There is no guarantee that any proposed legislation will ever be passed by Congress. I am sure that many good ideas have never been enacted into law. The reasons are probably more than I know. However, I do know that politics, religion and lobbyists do impact which laws are passed and which never get beyond a hearing committee.
The current fight over oil drilling off the coast of the United States is a good example of politics impacting the granting of those rights. When Nancy Peolsi, Speaker of the House, proposes that the government should release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to lower gasoline prices, you know she is playing a political card. Those reserves will only last for two months of American demand. This action is no more likely to reduce gasoline prices than John McCain’s proposal to grant oil drilling rights that will take 10 years until there is delivered results.
Many religious groups oppose gay marriage. It’s not just conservative Christians who oppose these marriages. On the Reform Jewish web site “Traditional Judaism has seen – and continues to see – homosexuality as an abomination.” We all know that Islam does not accept homosexuality. These same groups have positions on many other topics too. The Republican Party is swayed by those religious conservatives in their voting patterns. John McCain thinks about the religious right quite a bite. Just recall his refusal to take a position on birth control pills when asked about the use of Viagra vs. those pills .
Lobbyists are everywhere. Those hired mouth pieces that attempt to sway the vote on everything from farm subsidies to support for national public radio. Big pharma, big oil, auto manufacturers, etc. all have their hired lobbyists. Those lobbyists would not have those high paying jobs if they were not successful. Just enter “K Street Lobbyists” in your search engine and you find all kinds of interesting things.
Will there be universal health care in this country? Honestly, I doubt it. Hospitals, doctors, and insurance companies will send a legion of lobbyists to fight the idea. The scare tactic will be the words “socialized medicine.” Still, Barack Obama does support the idea of universal health care <http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/#coverage-for-all>. John McCain is opposed to universal health care <http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/19ba2f1c-c03f-4ac2-8cd5-5cf2edb527cf.htm>. Check their web sites and you will see their positions.
This highlights the difference between Barack Obama and John McCain. Barack Obama says he will fight for change. This is just one of many issues where Americans need this fight.
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Did you see the Bunk study stating 2/3 of doctors in America want National Health Care. The doctors who did this study also conducted one in 2002 and found that the majority of doctors did not want national health care, the problem with this is that the 2 question surveys drastically differ in there 2nd question. I found this article, 60% of Physicians Surveyed Oppose Switching to a National Health Care Plan, It’s worth a read.