A Popular Populism and Health Reform

Before yesterday’s landmark thumping of Martha Coakley Republicans have enjoyed a populist following of hard working, largely self employed middle class Americans, convinced to the core that big government is their enemy and nemesis hell bent on blocking their quest for the American dream- living free and unencumbered by government regulation and able to keep the money they earn and spend it however they choose.

The basic idea is sound, even romantic that we all enjoy the opportunity to seek a life of our own making. The Republicans have strong alignment at the top and the bottom- billionaires and the Joe Plumbers all support the Republican Party for the same reasons.

Somewhere along the political road Republicans have managed to convince a large middle class America that Democrats only offer socialism, roadblocks, regulation, restrictions and taxes- the antithesis of the American dream. Somewhere along that political road they also developed selective amnesia about being laid off from work because their employer outsourced the work to China, or fight vehemently to keep government out of health care even if it means being uninsured and under cared for, and forget that their home value and 401k deflation was a direct result of their unbridled American dream.

People are saying the health reform bill is now in trouble. The reality is health reform was in trouble long ago. Reform died months ago when the public option was killed in the Senate.  The President failed to sell reform to America.  Conservatives and Progressives hate it for different reasons. The great middle class is employed; they already have health care, and they largely don’t think health care needs reforming. The 30 million or so people who would benefit from health reform don’t have a voice- as large as the number is it’s only 10 percent of the population.

The November elections will likely turn out to be similar to Massachusetts and Congress will be deadlocked for the remainder President Obama’s first, and likely his only term of office. Health reform may come up again in another 12-15 years. In the mean time we’ll be living with the status quo- if we’re lucky.