HiSTORY HAS BEEN MADE!!!!

Excepting the fundamental underlying flaws in our healthcare system itself that were unaddressed, such as the insanely frivolous malpractice laws (and related insurance) the over-charing for services and medication to cover the cost of lobbying and marketing and so forth.

You'll probably like this.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/philip_howard.html

Last time I was in Pittsburgh visiting grandparents, my family from Maui were there with us. We got into an interesting conversation about Hawaiian hospitals vs. most other state's hospitals. Hawaii has laws requiring hospitals to actually show a population need for a particular service or technology. So within a certain area, not every hospital would have the same expensive machinery and services. Which means hospitals aren't acting like competitive businesses, instead they're distributing services across a population in a cost effective manner. This discussion was prompted because we drove by a sign advertising a Pittsburgh hospital's new "Full Body scanner". Which is a ridiculous waste of time and money. Even House hates full body scans.

@ Mark
Ah, the everything mess.

 Derail in progress. Fun times arguing politics ahead

I'll agree to peg Iraq on Bush as an individual. I have a hard time pegging it on the Republicans as a whole given that over half of Senate Dems and 2/5ths of House Dems supported it at the most important time to have stopped it. For the economy, I realize it's hard not to speak in broad generalizations. So I'll join in. I think the current state of our economic trouble has been caused by a bipartisan effort spanning decades. As individuals, I think both Bushes did miserable jobs with the economy. I think Clinton did alright. At the same time though, it's Congress that approves the yearly budget. And since we vote for all of these people with an insane incumbency rate, the ultimate responsibility lies with us for failing to do our political homework and oust ineffective politicians. If only every American could put our financial future above comparatively petty things like religion and stance on abortion.
[imgspoiler]http://brual.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/national-debt-gdphalfsize.gif[/imgspoiler]
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/repor...histo4.htm
So, no president has actually decreased the size of our national debt since 1957. While I will not disagree that it was Clinton who catalysed the slowing of the debt growth from 1997-2000 by balancing the budget, keep in mind it was a Republican majority congress during his second term. During Bush Sr.'s term? Democrat-controlled Congress. Reagan dealt with a Republican Senate and Democratic House for his terms. I think the grand economic mess lies with all of them.

My caveat to that: I'm not an economist, nor do I consider myself clueless. What I know about the causes of the current recession as well as where the national debt comes from come from what I learn from brief news articles and- for that chart and pretty numbers- some quick googling.

I know this is fence-sitty of me, but I'm 50/50 with this bill. Given that my mom has had Multiple Sclerosis for at least 15 years now, I know how medical costs can pineapple up a family, even with a job and insurance. (My dad was out of work for almost 2 years until January. Little late with the timing on this, Congress. lololol) I look at the healthcare system in America and I see an aging beast. It needs a fix sooner than later. I'm pleased to see Obama and many other legislators have fought for something to be done. That being said, I think this was a sort of wobbly step sideways. It feels more like putting shiny new titanium knee replacements into an old man. He might walk a lot better, but he's still an old man heading for death.

The ultimate decider for health care reform will be execution. I feel this way about a lot of bills. Not every provision may be agreeable, but if it can be executed properly, a mediocre plan becomes better than a perfect plan executed poorly. So, what I really want from this bill is a timely institution of the provisions, as well as the supposed outcome of this saving the government money in the long run.