Some time tonight, the House of Representatives will likely pass the most far-reaching health care reform bill since Medicare in 1965. For an issue this big and unwieldy, it's easy to get lost in the details.
But this is a big deal.
Movement conservatism and the most craven corporate interests have done everything they could to defeat this reform. It is by no means perfect, and the ugliness of making laws has been on its finest display these past few weeks. It's easy to see idiots everywhere.
Democrats, so often hapless and fragmented, at least deserve the credit for sailing into the teeth of virulent opposition. The barrage of angry town-hallers greeted many Democratic reps when they were on recess in August, and some of these members from swing districts are probably going to lose their jobs next fall.
When you get right down to it, the issue is very simple. Health care in this country is an embarrassment. Insurance companies have reaped billions upon billions in profits as they have called the shots and decided who they covered and who they didn't. For decades they opposed any kind of serious reform, and they were perfectly willing to see an unjust and class-driven system perpetuate itself so they could pay off their stockholders.
Final passage is a long way off. But the House is about to turn a page no one has turned before. People in this country will be a bit closer to being treated with the respect they deserve
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