Obama Brings the U.S. One Step Closer to the American Dream

Published in Huanqiu
(China) on 25 March 2010
by Lian He Bao (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Michelle Deeter. Edited by Catherine Harrington.
Obama Fixed Two Holes in the American Dream

On March 24, Taiwan’s United Daily News published an article in the social commentary section called “Obama Fixed Two Holes in the American Dream.” The article says that Obama pushed the U.S. Congress to pass the health reform bill, and that even though the domestic response was not very enthusiastic, in the long run this bill will have a lasting effect on American vitality. First Obama broke racial barriers and was elected president; then he went on to pass the health reform bill, thus closing the gap between the rich and poor caused by the capitalist system. With his own strength, he fixed two holes in the American Dream.

Below is a selection of the article:

“Today, the U.S. Congress passed a health care reform bill by seven votes. Even though the domestic response was not so enthusiastic, this will affect the manifestation and preservation of American vitality and have a long and deep impact. Obama stuck to his ideals even when facing strong resistance. Obama’s victory was difficult but beautiful.

As the most powerful country in the world, it is a disgrace to see that America’s current health care coverage is so low, failing to cover disadvantaged groups in the country. Many lower class people are unable to pay for insurance premiums and have to pay extremely expensive medical bills when they get sick. Over half of the individual bankruptcy cases in America are caused by the inability to pay for the costs of medical treatment. The late Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy described health insurance as “the most ambitious industry that American society has not yet perfected.” After passing this new bill, 32 million people who were once abandoned by society will finally have health care. This repairs a significant hole in the American Dream, supporting that which stresses, “all men are created equal.”

This accomplishment is especially important to Obama. Not only does he need this success to boost his approval ratings, but he also needs it to face an upcoming crisis. In a year a crisis will arise where every level of society will confront the government; at this time, Obama will need an ideally designed reform to reawaken the trust and hopes of the public towards government policy. In the past year, the Democratic Party has lost special elections in several states, including states where the Republican Party formed a strong boycott against the health reform bill. On top of that, the Tea Party rally is helping to gradually discredit Obama. In this situation, if the health reform bill had not passed, Obama would seem like an ineffective president, and it would be an uphill battle to pass any other reforms.

But Obama’s fighting spirit cannot be overestimated. He is not willing to let down the American people and he is resolutely working to end the broken health insurance system that only served the rich. However, this is not an easy task. His first challenge is to overcome America’s deep-rooted capitalist thinking as well as the business community’s huge emphasis on profit. Next, he has to respond to the stonewalling and criticisms of the opposition party and various interest groups, revising the bill until it is as workable as possible. After that, he still needs to persuade the American people to be caring and make sacrifices so that everyone can work together to patch up the missing piece of the American Dream.

When the bill finally passed the House of Representatives, it did not receive full support from the Democratic Party, demonstrating that the new system is still quite controversial and reaching a consensus will continue to be difficult. Furthermore, on the eve of the vote, the Obama administration was well aware that after winning this battle, the Democratic Party will lose a lot of middle class votes during the midterm elections in November. But compared to achieving an influential, long-lasting, historical reform, the outcome of one election is not so important.

Obama has said before that a government official’s job is not to get re-elected but to solve problems and help people. For this reason he would prefer to be a good president for one term instead of a mediocre president for two terms. Obama has always impressed people with his rhetoric, but after the health care reform bill successfully passed, he proved his ability to develop policy and showed that he has outstanding determination.

Of course, one should also give credit to his supporters in the Democratic Party who were actively helping to pass the bill. Many of them chose to stand with him on the front line, fighting for the biggest dream of this era.

The health reform bill has been called the biggest, most complex, and most controversial policy in modern history. After going through nonstop discussions with hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, insurance agencies and other industries as well as ten months of disputes with political opponents, the representatives of Congress finally compromised and drafted a bill. Obama has never given up due to a drop in approval ratings and he has not chosen to waste his time on small routine reforms to fulfill his responsibilities. Instead he has faced risks such as losing the next election and encountering public opinion backlashes by taking a step that half a century of former presidents were unable to make.

When looking at the political advantages and disadvantages, giving health care to 30 million disadvantaged groups and offending the sensibilities of countless people who want to keep the status quo is completely unreasonable. But if all politicians only calculated these short-term benefits, how could one ever develop a fair and humane society?

This margin of seven votes not only patched a big hole in America’s health insurance, but also gave a chance for a society focused on business to transform itself. Obama wants to spend nearly one trillion dollars over the next ten years to fix the wound in health care, and the people who would benefit are marginal groups. This point was the main point of controversy during the debate and remains a point of controversy even after the completion of the legislation.

First Obama broke racial barriers by being elected as president, then, by completing the health care reforms, he closed the gap between the rich and poor caused by the capitalist system. With his own strength he patched two giant holes in the American Dream. Thanks to these two accomplishments, it seems that he has already established a reputation for himself in history.”




台湾《联合报》24日刊出社论《奥巴马修 补了美国梦的两大缺口》。社论说,美国国会日前通过奥巴马力倡的健保改革法案,其国内响起的欢呼也许不那么响亮,但这对美国精神的维持和彰显,却具有深刻 而长远影响。奥巴马先是打破种族藩篱当选美国总统,继又完成健保改革弥缝了资本主义社会的贫富裂罅;他以一人之力而修补了美国梦的两大缺口。

文章摘编如下:

  美国国会日前以七票之差通过健保改革法案,其国内响起的欢呼也许不是那么响亮,但这对美国精神的维持和彰显,却具有深刻而长远的影响。奥巴马坚持理念,不顾强大的反对力量推动改革,这一仗赢得艰难却漂亮。
  作为世界最强大的国家,美国现行健康保 险覆盖率之低、对弱势民众照护之匮乏,可说已到了“可耻”的地步。许多底层民众因无法承担保费,而必须支付昂贵的医疗费用,美国有超过半数的个人破产案件 都是不堪医疗花费所致;因此,已故民主党参议员泰德•肯尼迪将健保形容为“美国社会迄未完成的最大志业”。可以想见,这次新法案通过,将原本被社会遗弃的 三千两百万人纳入,这对强调“生而平等”的“美国梦”而言,是多么重要的补漏工程。
  这一役对奥巴马格外重要。不仅因为他下挫的声望需要新的支撑,一年来美国朝野对峙的机锋快速激化,也需要一场具理想色彩的改革,重新唤起民众对政治的 信任和期待。近一年,民主党在几个州的补选接连失利,包括健改在内的几个法案遭到共和党滴水不漏的杯葛;加上“茶党”运动的威胁扩大,奥巴马逐渐被抹黑。 在这种情况下,若健保改革方案过不了,奥巴马不仅将形同跛脚,要再推动其它改革也恐怕举步维艰。
  但奥巴马的斗志不可小觑,他也不愿辜负美国人民对他的期待,坚决要打破美国健保“只服务有钱人”的病态。这当然不是一件简单的工作,首先,他要挑战 的,是美国根深蒂固的资本主义思维,并须超越商业社会的重利本质;其次,他要因应反对党及既得利益者的杯葛和质疑,不断修改法案使之更臻可行;然后,他还 得说服美国人民拿出关怀及牺牲的精神,共同修补这个缺角的美国梦。
  当法案最后在众院过关时,即使民主党议员也未全数投下赞成票,即可知新制争议之大、共识之难。即在表决前夕,奥巴马政府也明白,赢了这一役,民主党在 十一月的期中选举恐将流失不少中产阶级选票;但比起推动一项影响深远的划时代改革,一场选举的输赢也就不必那么费心计较了。
  奥巴马曾说,公职人员的工作,不是只在使自己重新被选上,而是要解决问题、帮助民众;因此,他宁可做一届好总统,也不愿做两任平庸总统。奥巴马一直以 滔滔雄辩见长,但健保法案成功过关,证明他实际政治运作的手腕不差,更有过人的坚决意志。当然,这些也要归功于他的民主党同志没有袖手旁观,多愿意和他站 在同一阵线,为一个时代的理想打拼。
  健保法案被称为美国近代史上最庞大、最复杂也最争议的政策,经过和医院、药商、保险业者反复沟通,和政治对手反复争辩了十个月之后,终于妥协出最后的 执行方案。奥巴马未曾在声望下挫的打击下弃守,没有改采微小幅度的措施来虚应故事,却冒着败选和民意反弹的风险,把美国半世纪以来多少任总统无力跨越的城 池一举攻下。
  从政治利害盘算,为三千万弱势者的健康,而冒犯数以亿计反对改制者的惯性与权益,绝不符合“理性”思考。但如果政治人物都只计算这些近利,一个比较平衡、人性的社会要如何产生?
  七票之差,带给美国的不止是健保破洞的大修补,也提供了这个重利主义商业社会一次自我改造的机会。奥巴马要在未来十年以近万亿美元来修治“脓疮”,而受惠者主要是边缘族群,这是此案研议期间的争议所在,亦是完成立法后的价值所在。
  奥巴马先是打破种族藩篱当选美国总统,继又完成健保改革弥缝了资本主义社会的贫富裂罅;他以一人之力而修补了美国梦的两大缺口,经此二役,历史地位似已可确立不移。
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