Purely Political Reasons Why Governor Schwarzenegger should sign SB840
Schwarzenegger can’t run again for governor, he can’t run for president, so his only likely option is the senate. Barbara Boxer will be up for reelection in 2010, his last year as governor. SB840 is the single-payer universal healthcare bill introduced by State Senator Senator Kuehl (formerly Zelda in Dobie Gillis- awesome) This bill would provide health care to every person in California in from birth to death, and is estimated to save $20 billion a year. It virtually eliminates the private health insurers in California.
Once entitlements are passed they become enormously popular. Examples are Medicare and Social Security. Did President Bush get anywhere with social security privatization? No Way. Imagine what it would feel like if you, your family and everyone you know had healthcare for life. Let that sink in for a moment. It is likely to spur an entrepreneurial boom as well, having removed the risk individuals currently take leaving a corporate job. Of course, signing the bill is sacrilege to the Republican party and insurance companies.
So here’s the bet. He signs the bill and it is a success, financially and otherwise, as has been proven in every other industrialized nation. He can take credit for the “bipartisan” solution to healthcare. He might even be seen as this nation’s Tommy Douglas, Canada’s single-payer advocate, voted the greatest Canadian of all time. Plus, his celebrity and wealth significantly buffers him from being rejected by the Republicans. If he does get on the outs with the Republicans, he might even have a better chance at getting elected as a independent. Who will Californians be more willing to vote for, a moderate Republican who is most recently know for budget problems, or a maverick independant who gave them and their sick relative healthcare for life? What if the plan is having budget or other problems? Schwarzenegger can’t be any worse off than he is now. He can say, we tried it your way and it didn’t work. Either way, a powerful issue for the democrats is off the table. Go ahead, give it a try.
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