Political stories of 2009
Long waits were the norm for H1N1 vaccines
6. The H1N1 virus and subsequent news coverage: You would think no one ever was sick before 2009, but the swine flu spread fear, panic and death throughout the world. Milwaukee became the epicenter of the national outbreak and spawned unnecessary panic, as MPS closed schools for a week when some children came down with flu symptoms. After a week, the schools reopened and officials admitted they overreacted. In addition,Wisconsin’s experience with the H1N1 vaccine distribution (overseen by the government-run CDC) was plagued with long lines of citizens waiting in the cold and rain for hours, possibly providing everyone a preview of what’s to come with nationalized health care.
5. Obama: It was the year that Obama got down to governing. Full of promise and ideas, President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize on Feb. 1 for being inspirational, signed a bill eliminating pay discrimination and closed Gitmo, moving the terrorist detainees to Illinois. He received an economic stimulus package that can’t be quantified in solid numbers, demanded the total overhaul of medical care without specifically saying what he would do and set plans in place to solve the issue of global climate change after he walks Bo. But Obama’s popularity waned as liberals got increasingly mad about increased troop levels in Afghanistan and conservatives grew more indignant over the government’s takeover of the private sector. Obama’s inaguaration was the biggest party Washington has seen in a long time (remember Aretha Franklin’s hat?), and it was historic. He will always be the first African-European-American president, but let’s all remember he’s merely a president, not a god.
4. Tom Barrett takes a licking, but keeps on ticking: Mild-mannered Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett stepped up in August and took a beating for being a good citizen. He went from “Tom Who?” to “Hero Tom” by stopping a street thug from harming a grandmother and baby. The “Hand Watch” dominated news coverage for the past five months, culminating with recent news that the cast and splint were gone, and Barrett was only sporting bandages on his still-injured fingers. Watch for his hand to be a major player in the 2010 Wisconsin governor’s race.
The death of Iranian student Neda brought the world together.
3. Iranian citizen uprising: While we’ve been busy nation-building and spreading democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq, citizens in Iran have been standing up to their government and demanding changes. Initially, the protests were in opposition to the mullahs’ unilateral choice of President Ahmadinejad over the people’s candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi. But they continued even after Mousavi gave up the fight. And while the protests turned violent, the senseless shooting of Neda brought the world together to demand a government that is responsive to its citizen electors. What a concept, eh?
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Is there an answer in the health care debate?
1. Nationalized Health Care has been debated in America for at least 70 years, and the idea that health care can be torn down and rebuilt in less than a year is fanciful, to say the least. This debate has lurched along in fits and starts, set off a conservative revival and protest movement and has Democrats fighting amongst themselves. After a historic Christmas Eve vote, the Senate approved their health care bill, complete with a $10 million bribe to Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.). Now, it’s on to a conference committee, where Democrats will continue to lock out Republican suggestions and Republicans will whine about it. Instead of this bribe-filled plan for health care reform, how about this: let’s fund the programs (like Medicaid and BadgerCare) that provide medical care to the poor and ferret out the waste and fraud, while letting those of us with insurance keep it and those who don’t want it to not be penalized.
Some of you will agree with my choices, and some will disagree vehemently. Either way, I welcome your input, so comment away!
