The 'Bipartisan' Suicide Pact: When They Agree, You Lose

If you watch the news, you are told that Washington is paralyzed by polarization. Democrats and Republicans allegedly cannot agree on the color of the sky.

Yet, miraculously, they always seem to agree on healthcare bills that do absolutely nothing to lower your premiums.

This is the "Bipartisan Trap."

In the real world, bipartisanship is good. In the swamp, it is a code word for a deal that satisfies the lobbyists of both parties. Here is how the sausage is made:

• The Blue Team's Donors: Health Insurance companies and Hospital Systems (who want subsidies and mandates).
• The Red Team's Donors: Big Pharma and Medical Device makers (who want patent protection and deregulation).

When they write a "Bipartisan Healthcare Bill," they don't fight. They trade. The Democrats get a subsidy that funnels tax dollars to insurers. The Republicans get a patent extension that keeps generics off the market. They shake hands, call it "The Affordable Access and Innovation Act," and your deductible goes up by $500.

The Revolving Door Why do they do this? Because they are auditioning. A 2023 study found that 32% of officials appointed to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) leave their government jobs to work for the industry they just regulated. They aren't regulating the companies; they are fluffing their pillows.

The Trap: When you hear "Bipartisan Compromise," check your wallet. It usually means the industry got everything it wanted, and you got a brochure about "wellness."