Did you ever own a fully restored classic car? No? Me either....they were always waaay above my pay grade. But I have known people who did, and they all told me their restoration was a gradual, evolutionary process that took years before their cars were trophy winners.
First they disassembled everything to see what needed to be done. Then they rebuilt the engine and transmission while the body was being repaired and repainted. Finally everything was put back together, with new re-chromed wheels and appropriately sized tires. With a new convertible top and upholstery, it was ready to meet the show judges.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stay with me here....Now that a replacement for ObamaCare has fizzled it looks like we're stuck with the old ACA, and that's a problem. By all accounts it's failing fast. There are too few insurance companies to choose from in many areas, premiums are rising, and deductibles are so high many people can't afford to actually use the insurance they're paying for. So instead of just walking away from it and watching it wither, and killing people (literally) in the process, why don't reasonable people work together to FIX IT?
Just like with a classic car, first you see what needs to be fixed. Then piece-by-piece you clean it up and keep what you can, buy new, better parts as needed, and finally reassemble it to become something that actually works. It's an evolutionary process, not an overnight quick fix.
They say there isn't enough competition between insurance companies, so why not allow them to compete across state lines? The GOP campaigned on that idea, and if it can bring down premiums, why would the Democrats object? (They've always said insurance companies were their archenemies, right? Here's their big chance to spank 'em!) Except for the health insurance company CEO with a mega-bonus at stake, why would anyone object to companies competing for your business? Am I missing something?
They say the pharmaceutical companies are screwing us blind, which is another reason insurance costs are so high. The Democrats on the Left and now the Tea Party on the Right have always wanted to come down hard on them, so why can't they bury the hatchet long enough to give Big Pharma an ultimatum? "Get your prices here in America in line with the international market, or we'll free up consumers to legally buy their prescriptions overseas. No more official government cover."
Line-by-line, read the ACA, keep it if it's working, and change it if it isn't. Have an ongoing amendment process that keeps constantly striving to improve it. The old system (pre-ObamaCare) was slowing failing us, so it was just a matter of time before something new had to be tried.
They say if everyone walks away from a negotiation just a little miffed, it was probably a fair deal. Forget the concept of "all or none". It's time for some give and take. Americans seem pretty fed up with the extremists after their sorry debacle last week, so this might be a good time for moderates to get something done.
We have us one helluva mess. Something has to change.
S
