Brummett asseses Gov. Mike Beebe’s modest effort to nudge the state legislature toward implementing locally controlled health care exchanges and the Republican Party’s all-in bet that obstruction of universal health care is the winning hand.

Powerful lobbies, including market sectors that will profit from broader health coverage, might help Beebe and Democrats in time. But this is presuming Republicans are unsuccessful in continuing the so-far successful campaign to convince people that “government health care” is a terrible thing and that Medicare and Medicaid and subsidies for private coverage and coverage of sick people and coverage of young people are likewise terrible things.

Advertisement

I am not confident sanity will prevail. Already, Republicans seem to be making important inroads in convincing voters that millionaires are being put upon and the correct way to balance the budget is to kill thousands of jobs by curtailing federal spending and raising taxes on the working poor, who aren’t paying enough to support the lifestyles of rich and famous.

Be a Part of the Fight

Step up and make a difference by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, the progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock that's been fighting for truth for 50 years. Our tough, determined, and feisty journalism has earned us over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, all of whom value our commitment to holding the powerful accountable. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Join us in the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times today.

Previous article Live, it’s Saturday night Next article Food truck festival in Little Rock today