?
  ====================
  
  What does “gey” mean?
  - Chris says:
    
    July 27, 2009 at 9:21 am
    
    gey is a legal Scrabble word. It’s an archaic adverb meaning ‘very’ from Scots. It’s also a variant spelling of ‘gay’ meaning homosexual from Turkish (who knew?).

Chris says:

July 25, 2009 at 9:25 pm

In the fall. 12 months down the road is the silly season all over again.

samintx says:

July 26, 2009 at 7:00 am

We’ll see how all of this plays out once the unions (public employee unions included) express their opinions on the changes that will effect their heath plans. When employers like GM, Ford, Chrysler, GE,etc (also local, state and federal governments) have a government plan option that is less expensive they will want to push it. After all that is what this reform is about; reducing healtcare costs for businesses and providing care for more people. Unions like the UAW and SEIU don’t like anyone messing with their healthcare plans. However, business will then have a government option put in place by the elected officials the unions supported. That should be very interesting for Mr. Obama. He will have to convince union members all over the country that the goverment plan is just as good as the their current plan. Everyone wins, less costly for the employer and better care once the unions give up their current plans for the government option.

OldSki says:

July 27, 2009 at 7:09 am

Sharp eyes there ! Of course I meant to type “get”, but with RA and fingers like Italian sausages, sometimes the keys are just too close together. Thanks for the help.

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