HEALTHCARE REFORM IN USA – WHY DO THE DEMOCRATS FIND THEMSELVES FIGHTING AN UPHILL BATTLE?

Damned if you do, and damned if you don’t! That is the kind of situation the Democrats are finding themselves in at the moment on the issue of health care reform in US.

First of all, what the heck is this so-called healthcare reform? Did the message not go out to masses in US as to what this reform is all about? Did the message not go out loud and CLEAR why this reform is needed by US economy?

Well, as expected the opposition, i.e., Republicans did their best in attacking the reform and along with it the Democrats. The Republicans succeeded in confusing the issue – they got the so-called tea parties organized, they used the stream of media, which supports them, to fullest advantage. And in their efforts, it is also alleged (and it seems this may be true) that they were strongly supported with all the resources by the vested interests, namely, Insurance lobby.

Result: The anti-Democrats are dead against the reform; and the Democrat vote base is hugely confused about efficacy of this reform, if any.

Things that helped the Republicans: Essentially poor dissemination of information about the urgency of this reform, and why the reform is important for US. There was hardly any coherent and sustained dissemination as to the need for reform in order to save the American economy in the long run.

If this reform is/was so darn important from the economic standpoint for the average American and US as a whole, then why was this friggin' message not spread by the dint of the loudest of the drums?

· There was hopelessly feeble rebuttal of dis-information/mis-information spread regarding ‘Death Panels’, applicability of the reform to illegal immigrants, public option and so on.
· There was no proactive planning to anticipate Republican negative campaign and counter it – the town hall meetings were hardly arranged in numbers by Democrats that could effectively dispel and rebut the dis-information/mis-information spread by the vested interests.
· Democrats (including President Obama) and the supportive media tended to use long winded professorial verbiage to explain the purported advantages of health care reform and/or rebut Republican sponsored dis-information/mis-information.

So, the net result is that the upcoming elections (and to be held in Nov 2010) are making Democrats jittery – the once safe Senate seat of Massachusetts is going to the wire now. If the Republicans win that seat, life for the Democrats in the Senate will become lot more difficult in terms of getting new legislative measures put in place.

Did Obama bite more than he could chew? Not if this was the only issue to be dealt with. Did he underestimate the bog-down potential of the various issues that were on his plate in the first year of his presidency? The turn of events seem to suggest so.

Can anything be done by the Democrats to salvage the situation? Yes! Arrange a nation-wide barn storming campaign to clarify the confusion/questions the average American has with regard to health reform; and to explain how s/he stands to benefit (individually immediately and as society as a whole in the long run), how USA stands to benefit, the perils to US economy if health care aspect is not handled properly NOW.

Also, the campaign needs to stress that health care is not a Democrat or Republican issue – it is a human being issue, a national issue for the future of USA. Is it a bit too late in the day? May be, but no harm in trying.

And, for God’s sakes simple short sentences have to be used to explain the various aspects of the reform. Long sentences with journalistic verbosity are never helpful in communication with masses– this simple cardinal rule of mass communication needs to be drilled in the heads of the Democrat speech writers and the so-called liberal media practitioners.

President Obama is said to have lots of tenacity – he needs to bring all of that now to get over this major hump in his current political journey. He seems to be sincere, working for and on behalf of the people of US for the greater good of the society. If this is true, the power that be from the Heavens above will turn the course in favour of the good-doer.

PREDICTIONS FOR YEAR 2010 – WITH NEO-ASTROLOGICAL APPROACH!

Planet ‘A’ is supposed to sextile with Planet ‘B’ in 1st quarter of 2010, whereas Planet ‘C’ will try to sneak in a trine with some other planet. Planet ‘D’ is not going to be lazy either, it will conspire to quinseptile Planet ‘E’ in 2nd quarter of the year. However, Planet ‘F’ will be actively courting Planet ‘G’ to sesquisquare with it sometime in 2nd/3rd quarter. Meanwhile, Planet ‘A’ would surreptitously semisquare to Planet ‘X’ with an eye on Planet ‘Y’ in 3rd quarter. Most likely this will bring about a quantrine of Planet ‘G’ to Planet ‘H’. This will inadvertently lead to quantiplexing of the geodetic forces between Planets ‘F’ and ‘M’ which will surprisingly throw up a benign hemisquaring between Planet ‘C’ and Planet ‘Y’ towards the end of the year.

While the abovementioned high falutin astrological mumbo jumbo may not be making sense, unless one looks at it with a 'neo-approach', but as an aside at least an attempt could be made, in simple English, to look at topics which may be critical in 2010. Let us see what these topics could potentially be:

Economic:
· There may be a dip on global economic front starting early 2nd quarter and then stabilizing in 3rd quarter. Global economy will be on the path of recovery by end of 2010.
· Noble metals will continue to entice and frustrate the investors.
· There is possibility of next round of bitterness between developed and the developing nations with regard to CO2 emission limits.
· China will likely continue to provide artificial resuscitation to its economy never mind even if it creates potentially disastrous bubbles.
· Large oil companies are likely to feel more frustrated in making investment decisions in non-conventional sources of crude oil.

Political:
· Russia is likely to look for chinks in American armour and bargain accordingly.
· Europe will like to concentrate more on economic recovery unless forced (by unforeseen circumstances) to pitch in more in fight against religious radicalism.
· Western European nations will increasingly realize their foolishness to have allowed influx of Muslim population in their countries during last few decades.
· China is likely to enhance its global political gamesmanship this year.
· Forces inimical to Iraq’s ambition to increase crude oil production are likely to become more active.
· Pakistan’s top army brass will most probably prove to be greater rouges and tough to fathom. The Army and their intelligence agency will at the same time play mystifying games of betrayal and boot licking (of western powers).
· Middle East may see rise in tension towards 3rd quarter.
· Afghanistan’s fate will most likely experience roller coaster like ride tagged along with waxing and waning of Karzai’s fortunes/faux pas.

Other:
· US will increasingly realize the need to recover the leadership through new technological breakthroughs and inventions.
· Ultra rightists and hard core Republicans in US may cause to bring misery to their land due to their insensitivity and inveterate dogmatic approach.
· BASIC countries are likely to continue their unified approach on matters of mutual interest. India may see some political instability during the 1st half of the year.
· The world is likely to see its fair quota of natural disasters – earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions.

One hopes the voice and thinking of the saner elements belonging to any political stripe or religious belief all around the world will prevail over the doctrinaire and fissiparous elements.

Whether or how the galactic constellations may be influencing the events of 2010 and beyond is anybody’s guess, but at least one can pray to that Supreme Almighty God to lessen the potential of miseries and provide the wisdom to human race to realize, feel and act with reason and compassion. Amen!

TOO MUCH ON OBAMA’S PLATTER – BUSH ERA MESS, HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES, AND HAVING TO COUNTER REPUBLICAN ONSLAUGHTS!

If one sees the current challenges facing President Obama one can’t but help feel empathetic for him. Only someone utterly insane or the greatest rogue practitioner of political antagonism would allude that Obama is not working for the interests of USA. As well, to any sane and impartial observer it would be apparent that Obama is bogged down in too many things at one time.

The major issues which he has to contend with currently can be grouped under following heads:

Mess left behind by George W. Bush administration – These include:
· The worst economic situation since the great depression of 1930s and hopeless action planning to deal with it in medium and long term;
· No clear cut politico-military strategy in Afghanistan;
· Confused policy vis-à-vis dealing with Pakistan, Taliban and the Af-Pak region;
· Highly strained relations (with a dash of mistrust) with Russia;
· One of the most inept, languid, direction-less handling of Middle-East ever seen;
· Convoluted one-step-forward-two-step-backward policy on Iran;
· Half-hearted policy endeavours with regard to dealing with North Korea;
· Disastrous policy stances on environment;
· Myopic goals clouding economic and strategic planning vis-à-vis China;
· Rushed through and muddled exit strategy from Iraq;
· Highly negative international image of USA.

Election campaign promises of President Obama – These include:
· Health care reform;
· Closure of Guantanamo Bay prison camps;
· Changes in environment policy of US;
· Reforming the way Wall Street operates and curbs on Wall Street fat cats;
· Reducing/neutralizing the stranglehold of lobbyists and power brokers in Washington.

Republican antagonism – These include:
· Obstruct any and every change that President Obama is trying to bring about (even if it means selling one’s soul to corporate business interests in order to thwart Obama);
· Criticize everything that Obama says nationally or internationally, including, his body language (his well-mannered gentle bow to Japan’s Emperor was foolishly criticized by the Republicans);
· Pray and hope that US lose where Obama makes some effort for the country (example: US effort to bring 2016 Summer Olympics to Chicago);
· Belittle a prize of the stature of Nobel Peace Prize;
· Pooh pooh due diligence performed by American President in arriving at some key policy decision (example: the thorough decision making process regarding troops surge in Afghanistan);
· Criticize rescinding of US decision to deploy anti-missile shield in Poland and Czech Republic.

It is so unfortunate that the list of mess (of major issues; minor issues are too numerous to be enumerated) left behind by Dubya and his cronies is so long. It certainly is not something to be proud of for any president (who has the slightest sense of self-esteem, shame and achievement).

The worst and the most damning legacy of Bush-era is the systemic and structural failure of the financial system of Wall Street which was presided over by (the obstinate pro-Republican) Alan Greenspan. Following the disastrous economic downturn the band-aid response that was crafted by Bush’s economic advisors was no less shameful and inadequate.

On top of Bush-era’s long list of mess, Obama is trying hard to implement his election campaign promises. Obviously, his plate gets crowded with too many items. Sensing this, the defeated and humbled Republicans are trying to pounce upon each and every opportunity regardless of whether or not it makes any sense.

Somehow surprisingly the brunt of Republican attacks is largely being borne by President Obama himself. The other Democrat personalities don’t seem to be getting involved or pitching in early enough in responding to and/or rebutting the Republican salvos. This is bringing additional pressure on the President.

Moreover, Obama was initially pushing for the best outcome of any policy change initiative brought about at Capitol Hill or at international stage. However, he is realizing that more often than not the politicians – be it Republicans or Blue Democrats – give a damn for the good of the masses or the country; their first priority is self-preservation and self-perpetuation, rest everything is secondary.

One hopes that the powers, which apparently subsist in and operate from levels beyond what human imagination can fathom, will provide the necessary force and support behind the well-meaning efforts of the current US president because it is unimaginable, to a sane and rational mind, that the US president is not acting for the best interests of United States. One will have to wait to see whether the good intentions won in the long run or the kitchen sink politics of Washington prevailed!