Why does Oregon always have to be the first state to try out major social reforms that are touted as "models for the nation," but somehow never end up being copied (and almost always end up failing.)
I'm sorry, but our politicians are not smarter than those in every other state. But they certainly do have a much higher level of hubris. Time and again they have decided they know how to restructure major institutions, and again and again they have fallen flat.
But they are up to it again. Comprehensive health care is coming to Oregon. A Senate commission co-chaired by the state's newest Democrat Ben Westlund has released its recommendation (to the plaudits of the Oregonian, of course who has cheerleaded every one of Oregon's failed experiments) for a universal health care system.
The Oregonian said Westlund's commission "took a giant step forward by endorsing the general shape of a first-in-the-nation plan for universal health care."
Now, says Westlund, "All eyes are once again on Oregon."
Yes, that is probably right. I'm sure they are all watching to figure out just what NOT to do, just like when precisely zero states copied CIM and CAM, or our land use planning system, or Oregon's first attempt at Kitzhaber-care.
What is the huge innovation that came out of the committee? Well, the details are vague. In fact, there are no details. "Virtually all the details have yet to be worked out..." the Oregonian tells us.
Huh? Just what did the Senate Commission endorse, then? They proposed "framework" for a plan that would cover every Oregonian, including 600,000 who currently don't have insurance.
What is innovative about that? Well, nothing, really. What the Oregonian is all excited about is that there seems to be a change in attitude where it is OK for state leaders to "talk openly of the need for universal health care."
Well, yeah, there has been. I think it was during the election. Democrats are in charge, and they have nothing but open field in front of them.
And so I am sure they will be able to put this "potentially historic" system in the end zone, and Oregon will once again get to make all the costly mistakes while other states look on, snickering.
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3 comments:
Obviously, free markets have failed to deliver and competitive forces have torn our infrastructures apart.
More free markets will only make things worse. Innovators at The Oregonian know this. Their economic model is monopoly and it is not "broken" - it works.
Take the profits out of health care by going single-payer and we'll be able to cover just about everyone.
Keep in mind that the state and federal oligarchs will want a better health system for themselves, like they get with retirement. After all, we couldn't really afford PERS for everyone ... or could we?
"Not The Oregonian, The Oregonion"
You should have used Measure 37 as a better example of how Oregon is a terrible model for other states to follow.
Fortunately, California, Washington, and Idaho learned from the disaster that Measure 37 has become. They rejected their own versions of creating a privileged class of property owners who are exempt from the rules that apply to everyone else.
Your point is well taken. Being first in something doesn't mean being the best. Measure 37 is a perfect example of this.
",,,,,,the disaster that Measure 37 has become"
What a perfect example of what Mr. Kremer is addressing.
How is M37 a disaster?
It has neither cost the billions of dollars the opponents predicted nor spawned any pig farms or smelters anywhere.
In fact there has been very little of anything at all result from M37 to date.
Yet M37 was declared a disaster before it was implemented so therefore it must be a disaster now, right?
In reality Kremer is thoroughly correct. And M37 is not an example of Oregon failure at all.
In stark contrast the identical camp that declares M37 a disaster is the same folks who defended CIMCAM as wildly successful all the way through it's floundering pathetic, wasteful and destructive live and now death.
Same goes for our funny, if it weren't so bad, land use and transportation planning system which is nothing but total fraud and chaos at it's core and outcomes with perpetual cheer leading praise coming from the clowns who condemn M37. Just as they did for CIMCAM.
And a cult of dishonesty is at the core of such propagandizing support.
Any honest look see through M37 claims shows that the vast majority of them, with little exception, are completely harmless and if and when built out will mean a boon to local public services, economies and housing affordability.
Brian, you are wallowing in your own unethical ignorance.
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