Sunday, March 21, 2010

Yes We Did: Thank You, Mr. President.

For the first time in our nation's history, Congress has passed comprehensive health care reform. America waited a hundred years and fought for decades to reach this moment. Tonight, thanks to you, we are finally here.

Consider the staggering scope of what you have just accomplished:

Because of you, every American will finally be guaranteed high quality, affordable health care coverage.

Every American will be covered under the toughest patient protections in history. Arbitrary premium hikes, insurance cancellations, and discrimination against pre-existing conditions will now be gone forever.

And we'll finally start reducing the cost of care -- creating millions of jobs, preventing families and businesses from plunging into bankruptcy, and removing over a trillion dollars of debt from the backs of our children.

But the victory that matters most tonight goes beyond the laws and far past the numbers.

It is the peace of mind enjoyed by every American, no longer one injury or illness away from catastrophe.

It is the workers and entrepreneurs who are now freed to pursue their slice of the American dream without fear of losing coverage or facing a crippling bill.

And it is the immeasurable joy of families in every part of this great nation, living happier, healthier lives together because they can finally receive the vital care they need.

This is what change looks like.

My gratitude tonight is profound. I am thankful for those in past generations whose heroic efforts brought this great goal within reach for our times. I am thankful for the members of Congress whose months of effort and brave votes made it possible to take this final step. But most of all, I am thankful for you.

This day is not the end of this journey. Much hard work remains, and we have a solemn responsibility to do it right. But we can face that work together with the confidence of those who have moved mountains.

Our journey began three years ago, driven by a shared belief that fundamental change is indeed still possible. We have worked hard together every day since to deliver on that belief.

We have shared moments of tremendous hope, and we've faced setbacks and doubt. We have all been forced to ask if our politics had simply become too polarized and too short-sighted to meet the pressing challenges of our time. This struggle became a test of whether the American people could still rally together when the cause was right -- and actually create the change we believe in.

Tonight, thanks to your mighty efforts, the answer is indisputable: Yes we can.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

7 comments:

Ozarker said...

An idea that came from Republican Teddy Roosevelt over 100 years ago, and an idea that was even advocated by Richard Nixon, was finally passed without a single Republican vote. What has happened to the GOP being an advocate of the concerns of the people?

Jack said...

Bus,

Where is the "Like" button. Oh, that's facebook. Good story. I'm posting links to two documents that tells us all about the bill and what it will do.

That's the guy I voted for. I'm proud of our Speaker of the House, too. She's been a force.

Anonymous said...

Jim, I was beginning to wonder if my vote for Barrack was in vain, it seemed health care was doomed.

This Congress and the President are the bravest group of people our country has ever produced. They laid their jobs on the line. We owe them. Our president chose between doing the right thing and being re-elected. He is a true hero to the common, working class person.

While the bill is not perfect, it is a start in the right direction.

Republicans are monsters and they will let our people die for profit. Insurance companies rule them. The insurance companies are the Republicans "god".

Three cheers for the Democrats!!!

Anonymous said...

So we are over $100 trillion in debt when you figure in unfunded liabilities like Social Security. Now we have another entitlement program that will lead to more of the same. And now one is even paying attention our credit rating is falling as well, which is going to make the cost of doing anything rise. This is the wrong bill at the wrong time.

Why is it they can never fix anything like Social Security? Let's overlook the fact that program is bust, and trust us we can make this one work. It's just silly that you would even buy into this when the federal government's track record is failure. It's obvious they know how to pass these things, but they obviously don't know how to make them work. In less than ten years, with the national debt about to pop, we will hear this program is broken as well, and the only thing that will fix it is more government money, but that never works. It just leads to more fraud and abuse.

Jack says this is the guy he voted for, but this doesn't even resemble the bill Obama promised. What are you really proud of? You didn't get your public option.

Busplunge said...

Anon 7:05 --

What ever happened to America, love it or leave it?

Ozarker said...

Didn't Rush Limbaugh say he was going to leave the country if healthcare reform passed?

March 08, 2010 5:17 pm ET
From the March 8 edition of Premiere Radio Networks' The Rush Limbaugh Show:
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201003080033

Didn't he say Costa Rica? They have universal healthcare there. When he was in Hawaii and had a heart attack, he was treated in a state that had state-wide healthcare--everyone is covered. Where is he going to go??

Busplunge said...

Anon 7:05 -- I apologize for my earlier remark, it was a hasty generalization. I was projecting a republican mantra from my youth onto you. I shouldn't have done that.

So, why don't you take a deep breath and read these two articles.