American Maggie

Many individuals have argued the topic of health care reform on the basis of party lines. However, a recent article published in the Washington Post highlights a new argument in the current debate: following through with one’s promises.

During Obama’s campaign for the White House, he stressed the importance of a transparent government. Today it appears that he has retracted such a commitment. As the debate on health care reform progresses we are seeing the renunciation of more and more assurances. The most recent is Obama’s pledge to conduct the health care debate in an environment that is open to the public. One may argue that there is a multitude of open dispute on the issue. Yet, as the Senate vote on the bill draws near, three Democratic lawmakers continue their discussions behind the veil of closed doors.

Senators Reid, Dodd, and Baucus have spent the past week, not in the view of American citizens, but rather in a room with two other senators, deciding the future of Americans. This is not an issue of who is deciding the future of our nation’s health care policy, but rather how politicians are proceeding in the debate. Secretly adjusting the bills to wed opposing arguments is not a democratic form of the legislative process.

As of yet there are no plans to televise the roundtable dialogue on CSPAN, as President Obama once pledged. And while chairmen will continue to regularly brief lawmakers about their arguments, there remains no actual public disclosure of what is concretely said inside the chamber.

The health care bill is a form of legislation that directly affects citizens of our nation. It is not a proposal which has indirect impacts on Americans, but rather, is a measure which has the potential to greatly impact our generation and generations to come. Obama did not have to guarantee constituents complete access to the health care debate. He was not coerced to run his campaign on the pledge of full transparency. However, he did, and for a President who prides himself on fighting for the people of the United States, it only seems justified that he should follow through with his promise.

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Kathleen Someah previously attended Kenyon College where she studied English and Political Science.  She is currently an intern with a political think tank where she focuses primarily on issues relating to homeland security.

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