On Sunday, under Cloak of Darkness, in the Wee Hours of the Night and in a Snow Storm, the Senate Voted on Health Reform

I am reminded of a phrase my grandmother used to say, “Fra dire e fare, ch’é un mare” - Between saying and doing there is an ocean in between. For all the talk about openness and transparency, it seems things could not be more the opposite given the government was shut down yesterday (Monday) due to the snow. Most all of what has been negotiated has been behind closed doors, with only the ruling party invited to participate. All the rhetoric about “If anyone out there has any good ideas, we want to hear them,” appears to be just hot air. Only one party actually got to bring any of their ideas to the floor for a vote. Despite the fact that Rasmussen has polled the public on healthcare reform and 57% do not want the government to do anything at this point, Congress seems determined to ignore the will of the people. Many have called their elected representatives to find no one answers the phone, email is answered by form letter that usually is not even relevant to what the person wrote. Local offices of elected officials are not taking calls from what my colleagues are reporting to me. Americans are frustrated because their voices are being flatly ignored.

It seems our elected officials do not realize healthcare is not like any other issue. People go back to work for healthcare coverage. The definition of a good job is that it has good benefits, especially health benefits. For most people this is a giant security blanket. They will take a lesser paying job in order to get coverage.

What is most disturbing is the fact that Congress fails to appreciate that the uninsured are not a static group of people. According to a 2004 CBO report, “About 30 percent of Americans under age 65 who become uninsured in a given year remain so for more than 12 months, while nearly half obtain coverage within four months.” Given that most are only transiently uninsured, one must ask. “What is the purpose of remaking 1/6 of the economy and financing it with high taxes to build a system that is not scheduled for implementation for four years, for people who will not likely need coverage by then?”

Politicians, beware passing any of the currently proposed healthcare bills. Failure to recognize that this unlike any other matter before Congress, will surely mean peril in next fall’s election and beyond.