Out-smarting Republicans on Their Health Care Political Maneuverings

Republicans put forth an amendment to the Health Care Reform bill that would have eliminated cutting $42 billion in Medicare payments over ten years. Now the Republicans did not do this because they are interested in helping the Democrats or the American people to find a way to find the funding cuts that will make the Reform bill affordable. The Republicans are attempting to show the Democrats as willing to cut health care support for seniors even as they vote for costly programs. They are doing this in preparation for upcoming house elections next year and want to fill their bags of fun facts with such items.

The Democrats react by essentially fulfilling the Republican agenda; they vote the amendment down and look as if they don't want to assist those seniors on Medicare or who will be on Medicare that would be served by home care providers. It seems to me that the Democrats are just not properly thinking through the opportunities that the Republicans are presenting to them. Now while I have no great regard for the intelligence of Democrats overall, and certainly do not assume that the Republicans are any more intelligent than Democrats, I think that these little intramural Congressional power-plays offer the powerful potential to be turned back upon the perpetrators. The supposed craftiness of the Republicans can become a dangerous morass that will bite them in their ponderous backsides.

[Note to the reader: the point of this entry is more generic than just the Republicans. From my perspective you can inter-change the Republicans with the Democrats and there is no difference in the outcome.]

The trick to the troublesome problem that the Republicans are foisting upon the Democrats is that most issues are complex and possess many dimensions. And unless the person presenting the problem thoroughly understands the problem itself, the factors and issues that relate to the problem; and possess adequate or extensive knowledge about the methods and means to apply effective solutions to the problem; they are stepping into the domain of those who can. And just like a lawyer is usually careful not to ask a question that they do not already know the answer to, a politician should not undertake to propose a solution to an issue that they do not understand. The only fortunate circumstance for politicians is that they are almost always competing with other politicians. Thus the risk of running into someone with even an average intelligence is pretty remote.

What should the Democrats do? They should look at the Republican proposal. Determine what the good or favorable aspects of the proposal are, assess the bad implications of the proposal, and assess if the proposal is more advantageous or not than their plan. If it is, then incorporate it into you plan so fast that you can thank the Republicans for helping you to define the most effective plan possible on a bi-partisan basis. If you do it fast enough you can even claim that it is an original part of your proposal since it was incorporated during the initial formative and creative phase of the effort.

If the proposal is not a net beneficial addition, then you can reject it if there are no unfavorable or unacceptable consequences to such a rejection; or you can find a counter-action that will negate the attack, or if it is more desirable to turn the tables on your adversaries then look for ways to show up the Republicans or to have them admit the stupidity and irresponsibility of their action.

Let’s take the amendment to eliminate the cuts to the Medicare home care provider coverage as an example. Now unfortunately, I am not a knowledgeable person about such an issue, and am certainly not a subject-matter expert on health care issues; so this could be a significant challenge for me.

There must be some consequences for retaining the cost of Medicare that are beyond just those related to not eliminated home care provider costs. For instance, what do the seniors on the current home care process do after the home care is removed? Do they wind up visiting or moving into partial or full time care facilities that are provided at a lower net cost? Do they require transportation to and from other health care provider facilities? Do fewer of them suffer more extensive and more costly health care support?

The thing that the Republicans overlooked is that we live in a world of consequences. They thought they understood that; but only because they have a simple minded understanding of the principles of Cause and Effect. They are not even like a novice chess player, they can’t see one or two moves beyond their own. And not be particularly adept at anticipating the consequences of what they cannot see for themselves, they are easy prey to those who can.

Would the Republican be willing to acknowledge their authorship of this amendment and their well-thought out responsibility for it, once the true consequences are understood? Are they willing to stand behind the intellectual might that they bring to their office?