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标题: [REBORN FROM THE ASHES][comment][12.22] [打印本页]
作者: 霁月难逢 时间: 2009-12-22 09:47:20 标题: [REBORN FROM THE ASHES][comment][12.22]
关于REBORN FROM THE ASHES组COMMENTS活动的说明&汇总
https://bbs.gter.net/thread-1042733-1-2.html
----------------------------
America's health-care bill
Nearer and nearer
Dec 21st 2009 From Economist.com
A procedural vote in America's Senate brings Barack Obama's health-care reforms closer
IT NOW looks certain that Barack Obama will get what he wanted for Christmas—a health-care reform bill passed out of the Senate, probably just a few hours before Santa begins his rounds. Republicans, who have been fighting tooth-and-nail to block passage of the bill seem to have given up the fight, and have given warning instead that this will be a wish that he comes to regret.
Shortly after 1am on Monday December 21st, the health bill cleared the first, and the most difficult, of the procedural hurdles it has to leap in order to secure passage through the Senate. Technically only a motion to end debate on a “manager's amendment” put together by the Senate's majority leader, Harry Reid, what the vote really represented was a crucial exercise in nose-counting. The result was a vote on precisely partisan lines, with all 40 Republicans opposed, and all 58 Democrats plus the two independents who are grouped with them voting in favour. Since 60 votes is the precise number needed to avoid a filibuster, there was no room for error whatsoever, the reason why the procedural motion had taken so long. But with all 60 members of the “Democratic caucus” now signed up, the final vote, on Christmas Eve, looks like a formality.
From the point of view of the Democrats, this victory has come at a high price. The health bill has been stripped of something very dear to many of then: a “public option” of a government-backed insurance scheme that would compete with private insurers in order, supposedly, to keep costs down and guarantee access. The version of the bill already passed by the House of Representatives does contain just such a public option, one of several reasons why final passage of a reconciled bill is still a way off. Some Democrats hope, however, that a public option can be added later on, after the initial bill has gone into effect.
Still, the Senate version does tick most Democratic boxes; it obliges everyone to have health-insurance, and sets out a generous system of subsides to help the uninsured obtain coverage, along with a system of government-regulated exchanges that should encourage competition among private insurers. It fines employers who do not offer health cover to their workers. And it makes it illegal for insurers to refuse people coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions, as well as putting strict limits on the way that premiums are allowed to increase with age. The hope is that tens of million of Americans currently without coverage will now be able to get it, and many tens of millions more, who have insurance but fear losing it through redundancy or ill-health, will have those worries lifted from their shoulders.
Republicans, however, hate the bill, mostly on the ground of cost. The advertised price-tag of the Senate bill is a bit under $900 billion over the next ten years, but Republicans contend that the numbers will be much higher than that, as the cost of subsidies has been underestimated and predicted savings will not materialise. Even at the stated number, this is a large bill at a time when America is running huge deficits that it urgently needs to tackle. The Senate bill is "paid for", but only in the sense that it provides for large charges on the most expensive private insurance policies, and because it factors in deep cuts to Medicare the health-insurance scheme for the elderly. Republicans say these will never be enacted. Past history provides them with evidence to back up that claim.
Less politically involved observers also note that it is unprecedented for such a substantive and expensive bill to have been forced through Congress on such a narrow vote. The bill passed the House on a margin of just five votes, and in the Senate it has no safety margin. With no bipartisan support at all, Democrats will be held solely responsible if the reform turns out to be a disappointment. Some studies have suggested that private insurance premiums could rise substantially in response to the new burdens being placed on insurers.
Completion of work on the bill is by no means a formality, though it does now look more or less certain that the Senate will vote the bill out before Christmas. The next difficulty will come in producing a single “reconciled” version from the very different bills that the Senate and House have produced; that reconciled bill then has to go back for final clearance by both chambers. The public option is one big stumbling block. It is clear that the Senate cannot pass any version of a bill that contains a public option, so the House will have to give ground, which is going to require a lot of presidential arm-twisting in January. And the two bills are funded in very different ways, one with a tax on the rich, the other with an insurance-policy surcharge. As of today though, health-care reform, expensive and imperfect though it is, is looking a lot more likely.
http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15150424
作者: 都说了不是又八 时间: 2009-12-22 09:56:50
收到了。今天这个好短呀。
作者: 木虫虫 时间: 2009-12-22 10:03:08
本帖最后由 木虫虫 于 2009-12-23 00:48 编辑
[REBORN FROM THE ASHES][comment][12.22]
好词
America's Senate 美国参议院
House of Representatives 众议院
Republican 共和党
Democrat 民主党
tooth-and-nail 拼命
nose-counting清点票数
stripped of 剥夺
on the ground of 以……为理由
only in the sense that 只有在这个意义上说
by no means 一点也不
stumbling block障碍物
give ground让步
一些专有名词解释、相关
Manager's Amendment：A Manager's Amendment is a package of numerous individual amendments agreed to by both sides in advance.
The managers are the majority and the minority member who manage the debate on a bill for their side.
The Public Option ： The public option is a government health insurance program akin to Medicare, which would be open to anyone.
好句
Republicans, who have been fighting tooth-and-nail to block passage of the bill seem to have given up the fight, and have given warning instead that this will be a wish that he comes to regret.
The result was a vote on precisely partisan lines,（表决的）结果是精确地勾出党派线的一场投票
there was no room for error whatsoever无论什么、任何
The hope is that tens of million of Americans currently without coverage will now be able to get it, and many tens of millions more, who have insurance but fear losing it through redundancy裁员 or ill-health, will have those worries lifted from their shoulders.
Republicans, however, hate the bill, mostly on the ground of cost. The advertised price-tag of the Senate bill is a bit under $900 billion over the next ten years, but Republicans contend声称 that the numbers will be much higher than that, as① the cost of subsidies has been underestimated and predicted savings will not materialise.②Even at the stated number, this is a large bill at a time when America is running huge deficits赤字 that it urgently needs to tackle.本段论证使用了让步的方法，先指出反方概括的观点，然后罗列第一条论据：耗资会不只有预计的那么多，再让步，说即使耗资不变，在美国现有的财政赤字情况下该方案也不可行。
Republicans say these will never be enacted. Past history provides them with给……提供 evidence to back up支持 that claim.
Less politically involved observers also note that it is unprecedented for such a substantive and expensive bill to have been forced through Congress on such a narrow vote.
The bill passed the House on a margin of just five votes, and in the Senate it has no safety margin.
As of today though, health-care reform, expensive and imperfect though it is, is looking a lot抽签 more likely.
Comment
This is a repot about the Health care reform in American. It reminds me of the Medical system reform in China, both of these are difficult to carry out. On the one hand, Obama wants this health care reform bill can bring tens of million of Americans a benefit in health-insurance. On the other hand, Republicans, insist that these will cost much more than estimated budget and make situation of the huge deficits even worse. In the end of this article mentions the disadvantage of the public option. Although the bill has leaped the first and the most difficult hurdle, there is still a long way to go.
作者: splendidsun 时间: 2009-12-22 10:12:45
本帖最后由 splendidsun 于 2009-12-22 11:20 编辑
哈~占楼~~
Comments：
Medical reform is a tough problem thorough the world. Even in the most developed country United States, governments are expected to build up a complete medical system, which ensures the majority of people could benefit from it. Firstly, the essential problem is the coverage of medical insurance. The private insurances have very serious standard to be involved. Elder people or people suffer from pre-existing medical conditions are impossible to benefit from private insurances. However, the new reform promotes to break this limitation, which broads the benefit ranges. In China’s reform, the government also gives access to everyone, such as elder people and children, farmers and laid-off workers, to have medical insurance. The second problem which is urgent to address is the fairness of medical insurance. The expense of this great bill is from taxpayers. Yet the people who don’t have any contribution to the tax also could have the insurance. Thus, it’s a dilemma between the coverage and the fairness. Making a balance is an obviously most difficult issue that has to be done.
难句：
The health bill has been stripped of something very dear to many of then: a “public option” of a government-backed insurance scheme that would compete with private insurers in order, supposedly, to keep costs down and guarantee access.
第一个分句不太明白
Technically only a motion to end debate on a “manager's amendment” put together by the Senate's majority leader, Harry Reid, what the vote really represented was a crucial exercise in nose-counting.
好句：
The hope is that tens of million of Americans currently without coverage will now be able to get it, and many tens of millions more, who have insurance but fear losing it through redundancy or ill-health, will have those worries lifted from their shoulders.
好词
on the ground of 以……为理由
back up 支持
stumbling block 绊脚石
arm-twisting 压力
tooth-and-nail 竭尽全力
nose-counting 人口调查
此外还了解了一些美国的政治相关的东西
America's Senate参议院
Congress 国会
Republican 共和党
Democrat 民主党
deficit赤字
作者: adammaksim 时间: 2009-12-22 10:34:10
本帖最后由 adammaksim 于 2009-12-23 08:44 编辑
fight toote-and-nail:打架用上了指甲和牙齿，很拼命
nose-counting:数鼻子，即统计人数
filibuster
caucus
House of the Representatives
众议院 Senate 参议员
tick the boxs :
在方框里打勾
redundancy n.裁员
factor in : 将。。。列为重要因素
stumbling block: 绊脚石
give around： 退却
arm-twisting :the use of pressure or even physical force to persuade somebody to do something
comments:
Since President Obama’s inauguration, to create a comprehensive national system of health insurance has become his central legislative priority. With no doubt the health care reform will benefit millions of people, especially those with low-income, if it can be well implemented as Obama has promised during his president election. However, this reform is a truly behemoth with a total cost up to about 900 billion while America is still in the mire of economic crises and the Afghanistan War.
Despite the controversy, opposition or even rumors like the “death panel”, it seems that Obama has made his mind with his Democrats to practice his “Yes, we can.” And many people have fought for this goal all their lives. No matter what the outcome will be I would like to be a witness of the happening history.
作者: windandrain2004 时间: 2009-12-22 10:48:37
本帖最后由 windandrain2004 于 2009-12-23 01:20 编辑
Words and sentences:
1. just a few hours before Santa begins his rounds.
2. tooth-and-nail
3. that reconciled bill then has to go back for final clearance by both chambers.
4. hurdles
hurdle n.
1 a : a portable panel usually of wattled withes and stakes used especially for enclosing land or livestock b : a frame or sled formerly used in England for dragging traitors to execution
2 a : an artificial barrier over which racers must leap b plural : any of various track events in which a series of hurdles must be surmounted
3 : BARRIER, OBSTACLE
Comment:
In my opinion, public insurance is always an problem that makes the government headache. The popularity of the government will increase if well-planned insurance policy is performed. People could get plenty of convenience, such as health care, education, and so on. Insurance is especially important for children, the elderly, the disabled, and the low-income. But social farewell needs dollars. Increasing tax rate or adding a surcharge will of course cause satisfactory among the taxers. The government needs to pay for the bill also. The economic condition is quite bad now and it’s hard to pay for such a great bill. Then it is a big challenge for the government to balance all of them and it is also a good test that assess the ability of the current government.
作者: rodgood 时间: 2009-12-22 11:55:17
本帖最后由 rodgood 于 2009-12-22 23:18 编辑
请问大家，The Senate version does tick most Democratic boxes. 这句话什么意思啊？谢谢
My comments:
This is a report about the heal-care reform in the US. For me it is a little difficult to understand the medical reform in China, let alone that in America.
I understand the position of Obama. It is a stubborn problem that has not been solved by the former Presidents. He knows what blocks he will face. But what makes him to carry such a nearly impossible mission? As we know, Mr. Obama is the first black president in the US who grows up in a relatively normal family. "When my mother suffered from cancer, what I worried about is not only the situation of her illness, but also the possibilities of no insurance from private insurers if they assert that my mother has pre-existing medical history", he once said. Set aside other political and economical factors that force him to propel the bill taken effect, he does not forget where he comes from and what standpoint should take.
Useful words and sentences:
Senate, partisan, in favour, whatsoever, Democratic caucus, filibuster, premium, price-tag, c ontend, enact, back up that claim, unprecedented, bipartisan
have been fighting tooth-and-nail to block passage of the bill
have those worries lifted from their shoulders
What the vote really represented was a crucial exercise in nose-counting.
From the point of view of the Democrats, this victory has come at a high price.
The version of the bill already passed by the House of Representatives does contain just such a public option, one of several reasons why final passage of a reconciled bill is still a way off. Some Democrats hope, however, that a public option can be added later on, after the initial bill has gone into effect.
The Senate version does tick most Democratic boxes.
And it makes it illegal for insurers to refuse people coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions.
As of today though, health-care reform, expensive and imperfect though it is, is looking a lot more likely.
Completion of work on the bill is by no means a formality.
作者: zhengchangdian 时间: 2009-12-22 12:22:10
本帖最后由 zhengchangdian 于 2009-12-22 18:15 编辑
今天的好短啊，吼吼，有点窃喜:lol
Questions：
1.The Senate bill is "paid for", but only in the sense（意味着） that it provides for large charges on the most expensive private insurance policies, and because it factors in deep cuts to Medicare the health-insurance scheme for the elderly.
2.It is clear that the Senate cannot pass any version of a bill that contains a public option, so the House will have to give ground（退却，让步）, which is going to require a lot of presidential arm-twisting（强迫...做某事） in January.
为什么contain public option, the Senate 就can not pass 呢？
Comment：
Well, the passage describes two camps-the Republicans and the Democrats-debating on the passage of the health-care reform bill. Although the consequence of the procedural vote shows the obvious victory of the Democrats, it still needs to reconsider the practicability on the ground of cost in the shadows of unprecedented finial crisis. Once the bill passed, the government would have to guarantee the insurance of every citizen. But no one can ensure the taxpayers are willing to pay for others on the base of charity. Obviously, this measure bounds to reconcile itself with the public on the whole level. Equality has been a fundamental principle of the every president’s policy since the founders of America proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence in 1776. However, this ideal contradicts with the nature of capitalism which emphasizes the dominance of the capitalist. In terms of this health-care reform bill, the passage means the richer have to pay more tax than before for the poor at the aim of prevailing the coverage of the uninsured citizens. So as far as I am concerned, the day of this bill to come true still be a way off unless the president Mr. Obama compel its procedure.
PS：今天是冬至，记得吃饺子或者元宵哦！:lol
作者: jinziqi 时间: 2009-12-22 13:21:35
Good words
Senate 参议院Theversion of the bill already passed by the House of Representatives doescontain just such a public option, one of several reasons why finalpassage of a reconciled bill is still a way off. Some Democrats hope,however, that a public option can be added later on, after the initialbill has gone into effect.
redundancy 裁员
Republicans, who have been fighting tooth-and-nailto block passage of the bill seem to have given up the fight, and havegiven warning instead that this will be a wish that he comes to regret.
The result was a vote on precisely partisan 党派支持者 lines, with all 40 Republicans opposed, and all 58Democrats plus the two independents who are grouped with them voting in favour.
Since 60 votes is the precise number needed to avoid a filibuster 妨碍议事通过 , there was no room for error whatsoever, the reason why the procedural motion had taken so long.
Good sentences
And it makes itillegal for insurers to refuse people coverage on the basis ofpre-existing medical conditions, as well as putting strict limits on theway that premiums are allowed to increase with age.
Past history provides them with evidence to back up that claim.
My comment
I think this is a political article again about thehealth-care reform in the United States. It seems that Obama will get ahealth-care reform bill on Christmas, which republicans reckon it willbe a wish for Obama to regret. Finally, the bill has passed by theHouse of Representatives. However, some Democrats hope that there willbe a public option added. In spite of these, difficulties will stillexist.
It is too complicated to put any reform into practice for government.There will always be the sound of approval and disapproval.
作者: tequilawine 时间: 2009-12-22 13:29:19
procedural tooth-and-nail partisan on the ground of in the sense of bipartisan stumbling block绊脚石 As of on the basis of
1 Shortly after 1am on Monday December 21st, the health bill cleared the first, and the most difficult, of the procedural hurdles it has to leap in order to secure passage through the Senate. 很多的定语
2 Since 60 votes is the precise number needed to avoid a filibuster, there was no room for error whatsoever, the reason why the procedural motion had taken so long. 做状语么？
3 The bill passed the House on a margin of just five votes, and in the Senate it has no safety margin. 怎么翻译？
Health-insurance system is always a headache for every country in the world no matter developing or developed,letting alone medical reform. To give an example, US is taking his way to the issue now, as we know, the rugged period for the legislation. From that, we can acknowledge that the core points lying on the issue is where the money comes from and where it will go for。Apart from the convenience to most people, it also broaden its range of populace with problems in commercial insurance before. No wonder it can get so much plaudit from whole nation, comparing with the roar and furious voice in Republican and its advocators. However refering in the up passage, the bill sill have a long way to go, so many hurdles to leap, so many persons to persuade.
作者: tequilawine 时间: 2009-12-22 13:44:50
splendidsun
A Manager's Amendment is a package of numerous individual amendments agreed to by both sides in advance.
The managers are the majority and the minority member who manage the debate on a bill for their side.
是不是说结束这个被参议院大多数顶到人Harry Reid汇总到一起的“manager's amendment”，后一句我也不懂？
作者: prettywraith 时间: 2009-12-22 14:34:10
本帖最后由 prettywraith 于 2009-12-22 14:37 编辑
Comments( 2009-12-22):
For America’s health-care bill, I am always interested in it. But, I find that I need know more knowledge about American politics, insurance, and fiscal budget, not only health-care, for wanting to understand America’s health-care bill substantially. Therefore, this article’s contents are obscure to me, though I have seen several videos made by CNN introducing health-care. Actually, the hardest problem I cannot understand is why president Barack Obama put such effort to reform health-care, why this health-care bill lead to debate intensely among congressmen, senators, and ordinary American, and why several health-care reform bills had failed in past. Certainly, I cannot find answers from this short passage, but I have gotten good question from this article.
Later, I have read several special reports for America’s health-care bill, containing Chinese articles and internet passages. I solve my queries basically and satisfy my curiosity, though those information not clear enough. Because health-care has a long story to say, I do not introduce them in this place. If you are interested in these either, please check websites as follows.
http://healthcareaccess.cookmedi ... z6Z4CFYYwpAodPVOTbQ
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video ... .cnn?iref=allsearch
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/9722790.html
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2009-09/12/content_12035814_1.htm
Good sentences:
“Since 60 votes is the precise number needed to avoid a filibuster, there was no room for error whatsoever, the reason why the procedural motion had taken so long.”对我来说“the reason why…”这个地方用比较特别
Difficult sentences:
“Shortly after 1am on Monday December 21st, the health bill cleared the first, and the most difficult, of the procedural hurdles it has to leap in order to secure passage through the Senate.”
句子主干知道意思明确，但是这个成分“of the procedural hurdles”不太理解是修饰哪部分的？
作者: pluka 时间: 2009-12-22 14:49:46
本帖最后由 pluka 于 2009-12-22 14:56 编辑
NOTE
tooth-and-nail：拼命
Shortly after 1am on Monday December 21st, the health bill cleared the first, and the most difficult, of the procedural hurdles it has to leap in order to secure passage through the Senate.
nose-counting：[口]清点人数，投票计数，凭投票数作出的决定。
...there was no room for error whatsoever（无论什么）...
The health bill has been stripped of something very dear to many of then: a “public option” of a government-backed insurance scheme that would compete with private insurers in order, supposedly, to keep costs down and guarantee access.
...will have those worries lifted from their shoulders.放下心头大石。
Republicans, however, hate the bill, mostly on the ground of cost.
The public option is one big stumbling block（绊脚石）。
arm-twisting：压力或影响。
COMMENTS
Be it legendary or notorious, Mr. Obama seems bound to leave marks on history. His most attacked proposal, the medicare reform bill, appears perfect and ideal, yet stirs irritation among public--why?
Let's check the core of president's bill first. Aiming at solve the two stubborn maladies of contemporary medicare system(i.e., a huge number of people without medicare insurance and a growing fee for medical treatment), Mr. Obama claimed that the reform will provide a full coverage to all American citizens with lower medical cost. The exchequer, as he stated, can save a large sum of money in the meantime. Such prospect is so ideal that looks more a fantasy or contrived trick than pragmatic method.
Factually, many Americans deem it a trick indeed. Two reasons can explain the protest. The first one is money. Republicans, as well as some economists, has pointed out that the reform bill will add to the fiscal crunch with huge deficit, deteriorating post-crisis economy. To plug the gap, as many perceived and predicted, higher tax will be imposed, especially on middle-class citizens, sparking spleens and remonstrance.
Next to the financial concern lies the people's anger of being deprived of freedom to arrange their own medicare. Mr.Obama's ambition is to swallow the medicare industry, which counts up to 17% GDP and is contemporary owned by private practitioners, by interjecting governmental programs and new set of rules. Those who have already signed up medicare or those want to make decisions of their own may find it difficult, were the bill put into effect, to maintain original insurance from private-owned companies or to choose particular doctor they want. Further fear includes extensive governmental interference in other fields relating to medical once the government gains the authority in medicare area.
Now as the reform looms, Mr.Obama again faces pressure and challenges. Personally I do not think the bill(even a compromised one) can be carried out smoothly and effectively. The presidential term is too short for Mr.Obama's huge ambition, and he looks in a rush.
作者: pluka 时间: 2009-12-22 14:54:06
Comments( 2009-12-22):
Difficult sentences:
“Shortly after 1am on Monday December 21st, the health bill cleared the first, and the most difficult, of the procedural hurdles it has to leap in order to secure passage through the Senate.”
句子主干知道意思明确，但是这个成分“of the procedural hurdles”不太理解是修饰哪部分的？
prettywraith 发表于 2009-12-22 14:34 
前面的成分有省略，the health bill cleared the first, and the most difficult (hurdles), of the procedural hurdles...
作者: prettywraith 时间: 2009-12-22 15:21:47
本帖最后由 prettywraith 于 2009-12-22 15:43 编辑
2 Since 60 votes is the precise number needed to avoid a filibuster, there was no room for error whatsoever, the reason why the procedural motion had taken so long. 做状语么？
3 The bill passed the House on a margin of just five votes, and in the Senate it has no safety margin. 怎么翻译？
Health-insurance system is always a headache for every country in the world no matter developing or developed,letting alone medical reform. To give an example, US is taking his way to the issue now, as we know, the rugged period for the legislation. From that, we can acknowledge that the core points lying on the issue is where the money comes from and where it will go for。Apart from the convenience to most people, it also broaden its range of populace with problems in commercial insurance before. No wonder it can get so much plaudit from whole nation, comparing with the roar and furious voice in Republican and its advocators. However refering in the up passage, the bill sill have a long way to go, so many hurdles to leap, so many persons to persuade.
tequilawine 发表于 2009-12-22 13:29
2，查了一下，有人说the reason why 不是什么标准的英语用法。这个具体是不是，我肯定说不清粗了。这里我就是理解成一个插入语，或是前面的一个同位语。
具体是什么语法现象，大家讨论讨论吧。
3，议案通过众议院的时候仅以多出5票的优势通过，在参议院刚好（也就是刚好凑够票数，没有多余票数）通过。
文章修改了一下，主要改了些语法和拼写错误。
Health-insurance system is always a headache for every country in the world no matter developing or developed, letting alone medical reform. To give an example, US is taking his way to the issue now, as we know, the rugged period for the legislation. From that, we can acknowledge that the core points lying on the issue is （are）where the money comes from and where it will go for。Apart from the convenience to most people, it also broaden （broadens） its range of populace with problems in commercial insurance before. No wonder it can get so much plaudit from whole nation, comparing with the roar and furious voice in Republican and its advocators. However refering （referring）in （to）the up passage, the bill sill have（has）
a long way to go, so many hurdles to leap, so many persons to persuade.
作者: pluka 时间: 2009-12-22 16:06:28
我觉得应该是error whatsover的同位语，指出那些error就是拖慢程序的原因。
好像我也听说过the reason why不规范耶……= =||| 至少是不concise。
作者: aladdin.ivy 时间: 2009-12-22 16:49:45
本帖最后由 aladdin.ivy 于 2009-12-22 23:48 编辑
来两个视频链接，了解下背景知识
美国：万人抗议“奥巴马新政”
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTE4ODYxNDMy.html
奥巴马抨击美国保险公司阻挠医改
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTI2MjA5NzA0.html
作者: 番茄斗斗 时间: 2009-12-22 19:44:21
本帖最后由 番茄斗斗 于 2009-12-22 19:45 编辑
好词-表达-结构-生词
1.IT NOW looks certain thatBarack Obama will get what he wanted for Christmas—a health-care reformbill passed out of the Senate, probably just a few hours before Santabegins his rounds.
2.Republicans, who havebeen fighting tooth-and-nail（拼命的） to block passage of the bill seem to havegiven up the fight, and have given warning instead that this will be awish that he comes to regret.
3.Since 60 votes is theprecise number needed to avoid a filibuster(G词,原来可以这样用～), there was no room forerror whatsoever, the reason why the procedural motion had taken solong.
4.the final vote, on Christmas Eve, looks like a formality
5.he Senate version does tick most Democratic boxes
6.sets out a generous system of subsides to help the uninsured obtain coverage
7.losing it through redundancy（裁员） or ill-health
8.on the ground of cost（以支出为理由）
9.The advertised（公布的） price-tag of the Senate bill is a bit under $900 billion over the next ten years
10.predicted savings will not materialise（实现）
11.The Senate bill is "paidfor", but only in the sense that it provides for large charges on themost expensive private insurance policies, and because it factors indeep cuts to Medicare the health-insurance scheme for the elderly.
12.The public option is one big stumbling block.
13.Technically only a motionto end debate on a “manager's amendment” put together by the Senate'smajority leader, Harry Reid, what the vote really represented was acrucial exercise in nose-counting.
A Manager's Amendment is a packageof numerous individual amendments agreed to by both sides in advance.The managers are the majority andthe minority member who manage thedebate on a bill for their side.这里讽刺了这个议案是依仗着DEMOCRATIC的人多才通过的～ nose couting:a periodic count of the population这里说的是这次议案的通过过程不过是在做数人数的体力活～
COMMENT:
In the past 5 years, medical care system in US was under boundless argument and ended up in failure. This year, it may have an alteration.
The passage of the bill suggests us many benefits from it, full coverage of the health insurances, diminshing expenses and no harm to private insurers. However, Mr Obama seems to ignore some more facts, which may undermine the materialization of the bill and havoc the medical system instead.
First, Restriction on employer seems to be the first and best step to realize the reform, it may none the less bring about an unexpectated unemployment. Since an obliged payment for the insurance is for sure a burden, empolyer will more likely turn to laying off staff, which may worsen originally-unpromising market.
Second, as Republican stated, the cost of the subsidies might be underestimated and far beyond the advertised $900 billion. How can a government,which has long under deficit, afford it is unclear.
However, it's better to take a risk rather than staying still. Unsured the bill may seem, it's worthing a try. It may not obtain all of what it promises. yet, experices instead is sure to acquire and that's what the current medical system lacks.
作者: qisaiman 时间: 2009-12-22 19:56:27
本帖最后由 qisaiman 于 2009-12-23 21:32 编辑
the report comments the health-care bill reform being on procedural . seems that the Demo and Repu have a fierce debate on the details , with the result of a passage on the House
Demo feel pitu for the public option did not be included ,and the Repu is not satisfied with the cost . the huge cost is the main problem, especially when a huge deficits need to tackle. the Demo and Repu hold different opinions on the income , one with rich and the other with an insurance-policy surcharge. the Repu contend that the surcharge will lead to a private insurance premiums since the insurer is inclined to transfer the new burden to the public.
作者: miki7cat 时间: 2009-12-22 20:02:50
Comments
It will be seen that there are three different voice in the health-care reforms. The version of the bill already passed by the House of Representatives contains a “public option”, which the Democrats desire to add to the bill. The Senate version though tick most Democratic boxes, the “public option” was stripped off it. What this means that the divergance between the Senate and House is the role the government should play in the new health-care system, whether to build a government-backed insurance institution that would compete with private insurers in order to keep costs down and guarantee access or just to build government-regulated exchanges that should encourage competition among private insurers. The third voice is from Republicans, who fight the bill on the ground of cost. Of course, I think the cost must be taken serious attention, pariticularly when America is running huge deficits that it urgently needs to tackle.
词句摘抄
at a high price高昂的代价
government-backed政府支持
tick most Democratic boxes
mostly on the ground of cost大多以成本为理由
factors in
stumbling block
我觉得这篇写得特别好，每个句子都值得学习。
作者: miki7cat 时间: 2009-12-22 20:15:18
本帖最后由 miki7cat 于 2009-12-22 21:31 编辑
Difficult sentences:
“Shortly after 1am on Monday December 21st, the health bill cleared the first, and the most difficult, of the procedural hurdles it has to leap in order to secure passage through the Senate.”
句子主干知道意思明确，但是这个成分“of the procedural hurdles”不太理解是修饰哪部分的？
我觉得 and the most difficult是插入语，正常应该是the first of the procecural hurdles
2 Since 60 votes is the precise number needed to avoid a filibuster, there was no room for error whatsoever, the reason why the procedural motion had taken so long. 做状语么？
不要想它是什么语法现象啦，反正the reason是指代前面整句话的吧。如果非要分析的话，我宁愿把它看成是省略句，（and this is）the reason why ...
记得《难句》里面好像也有这么一句，一句话分析下来就是一个名词。
作者: fancyww 时间: 2009-12-22 20:16:10
本帖最后由 fancyww 于 2009-12-22 20:20 编辑
To be honest, I had paid little attention to Obama's health-care reform bill. And I do not know much about how the American Senate works. So I cannot fully understand some of the points in the article. In this case, I did some Wikipedia job, and here is my brief extract to help fellows like me to understand the article better.
The debate over healthcare reform in the United States centers around questions of a right to health care, access, fairness, sustainability, and quality purchased by the high sums spent.
The mixed public-private health care system in the United States is the most expensive in the world, with health care costing more per person than in any other nation, and a greater portion of GDP is spent on it than in any other.
A study of international health care spending levels in the year 2000 found that while the U.S. spends more on health care than other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the use of health care services in the U.S. is below the OECD median by most measures. The authors of the study concluded that the prices paid for health care services are much higher in the U.S.
The U.S. is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not have a universal health care system.
In spite of the amount spent on health care in the US, according to a 2008 report, the United States ranks last in the quality of health care among developed countries.The World Health Organization (WHO), in 2000, ranked the US health care system 37th in overall performance and 72nd by overall level of health (among 191 member nations included in the study).
Whether a universally accessible health care system should be implemented in the U.S. remains a hotly debated political topic.
A fundamental problem in evaluating reform proposals is the difficulty of estimating their cost and potential impact.
Another impediment to implementing any reform that does not benefit insurance companies or the private health care industry is the power of insurance company and health care industry lobbyists in the United States.
Public opinion on health care reform suggests a high percentage desire reforms; however, do not want to see their taxes raised.
There have been a number of different health care reforms proposed during the Obama administration to improve the U.S. health care system.
These include variety of specific types of reform ranging from increased use of health care technology through changing the anti-trust rules governing health insurance companies and tort-reform to rationing of care. The Obama administration has suggested a package of reforms, as have several Congressional legislative proposals.
作者: qxn_1987 时间: 2009-12-22 20:59:16
本帖最后由 qxn_1987 于 2009-12-22 22:46 编辑
Republicans, who have been fighting tooth-and-nail（拼命） to block passage of the bill seem to have given up the fight, and have given warning instead that this will be a wish that he comes to regret.
Shortly after 1am on Monday December 21st, the health bill cleared the first, and the most difficult, of the procedural hurdles it has to
leap
in order to secure passage through the Senate. Technically only a motion to end debate on a “manager's amendment” put together by the Senate's majority leader, Harry Reid, what the vote really represented was a crucial exercise in nose-counting（投票计数；凭票数做出的决定；清点人数）. The result was a vote on precisely partisan lines, with all 40 Republicans opposed, and all 58 Democrats plus the two independents who are grouped with them voting in favour. Since 60 votes is the precise number needed to
avoid a filibuster,
there was no room for error whatsoever, the reason why the procedural motion had taken so long. But with all 60 members of the “Democratic caucus” now signed up, the final vote, on Christmas Eve, looks like a formality.
From the point of view of the Democrats, this victory has come at a high price. The health bill has been stripped of
something very dear to many of then: a “public option” of a government-backed insurance scheme that would compete with private insurers in order, supposedly, to keep costs down and guarantee access. The version of the bill already passed by the House of Representatives does contain just such a public option, one of several reasons why final passage of a reconciled bill is still a way off. Some Democrats hope, however, that a public option can be added later on, after the initial bill has gone into effect.
Republicans, however, hate the bill, mostly on the ground of cost. The advertised price-tag of the Senate bill is a bit under $900 billion over the next ten years, but Republicans contend that the numbers will be much higher than that, as the cost of subsidies has been underestimated and predicted savings will not materialise. Even at the stated number, this is a large bill at a time when America is running huge deficits that it urgently needs to tackle. The Senate bill is "paid for", but only in the sense that it provides for large charges on the most expensive private insurance policies, and because it factors in deep cuts to Medicare（（美国政府办的）医疗保险制度） the health-insurance scheme for the elderly. Republicans say these will never be enacted. Past history provides them with evidence to back up
that claim.
Less politically involved observers also note that it is unprecedented for such a substantive and expensive bill to have been forced through Congress on such a narrow vote. The bill passed the House on a margin of just five votes, and in the Senate it has no safety margin. With no bipartisan support at all, Democrats will be held solely responsible if the reform turns out to be a disappointment. Some studies have suggested that private insurance premiums could rise substantially in response to the new burdens being placed on insurers.
Completion of work on the bill is by no means a formality, though it does now look more or less certain that the Senate will vote the bill out before Christmas. The next difficulty will come in producing a single “reconciled” version from the very different bills that the Senate and House have produced; that reconciled bill then has to go back for final clearance by both chambers. The public option is one big stumbling block（障碍物；绊脚石）. It is clear that the Senate cannot pass any version of a bill that contains a public option, so the House will have to give ground, which is going to require a lot of presidential arm-twisting（压力或影响） in January.
Comments:
Obama became a well-known name since 2008 presidential campign. He defeated his competitor---Republican nominee John McCain, and was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States as the first black president. And most Amercians place high expectation on him. Obama has made several vital decisions since his inauguration. One among of them is America’s health-care bill which he has supported intensively and called for Congress to pass. Obviously, the sweeping reform Bill has met various of obstacles and barriers in the process. Republicans remain almost unanimously opposed, decrying its huge cost and the tax increases needed to pay for it., while Democrats support it strongly.
(现在貌似可以改过来了。。。)
作者: 123runfordream 时间: 2009-12-22 21:10:37
IT NOW looks certain that Barack Obama will get what he wanted for Christmas—a health-care reform bill passed out of the Senate, probably just a few hours before Santa begins his rounds.
The bill passed the House on a margin of just five votes, and in the Senate it has no safety margin.
The health bill has been stripped of something very dear to many of then: a “public option” of a government-backed insurance scheme that would compete with private insurers in order, supposedly, to keep costs down and guarantee access.
The hope is that tens of million of Americans currently without coverage will now be able to get it, and many tens of millions more, who have insurance but fear losing it through redundancy or ill-health, will have those worries lifted from their shoulders.
tooth-and-nail：拼命。
nose-counting
:投票计数。
Filibuster：to try to delay action in Congress or another law-making group by making very long speeches——LM
redundancy：a situation in which someone has to leave their job, because they are no longer needed；when something is not used because something similar or the same already exists
Give around:让步。
comments：
“Health care reform” these words may probable the most hearing for me this year either in china or America. A few weeks ago, a friend of mine took some pictures which were some protestors show their protest in the campus.
This article looks like easier than those before. However, it is not easy to get its idea at first glance. The author mentions that the passage of the bill seems not a big victory with only a narrow vote. Following the passage of the bill, it comes to the hard future of payment of this insurance. Different parties hold the different views with different concerns. Republicans hate the bill, mostly on the ground of cost. Of course money issue is always on the table. What’s going to happen on hearth care in America, we’ll see.
作者: 123runfordream 时间: 2009-12-22 21:19:01
本帖最后由 123runfordream 于 2009-12-22 21:22 编辑
“Shortly after 1am on Monday December 21st, the health bill cleared the first, and the most difficult, of the procedural hurdles it has to leap in order to secure passage through the Senate.”
句子主干知道意思明确，但是这个成分“of the procedural hurdles”不太理解是修饰哪部分的？
我觉得 and the most difficult是插入语，正常应该是the first of the procecural hurdles
2 Since 60 votes is the precise number needed to avoid a filibuster, there was no room for error whatsoever, the reason why the procedural motion had taken so long. 做状语么？
不要想它是什么语法现象啦，反正the reason是指代前面整句话的吧。如果非要分析的话，我宁愿把它看成是省略句，（and this is）the reason why ...
记得《难句》里面好像也有这么一句，一句话分析下来就是一个名词。
我觉得 and the most difficult是插入语，正常应该是the first of the procecural hurdles
我觉得是并列——the first， the most difficult 并列修饰后面的 the procecural hurdles
作者: domudomu 时间: 2009-12-22 21:28:23
The most tough problem in our society is the one that is deeply related to general people, such as public safety, global environment and health-care. Thus medical reform can always on the hot line no matter in developing countries or development ones. Well, as we know, China is pushing the new reform recently in many rural areas, and mainly aims to the huge number farmers and college students. As a developing country the Chinese government is working hard to solve various problems and make a convenient life for us.
Even American government pays much attention on this issue. The author claims the two parties debate on the health-care bill. Even though the victory has come out at a high price from the point of view of Democrats.Now, I also want to say congratulations to Mr. Obama, cause I have been his super fan since the election. It seems that the close of health-care reform will certainly be the pretty and expected present to Mr. Obama on this Christmas.
But ,there are still many difficulties since every reform will meet some challenge when taken into practice.
作者: 123runfordream 时间: 2009-12-22 21:37:32
Since 60 votes is the precise number needed to avoid a filibuster, there was no room for error whatsoever, the reason why the procedural motion had taken so long.
The reason由 why 来引导定语从句。而the reason 应该是前面 there was no room for error whatsoever 的同位语（或者定语？语法成分不同，个人常常感觉作用是一样的。囧。）
作者: 海王泪 时间: 2009-12-22 21:50:23
本帖最后由 海王泪 于 2009-12-22 23:57 编辑
My Sum-Up
Thesis: A procedural vote in America's Senate brings Barack Obama's health-care reforms closer
1.A health-care reform bill will be passed out of Senate as what Obama wanted and Republicans give up their fighting.
2.The heath bill supported by the Democrats cleared the first and the most difficult procedural hurdles from the Republicans.
3.The Senate version has been deprived of something when another bill adding a public option was passed by the House of Representative.
4.The Senate version obliges everyone to have health-insurance and it benefits disadvantaged groups.
5.Republicans hates the healthy bill because of its cost.
6.It is unprecedented for such a substantive and expensive bill to have been forced through Congress on such a narrow vote.
7.The health-care reform will meet difficulty for the conflicts between the Senate version and the House version of a public option.
My comment
This special report only draws a blank in my mind, except for the strange feeling about the difference between the U.S. governments and ours. What President Obama wants such as the health-care bill needs to clear many hurdles in Senate and House. By comparison with it, our Wu (W for H, on the ground of avoid being detected and eliminated) can easily enact policies he wants.
Democracy or relative autocracy… That is an issue argued for a long time.
I do not mean relative autocracy is not good. In fact, I love our governments in some way.The Olympics Games can serve as a good example. Collecting resources in such a short time is a great achievement while Democracy may hold action in protracted way.
Well, let us come back to our topic—The health-care reform of America.
The bill is in controversy. The cost is spectacular. That means it benefits disadvantaged groups a lot but certainly it pose heavy burden on government's shoulder and finally pass it to other taxpayers.
In my opinion, America is a nation believing in market. How could its government make such a high degree of intervention in medical field? There must be a lot of stories. Pardon my stop here.
Sentences and phrases
“Republicans, who have been fighting tooth-and-nail to block passage of the bill seem to have given up the fight, and have given warning instead that this will be a wish that he comes to regret.”
Fighting tooth-and-nail with sb to do sth
“Shortly after 1am on Monday December 21st, the health bill cleared the first, and the most difficult, of the procedural hurdles it has to leap in order to secure passage through the Senate.”
Clear hurdles=overcome obstacles/difficulty
Only through clearing the hurdles of GRE and Toefl can we flying across the Pacific Ocearn.
The head of our school clear any hurdles of course reforms.
“There are many hurdles to overcome in life.”--Oxford
“The health bill has been stripped of something very dear to many of then”
Be stripped of something=be deprived of something
“Many tens of millions more, who have insurance but fear losing it through redundancy or ill-health, will have those worries lifted from their shoulders”
Have sb’s worries/burdens lifted from their shoulders
The cut down of tax have farmers’ financial burdens lifted from their shoulders.
The new policy has those workers’ worries lift from their shoulders.
Kon’s high score in GRE test has his parents’ worries lift from their shoulders.
“Republicans, however, hate the bill, mostly on the ground of cost.”
On the ground of=for the reason of=because of
Kon take the GRE test on the ground of will to study aboard.
Keeping comment for Economists everyday is on the ground of improving reading and writing skills.
“The public option is one big stumbling block.”
Sth. is a big stumbling block.
GRE is one big stumbling block on the long journey to America.
Sloth is one big stumbling block for keeping pace with other Gters.
Low score in AW is one big stumbling block to scholarship.
作者: 敛寒影 时间: 2009-12-22 21:57:29
Comment:
This article remarked on the debate of passage on health-care between the two parties,the Republicans and the Democrats.The Republicans,which is devote on making more general people enjoy the health-insurance right and encourage competition among private insurers, but with a tax on the rich and a expensive cost.On the other side,the Republicans with an insurance-policy surcharge.
The two bills are fund in very different ways,and it seems that the Democrats have the advantage over the Republicans.I noticed one point the two obviously opposite from commen situation that deep cuts to Medicare the health-insurance scheme for the elderly.Considering from the realism that the costly money saved should be used to solve more practical problems such as huge deficits urgently needs to tackle,but it is not humanism.Anyone wouldl get to old and the money been saved should not be substancialy on solving necessitous problems.So the two sides should get a reconciled bill in the final.
好词好句：
Amendment 改善
Whatsoever 无论什么
Strip of 剥夺
Be still a way off 有距离
Get into effect 生效
On the ground of 以。。。为理由
Insureance premium 保险费
By no means 决不
Stumbling block 障碍物，绊脚石
a “public option” of a government-backed insurance scheme that would compete with private insurers in order, supposedly, to keep costs down and guarantee access.
The Senate bill is "paid for", but only in the sense that it provides for large charges on the most expensive private insurance policies, and because it factors in deep cuts to Medicare the health-insurance scheme for the elderly.
As of today though, health-care reform, expensive and imperfect though it is, is looking a lot more likely.
作者: 敛寒影 时间: 2009-12-22 21:57:45
Comment:
This article remarked on the debate of passage on health-care between the two parties,the Republicans and the Democrats.The Republicans,which is devote on making more general people enjoy the health-insurance right and encourage competition among private insurers, but with a tax on the rich and a expensive cost.On the other side,the Republicans with an insurance-policy surcharge.
The two bills are fund in very different ways,and it seems that the Democrats have the advantage over the Republicans.I noticed one point the two obviously opposite from commen situation that deep cuts to Medicare the health-insurance scheme for the elderly.Considering from the realism that the costly money saved should be used to solve more practical problems such as huge deficits urgently needs to tackle,but it is not humanism.Anyone wouldl get to old and the money been saved should not be substancialy on solving necessitous problems.So the two sides should get a reconciled bill in the final.
好词好句：
Amendment 改善
Whatsoever 无论什么
Strip of 剥夺
Be still a way off 有距离
Get into effect 生效
On the ground of 以。。。为理由
Insureance premium 保险费
By no means 决不
Stumbling block 障碍物，绊脚石
a “public option” of a government-backed insurance scheme that would compete with private insurers in order, supposedly, to keep costs down and guarantee access.
The Senate bill is "paid for", but only in the sense that it provides for large charges on the most expensive private insurance policies, and because it factors in deep cuts to Medicare the health-insurance scheme for the elderly.
As of today though, health-care reform, expensive and imperfect though it is, is looking a lot more likely.
作者: 豆腐店的86 时间: 2009-12-22 22:59:03
America's health-care bill
Nearer and nearer
Dec 21st 2009 From Economist.com
生词
读多遍才懂的句子
好句子，好表达法
======================================================================
A procedural vote in America's Senate brings Barack Obama's health-care reforms closer
IT NOW looks certain that Barack Obama will get what he wanted for Christmas—a health-care reform bill passed out of the Senate, probably just a few hours before Santa begins his rounds. Republicans, who have been fighting tooth-and-nail to block passage of the bill seem to have given up the fight, and have given warning instead that this will be a wish that he comes to regret.
Shortly after 1am on Monday December 21st, the health bill cleared the first, and the most difficult, of the procedural hurdles it has to leap in order to secure passage through the Senate. Technically only a motion to end debate on a “manager's amendment” put together by the Senate's majority leader, Harry Reid, what the vote really represented was a crucial exercise in nose-counting. The result was a vote on precisely partisan lines, with all 40 Republicans opposed, and all 58 Democrats plus the two independents who are grouped with them voting in favour. Since 60 votes is the precise number needed to avoid a filibuster, there was no room for error whatsoever, the reason why the procedural motion had taken so long. But with all 60 members of the “Democratic caucus” now signed up, the final vote, on Christmas Eve, looks like a formality.
From the point of view of the Democrats, this victory has come at a high price. The health bill has been stripped of something very dear to many of then: a “public option” of a government-backed insurance scheme that would compete with private insurers in order, supposedly, to keep costs down and guarantee access. The version of the bill already passed by the House of Representatives does contain just such a public option, one of several reasons why final passage of a reconciled bill is still a way off. Some Democrats hope, however, that a public option can be added later on, after the initial bill has gone into effect.
Still, the Senate version does tick most Democratic boxes; it obliges everyone to have health-insurance, and sets out a generous system of subsides to help the uninsured obtain coverage, along with a system of government-regulated exchanges that should encourage competition among private insurers. It fines employers who do not offer health cover to their workers. And it makes it illegal for insurers to refuse people coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions, as well as putting strict limits on the way that premiums are allowed to increase with age. The hope is that tens of million of Americans currently without coverage will now be able to get it, and many tens of millions more, who have insurance but fear losing it through redundancy or ill-health, will have those worries lifted from their shoulders.
Republicans, however, hate the bill, mostly on the ground of cost. The advertised price-tag of the Senate bill is a bit under $900 billion over the next ten years, but Republicans contend that the numbers will be much higher than that, as the cost of subsidies has been underestimated and predicted savings will not materialise. Even at the stated number, this is a large bill at a time when America is running huge deficits that it urgently needs to tackle. The Senate bill is "paid for", but only in the sense that it provides for large charges on the most expensive private insurance policies, and because it factors in deep cuts to Medicare the health-insurance scheme for the elderly. Republicans say these will never be enacted. Past history provides them with evidence to back up that claim.
Less politically involved observers also note that it is unprecedented for such a substantive and expensive bill to have been forced through Congress on such a narrow vote. The bill passed the House on a margin of just five votes, and in the Senate it has no safety margin. With no bipartisan support at all, Democrats will be held solely responsible if the reform turns out to be a disappointment. Some studies have suggested that private insurance premiums could rise substantially in response to the new burdens being placed on insurers.
Completion of work on the bill is by no means a formality, though it does now look more or less certain that the Senate will vote the bill out before Christmas. The next difficulty will come in producing a single “reconciled” version from the very different bills that the Senate and House have produced; that reconciled bill then has to go back for final clearance by both chambers. The public option is one big stumbling block. It is clear that the Senate cannot pass any version of a bill that contains a public option, so the House will have to give ground, which is going to require a lot of presidential arm-twisting in January. And the two bills are funded in very different ways, one with a tax on the rich, the other with an insurance-policy surcharge. As of today though, health-care reform, expensive and imperfect though it is, is looking a lot more likely.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
tooth-and-nail 以牙还牙， 这里指猛烈争斗
amendment the process of amending by parliamentary or constitutional procedure
nose-counting NOT FOUND
partisan a firm adherent to a party, faction, cause, or person; especially : one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance
filibuster the use of extreme dilatory tactics in an attempt to delay or prevent action especially in a legislative assembly
caucus a closed meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same political party or faction usually to select candidates or to decide on policy; also : a group of people united to promote an agreed-upon cause
formality an established form or procedure that is required or conventional *the interview was just a formality*
public option A public health insurance option (public insurance option or public option for short) is a proposed health insurance plan that would be offered by the U.S. federal government.
scheme a plan or program of action; especially : a crafty or secret one
House of Representatives 众议院 The United States House of Representatives, commonly referred to as the "House," is the lower house of the bicameral United States Congress, the upper house being the United States Senate.
way off 差得厉害，有很大距离
oblige to constrain by physical, moral, or legal force or by the exigencies of circumstance *obliged to find a job*
premium NOT SURE a : a reward or recompense for a particular act b : a sum over and above a regular price paid chiefly as an inducement or incentive c : a sum in advance of or in addition to the nominal value of something
redundancy the quality or state of being redundant : SUPERFLUITY 这个词我是明白的，但是就是不知道在句子中怎么解释，求教了！
price-tag 价格标签
contend to strive in debate : ARGUE
materialise a : to make material : OBJECTIFY b : to cause to appear in bodily form
factor in to include or admit as a factor ? used with in or into
unprecedented having no precedent : NOVEL 空前的
stumble to come to an obstacle to belief
substantive considerable in amount or numbers : SUBSTANTIAL *made substantive progress*
give ground 退回，撤退
presidential arm-twisting the use of direct personal pressure in order to achieve a desired end
surcharge an additional tax, cost, or impost
----------------------------------------------------
comments
The American health bill is now around the corner, though it has not been released, the day will not be later than Christmas, according to the writer. This Senate version of health care policy was raised on Obama’s presidential campaign and caused an intense discussion. Up till now, this very issue is still remain controversial that Republicans doubt the efficiency of the policy since they believe $900 billion is not enough to pay this bill. On my point of view, it is the right time to pass the health care policy which the Obama government promised to its people for such a long term. However, problems that people concern are still there and the government have figure out a way to solve them. Apparently, such issues are going to wait to be listed on the 2010 agenda.
作者: dingyi0311 时间: 2009-12-22 23:40:05
Note
The health bill has been stripped of something very dear to many of then: a “public option” of a government-backed insurance scheme that would compete with private insurers in order, supposedly, to keep costs down and guarantee acces
final clearance
The Senate bill is "paid for", but only in the sense that it provides for large charges on the most expensive private insurance policies, and because it factors in deep cuts to Medicare the health-insurance scheme for the elderly.
partisan 党派支持者
stumbling block 绊脚石
nose-counting 人口调查
美国的政治结构还不了解
My comments
This report briefly illustrate for the readers several reasons why this policy, which can benefit every single person in the United State, can hardly be passed both in the government and the public. Several reasons explained it suggest themselves. First, the price of the ensurance is much to high both for the government budgets and the general publics. It will cost 900billion on the government parts and more charges on any individual who participate in. it is beneficial to those elder and frequently ills.
In my opinion, this bill can be constructive to the society through prompting the economic of the society, which was not mentioned in the article, since there are insurance out there to guarantee their medical treatment in the future, people will less likely to save money for medical fees in their later live in the bank, more money therefore are spent and make the economic vigorous; the mechant can make money and have their goods selled, This is very important especially when the whole country are experiencing the economic depression.
Even this bill will cost a lot, it does not mean it is not worthy. People will always become old, even it less likely for those young people to get ill and spent much money on the medical treatment, they will finally spent money when they are old and some may even spend much more than their total preminium have paid in their lives. Nobody can make sure whether they will not severely ill or not. And if there are no insurance, those opponent of these bill may even regret when they are old and have little money for medical care.
Therefore, the bill is generally good for people in the long run, and I’m looking forward to seeing our country passing a similar bill in the future.
作者: emteddybear 时间: 2009-12-22 23:45:58
so short but so difficult to me
Senate:参议院 health-insurance:健康保险 redundancy：冗余 nose-counting:???? on the ground of cost:ground 是理由的意思 by no means :绝不 give ground：让步 Senate：参议院 House ：众议院 tooth-and-nail 竭尽全力
probably just a few hours before Santa begins his rounds.什么意思？？？
good sentence:
1. The hope is that tens of million of Americans currently without coverage will now be able to get it, and many tens of millions more, who have insurance but fear losing it through redundancy or ill-health, will have those worries lifted from their shoulders.
2.Republicans, however, hate the bill, mostly on the ground of cost
3.Past history provides them with evidence to back up that claim.
4.As of today though, health-care reform, expensive and imperfect though it is, is looking a lot more likely.
my comments:
This report is so difficult for, beacause of the lack of background knowledge.However after rodgood gave me some directions, I got it quickly. Thanks him again. This report is mainly about the health-insurance reform. Although Democrats succeeded in the vote, but there are many problems. Just as the democrats say the vitory has come up at a high price.As for health-insurance reform, I want to talk something about it in my country. At present, the rate of the development in country is quite astonishing, and our life is better and better on the surface. But the social welfare is quit unsatisfactory. Even though we don't talk about the unemployment, because this problem is worldwide. Here we only talk about the health care and social security. As an ordinary people, we all pray that there is nothing wrong with our body, and keep health is our greatest wish. That is not that we are undue, but that if there is one person in a family sick, the whole family is destroyed. Because we really can't afford the expensive costs. That is normal in our country many years. And I hope there are some health-insurance reform in our country, and it must be all the Chinese people's desirableness.
作者: aladdin.ivy 时间: 2009-12-22 23:50:36
As completing this health-care reform bill, whose aim is make every American have health-insurance, the first substantive task facing by President Barack Obama. The passage of the bill would be so crucial a transition point that it might determine Obama’s future policy history.
At present, analysts pointed out that, Obama faces a difficult dilemma in the process of promoting this reform. If he adhere to the timetable according to his own plan for the implementation of the reform, he likely to lose the support form the Republicans even from the inner Democratic Party, which become a stumbling block for the implement of Obama’s future policies. However, if the Congress to act according to their timetable, this medical reform will certainly not be implemented within this year, thus, that will make Obama’s difficult to govern by a plummeted popularity.
This reform, said by BTV news- a official news program, will bring benefit only for 15% of American people, and most cost, $900 billion over the next ten years, of improving this reform would bring from those taxpayers who do have health-insurances. Although it is nearer and nearer, as the title of this report said, to the moment when a health-care reform bill passed out of the Senate, with the fact that 52% American people disagree to implement this health-care reform, whether Barack Obama will get what he wanted for Christmas remains to be seen.
绿色的大字有助于保护视力:loveliness:
作者: AdelineShen 时间: 2009-12-23 12:01:30
America's health-care bill
Nearer and nearer
Dec 21st 2009 From Economist.com
A procedural vote in America's Senate brings Barack Obama's health-care reforms closer
IT NOW looks certain that Barack Obama will get what he wanted for Christmas—a health-care reform bill passed out of the Senate, probably just a few hours before Santa begins his rounds. Republicans, who have been fighting tooth-and-nail to block passage of the bill seem to have given up the fight, and have given warning instead that this will be a wish that he comes to regret.
Shortly after 1am on Monday December 21st, the health bill cleared the first, and the most difficult, of the procedural hurdles it has to leap in order to secure passage through the Senate(参议院）. Technically only a motion to end debate on a “manager's amendment” put together by the Senate's majority leader, Harry Reid, what the vote really represented was a crucial exercise in nose-counting. The result was a vote on precisely partisan lines, with all 40 Republicans opposed, and all 58 Democrats plus the two independents who are grouped with them voting in favour. Since 60 votes is the precise number needed to avoid a filibuster, there was no room for error whatsoever, the reason why the procedural motion had taken so long. But with all 60 members of the “Democratic caucus” now signed up, the final vote, on Christmas Eve, looks like a formality.
（The health bill cleared the most difficult hurdles.)
From the point of view of the Democrats, this victory has come at a high price. The health bill has been stripped of something very dear to many of then: a “public option” of a government-backed insurance scheme that would compete with private insurers in order, supposedly, to keep costs down and guarantee access. The version of the bill already passed by the House of Representatives does contain just such a public option, one of several reasons why final passage of a reconciled bill is still a way off. Some Democrats hope, however, that a public option can be added later on, after the initial bill has gone into effect.
Still, the Senate version does tick most Democratic boxes; it obliges everyone to have health-insurance, and sets out a generous system of subsides to help the uninsured obtain coverage, along with a system of government-regulated exchanges that should encourage competition among private insurers. It fines employers who do not offer health cover to their workers. And it makes it illegal for insurers(保险公司） to refuse people coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions, as well as putting strict limits on the way that premiums（保险费） are allowed to increase with age. The hope is that tens of million of Americans currently without coverage will now be able to get it, and many tens of millions more, who have insurance but fear losing it through redundancy or ill-health, will have those worries lifted from their shoulders.
（The aim and measures of the Senate version)
Republicans, however, hate the bill, mostly on the ground of cost. The advertised price-tag of the Senate bill is a bit under $900 billion over the next ten years, but Republicans contend that the numbers will be much higher than that, as the cost of subsidies has been underestimated and predicted savings will not materialise(使具体化）. Even at the stated number, this is a large bill at a time when America is running huge deficits that it urgently needs to tackle. The Senate bill is "paid for", but only in the sense that it provides for large charges on the most expensive private insurance policies, and because it factors in deep cuts to Medicare the health-insurance scheme for the elderly. Republicans say these will never be enacted. Past history provides them with evidence to back up that claim.
（Republicans hate the bill because of the high cost.)
Less politically involved observers also note that it is unprecedented for such a substantive and expensive bill to have been forced through Congress on such a narrow vote. The bill passed the House on a margin of just five votes, and in the Senate it has no safety margin. With no bipartisan support at all, Democrats will be held solely responsible if the reform turns out to be a disappointment. Some studies have suggested that private insurance premiums could rise substantially in response to the new burdens being placed on insurers.
(Less politically involved observers also note that it's unprecedented for such a substantive and expensive bill to have been forced through Congress on such a narrow vote.)
Completion of work on the bill is by no means a formality, though it does now look more or less certain that the Senate will vote the bill out before Christmas. The next difficulty will come in producing a single “reconciled” version from the very different bills that the Senate and House have produced; that reconciled bill then has to go back for final clearance by both chambers(会议厅，议所）. The public option is one big stumbling block（绊脚石）. It is clear that the Senate cannot pass any version of a bill that contains a public option, so the House will have to give ground, which is going to require a lot of presidential arm-twisting in January. And the two bills are funded in very different ways, one with a tax on the rich, the other with an insurance-policy surcharge. As of today though, health-care reform, expensive and imperfect though it is, is looking a lot more likely.
Comments:
The debate on the US government's health-care reform is a hot spot in 2009. Now the health-care bill is nearer and nearer. The Democrats and Republicans hold defferent views. Most Democrats support the health-care bill, which is good for the coverage of insurance in elder and less healthy people. Most Republicans hate the bill because of its high cost. Now the bill is passed on Congress in a narrow vote, and the public option is a big stumbling block.
Public option is proposed health care reform that would give individuals and employers a choice between government-provided healthcare or private healthcare. It is a kind of hybrid system between single-player, or universal, healthcare and the current system serviced primarily by private insurance companies.
In my point of view, public option is a must in the healthcare system of US in the future. It is a reconsiled system between the government and the private insurrance company. Government could provide healthcare insurrance for those who fear losing the insurrance through redundancy or ill-health because of the private company's strategy. For those well-off people who want to get better healthcare insurrance, private inssurance company might be a better choice for them.
Some is worrying that the private companies will not have the ability to compete with the government health-care system and the economy of America will get in more trouble. Others are worried about the huge bill of the new health-care system which is under-estimated by the government. Since pure govenment or private healthcare system is not suitable for America, public option is a good choice for American people.
作者: kulewy531 时间: 2009-12-23 15:57:35
4# splendidsun
Nose-counting在这里的意思应该是“记票”吧？
作者: kulewy531 时间: 2009-12-23 16:22:54
America's health-care bill
Nearer and nearer
Dec 21st 2009 From Economist.com
A procedural(程序上的) vote in America's Senate brings Barack Obama's health-care reforms closer
IT NOW looks certain that Barack Obama will get what he wanted for Christmas—a health-care reform bill passed out of the Senate, probably just a few hours before Santa begins his rounds. Republicans, who have been fighting tooth-and-nail(拼命) to block passage of the bill seem to have given up the fight, and have given warning instead(这个instead的位置好诡异啊) that this will be a wish that he comes to regret.
Shortly after 1am on Monday December 21st, the health bill cleared the first, and the most difficult, of the procedural hurdles（障碍） it has to leap in order to secure passage through the Senate. Technically only a motion to end debate on a “manager's amendment” put together by the Senate's majority leader, Harry Reid, what the vote really represented was a crucial exercise in nose-counting（“数鼻子”——人口调查）. The result was a vote on precisely partisan lines, with all 40 Republicans opposed, and all 58 Democrats plus the two independents who are grouped with them voting in favour. Since 60 votes is the precise number needed to avoid a filibuster, there was no room for error whatsoever, the reason why the procedural motion had taken so long. But with all 60 members of the “Democratic caucus（利益集团）” now signed up, the final vote, on Christmas Eve, looks like a formality.
From the point of view of the Democrats, this victory has come at a high price. The health bill has been stripped（剥去） of something very dear to many of them: a “public option” of a government-backed insurance scheme that would compete with private insurers in order, supposedly, to keep costs down and guarantee access. The version of the bill already passed by the House of Representatives does contain just such a public option, one of several reasons why final passage of a reconciled bill is still a way off. Some Democrats hope, however, that a public option can be added later on, after the initial bill has gone into effect.
Still, the Senate version does tick most Democratic boxes; it obliges everyone to have health-insurance, and sets out a generous system of subsides to help the uninsured obtain coverage, along with a system of government-regulated exchanges that should encourage competition among private insurers. It fines employers who do not offer health cover to their workers. And it makes it illegal for insurers to refuse people coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions, as well as putting strict limits on the way that premiums are allowed to increase with age. The hope is that tens of millions of Americans currently without coverage will now be able to get it, and many tens of millions more, who have insurance but fear losing it through redundancy or ill-health, will have those worries lifted from their shoulders.
Republicans, however, hate the bill, mostly on the ground of cost. The advertised price-tag of the Senate bill is a bit under $900 billion over the next ten years, but Republicans contend that the numbers will be much higher than that, as the cost of subsidies has been underestimated and predicted savings will not materialise. Even at the stated number, this is a large bill at a time when America is running huge deficits that it urgently needs to tackle. The Senate bill is "paid for", but only in the sense that it provides for large charges on the most expensive private insurance policies, and because it factors in deep cuts to Medicare the health-insurance scheme for the elderly. Republicans say these will never be enacted. Past history provides them with evidence to back up that claim.
Less politically involved observers also note that it is unprecedented for such a substantive and expensive bill to have been forced through Congress on such a narrow vote. The bill passed the House on a margin of just five votes, and in the Senate it has no safety margin. With no bipartisan support at all, Democrats will be held solely responsible if the reform turns out to be a disappointment. Some studies have suggested that private insurance premiums could rise substantially in response to the new burdens being placed on insurers.
Completion of work on the bill is by no means a formality, though it does now look more or less certain that the Senate will vote the bill out before Christmas. The next difficulty will come in producing a single “reconciled” version from the very different bills that the Senate and House have produced; that reconciled bill then has to go back for final clearance by both chambers. The public option is one big stumbling block. It is clear that the Senate cannot pass any version of a bill that contains a public option, so the House will have to give ground, which is going to require a lot of presidential arm-twisting in January. And the two bills are funded in very different ways, one with a tax on the rich, the other with an insurance-policy surcharge. As of today though, health-care reform, expensive and imperfect though it is, is looking a lot more likely.
Comments：
As conservative party members, Publicans always approach an issue from the aspect of individualism. On the other hand, Democrats focus more on public wealth. The conflicts of these two parties compose the political map of the nation. Obviously, these conflicts are suddenly stimulated by the financial crisis, which symbolizes redistributions of social wealth. Both Democrats and Publicans are eager to maximize their own interest during the crucial periods, so the tension between the two parties is strained.
作者: KiKi~淇水滺滺 时间: 2009-12-23 22:29:04
Of course this bill seems perfect for the American common citizens. It obliges everyone to have health-insurance, tens of millions of Americans currently without coverage will now be able to get it, and many tens of millions more, who have insurance but fear losing it through redundancy or ill-health, will have those worries lifted from their shoulders. It also seems as a win-win situation for Obama, whose first health-care bill submitted passed out of the Senate and the common citizens can avoid what they are afraid of——the health problem. During this financial crisis period and with the above 10% unemployment rate, this bill likes rain to the arid fields.
However, what I’m cared about is the enforcement of this bill. After it is actualized, how many benefits will actually flow to the common people? Maybe it’s too early to say anything or judge this bill now; we still need time to believe this bill will bring real benefits to the people in America.
作者: sunflower_iris 时间: 2009-12-25 17:14:46
Supplemental Information
China outlines plans on health care reform in 2009
·
Source: Xinhua
·
[08:10 July 24 2009]
China's State Council Thursday issued a medical reform plan of 2009, as its first year's move of the three-year health care reform.
The plan called for acceleration in building basic medical insurance system and essential drug system, and promotion on primary health care facilities and pilot reform of state-run hospitals.
According to the plan, about one hundred state-run hospitals chosen from 12 cities will be designated as the pilot hospitals for the reform.
It also includes the access of nearly six million retirees from bankrupt stated-owned enterprises to the basic health insurance.
Moreover, the number of employees and citizens in urban areas joining basic health insurance is to reach 390 million by the end of this year, an increase of 72 million from a year earlier.
The standard of building primary health care facilities will be released this year, with 986 county hospitals, 3,549 town hospitals and 1,154 community medical service center to be established.
The nation unveiled a three-year plan on health care reform on April 7 this year. With 850 billion yuan (124 billion US dollars) investment, the plan is considered to lay a solid foundation for equitable and universal access to essential health care for all in China by 2020.
COMMENT
Comparing with the health-care reform in China, obviously, Obama’s bill faced more blocks. Because the basis of health-care system in two countries are totally different. In China, a large number of people are uninsured and poor, so the reform will have a significant impact. But in the US, the bill will only benefit 15% people due to others already have their insurances. Even though China will be challenged by the fiercer competition in the near future, but in the long term, giving more people access to health care should boost the market. On contrast, in US, the reform will cost much more than it will benefit in such a economic crisis.
作者: hugesea 时间: 2009-12-26 14:06:36
comments
The Senate passed a historic health care reform bill Thursday morning, handing President Obama a Christmas Eve victory on his top domestic priority.
President Obama is right when he says that the U.S. health care system needs reform. The U.S. health care system has serious problems. It costs too much. Too many people lack health insurance. And quality can be uneven. However, can President Obama’s reform accomplished smoothly and effectively? The answer to me is “no”. A government takeover of the health care system, as proposed by the president, would be a step in the wrong direction.
Health insurance should be personal and portable, controlled by individuals themselves rather than government or an employer. Employment-based insurance hides much of the true cost of health care to consumers, thereby encouraging over-consumption. It also limits consumer choice, since employers get final say over what type of insurance a worker will receive. It means people who don’t receive insurance through work are put at a significant and costly disadvantage.
Would president Obama not get disappointed after his reform were to carry out? Let us wait and see.
作者: 都说了不是又八 时间: 2009-12-27 11:21:25
5th article
Seldom a reform wanders without frustrations and confrontations. Japanese cabinet have been tussling on the reform of mailing institutions, and America faces the problem of health-care. So what's exactly the block in China's way? Propaganda and the media? Probably. At least, we're frequently irritated by ridiculous news and policies everyday.
Just wanna find an exit on the issue. No exit actually, but at same time we have to ask why the compensation and aftermath cleaning are totally absent. It's been enough.
Nearer and nearer
A procedural vote in America’s Senate brings Barack Obama’s health-care reforms closer
It now looks certain that Barack Obama will get what he wanted for Christmas – a health-care reform bill passed out of the Senate, probably just a few hours before Santa begins his rounds. Republicans, who have been fighting tooth-and-nail to block passage of the bill seem to have given up the fight, and have given warning instead that this will be a wish that he comes to regret.
Shortly after 1am on Monday December 21st, the health bill cleared the first, and the most difficult, of the procedural hurdles it has to leap in order to secure passage through the Senate. Technically only a motion to end debate on a “manager’s amendment” put together by the Senate’s majority leader, Harry Reid, what the vote really represented was a crucial exercise in nose-counting. The result was a vote on precisely partisan lines, with all 40 Republicans opposed, and all 58 Democrats plus the two independents who are grouped with them voting in favour. Since 60 votes is the precise number needed to avoid a filibuster, there was no room for error whatsoever, the reason why the procedural motion had taken so long. But with all 60 members of the “Democratic caucus” now signed up, the final vote, on Christmas Eve looks like a formality.
From the point of view of the Democrats, this victory has come at a high price. The health bill has been stripped of something very dear to many of then: a “public option” of a government-backed insurance scheme that would compete with private insurers in order, supposedly, to keep costs down and guarantee access. The version of the bill already passed by the House of Representatives does contain just such a public option, one of several reasons why final passage of a reconciled bill is still a way off. Some Democrats hope, however, that a public option can be added later on, after the initial bill has gone into effect.
Still, the Senate version does tick most Democratic boxes; it obliges everyone to have health-insurance, and sets out a generous system of subsides to help the uninsured obtain coverage, along with a system of government-regulated exchanges that should encourage competition among private insurers. It fines employers who do not offer health cover to their workers. And it makes it illegal for insurers to refuse people coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions, as well as putting strict limits on the way that premiums are allowed to increase with age. The hope is that tens of million of Americans currently without coverage will now be able to get it, and many tens of millions more, who have insurance but fear losing it through redundancy or ill-health, will have those worries lifted from their shoulders.
Republicans, however, hate the bill, mostly on the ground of cost. The advertised price-tag of the Senate bill is a bit under $900 billion over the next ten years, but Republicans contend that the numbers will be much higher than that, as the cost of subsidies has been underestimated and predicted savings will not materialize. Even at the stated number, this is a large bill at a time when America is running huge deficits that it urgently needs to tackle. The Senate bill is “paid for”, but only in the sense that it provides for large charges on the most expensive private insurance policies, and because it factors in deep cuts to Medicare the health-insurance scheme for the elderly. Republicans say these will never be enacted. Past history provides them with evidence to back up that claim.
Less politically involved observers also note that it is unprecedented for such a substantive and expensive bill to have been forced through Congress on such a narrow vote. The bill passed the House on a margin of just five votes, and in the Senate it has no safety margin. With no bipartisan support at all, Democrats will be held solely responsible if the reform turns out to be a disappointment. Some studies have suggested that private insurance premiums could rise substantially in response to the new burdens being placed on insurers.
Completion of work on the bill is by no means a formality, though it does now look more or less certain that the Senate will vote the bill out before Christmas. The next difficulty will come in producing a single “reconciled” version from the very different bills that the Senate and House have produced; that reconciled bill then has to go back for final clearance by both chambers. The public option is one big stumbling block. It is clear that the Senate cannot pass any version of a bill that contains a public option, so the House will have to give ground, which is going to require a lot of presidential are-twisting in January. And the two bills are funded in very different ways, one with a tax on the rich, the other with an insurance-policy surcharge. As of today though, health-care reform, expensive and imperfect though it is, is looking a lot more likely.
作者: 中原527 时间: 2010-1-19 09:55:17
12.22
Words
tooth-and-nail 竭尽全力
leap in 跳进；急于做某事
Filibuster v.
阻碍或延宕国会或其他立法机构通过提案
Formality n.形式上的措施
redundancy n.剩余；裁员
margin n.页边空白；边缘，差额
Bipartisan a.两党的，代表两党的
好句
The hope is that tens of million of Americans currently without coverage will now be able to get it, and many tens of millions more, who have insurance but fear losing it through redundancy or ill-health, will have those worries lifted from their shoulders.（没有医疗保险和有医疗保险的群众，两者递进~）
Past history provides them with evidence to back up that claim.
Comments:
There are two conflicts, the long-term interest and the recent interest, the most people who have no heavy fortune and the little rich. Obama’s health-care reform arise the worry of Republicans that the cost of subsidies has been underestimated and predicted savings will not materialise.
But also the reform hurts benefit of every chaebol(大财阀). Even though the action contribute the people who currently without coverage or have insurance but fear losing it through redundancy or ill-health , the people who have the high income must pay more taxes , and some doctors , hospital and the pharmaceuticals company will be worried that they may lost some income of treatment. The next huge obligation that Obama should do is to balance the benefit of every social forces.
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