Blessings come in disguises!

I am thrilled that the U.S. Congress has passed a long due health insurance reform. Thanks to the corrupt politicians who are ‘lobbied’ by the insurance companies, this reform which will save money (130 Billion dollars in firs ten years) while covering 32 million desperate people with no insurance, had so much trouble in getting approved. (As a person with good insurance, I love the new protections in this bill like ‘no lifetime cap’ on the coverage). However, the people in this country have been lied to so many times by the Government, that most do not believe in these benefit claims. Republicans, who had no problem in giving major tax cuts to the wealthy and start costly wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, are now lamenting that this country is on her way to becoming another ‘Greece’ with a huge debts. Political analysts are predicting major gains for the Republican Party in the coming 2010 mid-term elections. This baffles me. How can people, except for the wealthy, ever vote for this ‘Party of No’ whose only solution for every problem is more tax cuts!

I am also excited to see President Obama finally come out swinging for the health care reform, after being in ‘hibernation’ most of last year. I am so impressed how he went to the Republican caucus on live T.V., and demolished their arguments against health care reform. His speech to the Democratic caucus on the eve of the final vote, is one of the best he has ever given. He is finally starting to meet the expectations of the people who voted for him, which include me. The loss of Ted Kennedy’s Massachusetts senate seat to Republican Scot Brown was blessing in disguise. It made Democrats realize that unless they grow some backbone and fight, people are ready to throw them out of the office. After that loss, they had to give up their obsession of maintaining a filibuster proof 60 majority in the Senate, and stop all the machinations required for it. President took a big chance by fighting for health care reform single handedly (ignoring the advice of people like Rahm Emanuel who wanted to play it safe), and it paid off. I hope that President Obama and team have learned that bipartisanship is a pipe dream, and that they should not be afraid to take on the Republicans and show their bluff. This victory in health insurance reform is a major turning point in the Presidency of Obama, which is on its way to becoming one of the best over!