Why Obama Can't Fix Healthcare - But This is What He Can Do
By Alex Hammer
Subtitle: How to kill public financing in Maine
The one thing standing in President Obama's way from fixing healthcare in this country is...
Special interests.
Most people know this. But it goes deeper than that.
I didn't say healthcare couldn't be fixed, I said only that President Obama can't fix it. He can't fix it because he is, to large a degree, beholden to the special interests that elect Democrats and Republicans across this country. It's that simple why "Change" in the election becomes "change lite" in office.
Watered down.
As you know, a lot of the, for example, striking differences that he portrayed in the campaign with the previous administration aren't quite so striking now that he is in office. I wouldn't quite call him Bush-lite, as some have done -- that overstates the case. But we do have a duopoly in this country such that both parties are beholden to the same types of influences.
But this is what President Obama can do. And be effective doing. He can use the "bully pulpit" to point out some of the inadequacies of the system (which is built around the party system but he won't mention that) and, perhaps as a result, drive through incremental rather than fundamental change. Some improvement may indeed be better than nothing. The powerful interests will retain much of what they already have (if not gain more), while some minor to moderate improvements may (and I say may) accrue also to the populace at large.
It's only cynical because it is true.
I am running as an Independent for Governor of Maine. Although Maine has had two Independent Governors, James Longley and Angus King (twice), it remains extraordinarily difficult to be elected as an Independent in Maine as it does anywhere else. Luckily, Maine also is a leader in public financing that can hold at bay, somewhat, the effects of special interests. I say somewhat because public financing is under attack in Maine. Surprise, surprise. Does it surprise you that special interests that wield power at National and state levels would sit idly by to such a potential threat to their interests. Public financing is currently too popular in Maine to kill totally (not that they haven't tried). But they do water it down, to the point where the majority of Gubernatorial candidates, reversing a trend, are not in this election even seeking public funds (Note: I am not claiming that I know the funding motivations for all the other candidates, but I do see this as a very interesting result).
In Maine I speak with thousands of Mainers during the course of, and preparing for, the campaign. Doctors tell me that Dirigo is burdened down by special interest mandates that contribute to its costs (I've written on the entire state of healthcare in Maine, there is a lot there). Hey, if you want an entire book of examples of how famous Maine politicians are (if it seems that way to you) beholden also (to varying degrees) to interests of the two party system, check it out for yourself: This Great State.
I'm not saying that politicians of any party, or no party, are any better inherently as individuals in regard to the objectives that they seek, or the means by which they may seek them. What I am saying is that a lot of politicians would like to be able to be able to do a lot more of service for their constituents then they feel that they can do. I speak with them often. Just as in your job maybe you feel, at least at times, a bit constrained by your boss and/or company, money and special interests are still the boss in this country. Maybe it is a bit better than it was at one time, maybe it isn't, I don't really know for sure about that (comparison across history). Maybe it exists because we as a populace allow it. Maybe the strong are strong for a reason because they can impose their will. Maybe the rest of us (we're strong too) give up too easily.
So maybe it's not Obama's problem, or Maine's problem.
Maybe it's your problem, and mine.
How you like that?
Friday
Why Obama Can't Fix Healthcare - But This is What He Can Do
Wednesday
Collins responds to Gonzales resignation - MaineToday.com
Excerpt:
"Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said errors in judgment doomed the leadership of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who announced his resignation on Monday.
“The Attorney General’s decision to step down is a positive step forward for the Department of Justice,” Collins said in a written statement.
“Attorney General Gonzales’ ability to lead the Department of Justice had been undermined by his serious errors in judgment and conflicting statements. I am hopeful that the President will name a strong successor who will begin to restore confidence in the Department.”"
http://news.mainetoday.com/updates/015062.html
Saturday
Maine Dems react to negative press coverage
Excerpt:
"After The Lewiston Sun Journal, Portland Press Herald, and Bangor Daily News all published editorials this week condemning them for bringing dirty politics into the Maine senate election so early, the Maine Democratic Party has issued a letter in response:"
Read Story
Monday
Independent Nation
We all know that a house divided against itself will not long stand.
Democrats fight with Republicans and Republicans fight with Democrats. We have come to expect this. But if moderate, bi-partisan Independents can't find common ground, then how much better at unifying the country are we really going to be?
Another Question
Why, with the large percentage of Americans who classify themselves as Independent do we not have more Independents elected to office? I am from a state - Maine - in which we had the nation's first Independent Governor (James Longley, 1975-1979) followed recently by two term Independent Maine Governor Angus King (1995-2003). Maine's two highly regarded and popular US Senators, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, are known as highly centrist Republicans.
2008
Is there an Independent candidate that has a serious chance of winning the Presidency in 2008? I am intrigued by speculation of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg potentially running for President, and doing so as an Independent. The extremely capable and highly regarded Bloomberg is also personally worth billions of dollars, no additional small benefit when it is reported that the very top 2008 Presidential candidates are likely to eschew public financing as they raise $500 million to $1 billion apiece for their campaigns.
I guess, to paraphrase the famous saying, a few hundred million here, a few hundred million there, and pretty soon you're talking real money.
Maine and I
Not to be too hung up on my state, but Maine also has nationally leading public financing that more and more states are considering and adopting. In 2006 I was an Independent candidate for Governor of Maine. Very unfortunately for me, only a month after declaring my candidacy I was hit by a pick-up truck while a pedestrian, resulting in 29 days in the hospital followed by ten months on crutches. As a result I was not able to participate in Maine's public financing system. But I saw how it elevated the quality of participation and resulted in increased detailing of policy stances in the race.
The United States
I believe that we are a great and strong country. For all of our nation's problems, would you rather live anywhere else? I couldn't imagine it for myself. I believe in the ideals upon which this country was founded and which have evolved over the course of America's history. Certainly we all have things that we wish were different in and/or with the US, sometimes substantially so. But as we look out onto the world and all the difficulties found in many other places, I feel that it is (or should be) very easy to be grateful for the specialness of this country and what we really have.
Finally
I wouldn't care if a Democrat or Republican won the Presidency in 2008 if I felt they were best able to remedy the issues our country faces and most easily bring us together. I believe almost by definition that an Independent would be best able to do this. However, I don't know if the infrastructure, or the consciousness in regard to the power of Independent sentiment nationwide, is established enough for that really to happen now.
Remember those two Independent Maine Governors I mentioned. Both were stunning upsets, being so far behind throughout much of the race to barely be on the radar screen.
Somehow, so improbably, both of those Independents won. In the NFL they have a saying to describe the chances that an underdog still retains when facing a prohibitive favorite. It is: "That is why they still play the game" (as opposed to just mailing in the expected result).
Of course every politician says this, but I truly do strongly believe that America's best days are in front of us (wise choices will insure that). Running for Governor of Maine I was so impressed with the strength and diversity of thought and contribution of 1.3 million people. Factor that up to the size of the American electorate, and I really think that you have something breathtakingly special.
Can an Independent win in 2008? It all depends on what you (that is we as a nation, and specifically the substantial subset "Independent Nation"), think. And then more importantly the productive actions that we are willing to make together armed with that knowledge.
Alex Hammer
