Its September. Another one of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s extended vacations is over. Another relaxing month at a gorgeous secluded villa is in the past. Time to go back to Washington and “do the peoples’ work.”

With a majority in the House of Representatives and a super-majority in the Senate (vacant Massachusetts seat notwithstanding), the veteran incumbent Democrats should have no problem enacting every single piece of legislation that falls in their lap.

So why the trouble over this health care reform? Why is the public being given a chance to speak its mind, to question the ruling party, to raise awareness of their fears? Why hasn’t the Democrat leadership solidified itself and pushed forward on the national healthcare plan (hr676.org says) everybody really wants?

Now, H.R. 676 is the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act. It proposes to widen the current Medicare system to cover everyone in the United States. There are 92 co-sponsors, all Democrats.

With a formidable list of supporters such as this, with a critical piece of legislation such as this, and a powerful mandate from the 2008 elections that gave the Democrats absolute legislative and executive authority, what’s holding them back? (A few town hall meetings that have gotten ugly?)

So, as the veteran incumbent Democrats file into the Capitol building to hear from the President of the United States on how important healthcare reform is, I’m dropping the gauntlet and making a challenge:

Vote on H.R. 676! Go on! If the Democrats really have a mandate from the people, if they really know what’s best for all of us, if they are truly convinced private insurance is broken and only the government can take care of us, then they must vote on the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act and pass it! They must do what they feel is right.

Shouldn’t they? Isn’t that why they think they were elected to office?

According to key Democrats, the town halls are an extension of right-wing talking heads, not representative of the true feelings of the people. There should be no difficulty dismissing rabble-rousers, paid demonstrators, and trouble-makers in order to pass real reform everybody wants.

Make no mistake. If nationalized healthcare was passed, it would be popular (at least to start). If its cheap, people will pick it up in an instant. There is little doubt that people would drop their expensive plans to adopt a cheap government alternative. That’s what happened in Hawaii when the childrens’ health plan was open to all. (Of course, the system went bankrupt in a matter of months. Some legislators did not consider that middle- and upper-class people might want free coverage for their children too.)

Only problem is, the government has never really been in the business of satisfying customers, Medicare included. Private sector insurance is notorious for fighting claims, but they have also designed plans with a view to satisfy their customer’s wishes regarding coverage and care. Otherwise, the customers might shift over to another carrier. (By contrast, H.R. 676 proposes WYSIWYG satisfaction: “What you see is what you get.”)

So, come on, incumbents! Find some backbone. Practice what you preach, and preach, and preach! Ignore your constituents and vote on Medicare for all!

I dare you.

Boaz ItsHaky

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