[REBORN FROM THE ASHES][comment][12.22]

霁月难逢UID: 2718354

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

都说了不是又八UID: 2728357

收到了。今天这个好短呀。

木虫虫UID: 2694986

[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.

splendidsunUID: 2723757

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

adammaksimUID: 2675466

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.

windandrain2004UID: 2597690

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.

rodgoodUID: 2619326

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.

zhengchangdianUID: 2563082

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

jinziqiUID: 2387034

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.

tequilawineUID: 2702008

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.

tequilawineUID: 2702008

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？

prettywraithUID: 197049

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？

plukaUID: 2721764

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.

plukaUID: 2721764

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...

prettywraithUID: 197049

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.