Good News for the Public Option

As long as they’re prepared to take some heat when the inevitable bullshit comes to the floor (or onto the media stage) and John Boehner and the Boehnerettes blame them for obstructing the bullshit.Quick, everyone try to think of talking points the opposition might use…then hit yourself over the head with a frying pan and think of some more, they’ll probably be closer…then do a couple of strikeouts and think of a way to sound personally offended by broad cultural trends, and think of some more. Now we’re getting close!

I think Obama would veto any bill that does not include a public option anyway. He almost has to now that he has fully committed his opinion on the subject.

If that happened, it would be sheer hypocrisy for the GOP to complain about obstructionism on the Democrats’ part…so naturally, they’d do just that.It makes a nice change to see the Democrats throwing their weight around for once.

IF the progressives can hang together and not cave into the political pressure.But yes, the only way to avoid it is for Obama to say he’ll veto any bill without a public option. AND he needs to get off this bi partisan thing. The rethugs will hang together to kill this thing so Obama needn’t even bother with them.

I was just watching the old “Harry & Louise” commercial on Youtube. Go watch it, but every time you hear the word “government,” replace it with “health insurance company.”In the second half of the commercial, one guy is all doom and gloom about having to pay $3,200 a year for health insurance. I’d jump at the chance to have health insurance coverage for a mere $62.00 a week.Someone ought to bring that commercial up to date and bring to light the irony of how things have gotten so out of control that what the insurance industry was once trying to frighten us with ($62.00 a week health coverage) now seems so appealing, and that they (the health insurance companies) are standing between you and your doctor, not the big, scary government.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt31nhleeCg&feature=PlayList&p=7F001370F3EA66A3&index=0&playnext=1

I read somewhere that while both Harry and Louise are now in favor, they both have medical problems. I think they said Louise is diabetic and Harry has had a couple of heart attacks? Anyway, I’m glad the progressives hsve stuck together. That two faced bithc Mary Landrieau signed the original pledge letter backing a public option, then one of her “people” claimed that she hadn’t read the letter fully. This lying bitch is one of several “Blue Dogs” who are up to their asses in private insurance company campaign contributions. I hope that moveon.org runs ads with the names and amounts of contributions these sneaky double talking bastards have taken. I also hope that ignorant peopole who keep voting these assholes into office will buy a fuckin clue!

Time to start sending e-mails and calling Woolsey’s office to thank her and give them words of encouragement to hang tight.http://woolsey.house.gov/contactemailform.aspPh.: 202-225-5161Fax: 202-225-5163

To take Carl’s comment one step further, it is time to start calling or writing all your reps and senators and give them encouragement. Tell them you want the public option. At the very least that is what we want. We will not settle for less. I don’t care if they are rethuglican or democrat, they NEED to hear from you.I say this over and over, and I know everyone probably gets tired of hearing it, but it does work. Yeah, the rethugs probably won’t change their votes, but if enough of us call or write them and they are vulnerable next year in the election, they might feel pressured. That’s what it takes is pressure.

Pete,Seriously…is there some way that we can do that? Like dub in “insurance company” or “Blue Cross” etc, every time they say government? It’d be an awesome, thought inducing video!

CarlitoThe url for Woolsely only works if you type in an address in her congressional district.Since i live in Mexico, I will contact a national rep and lie a little bit on my address.But thanks for the info. Everybody absolutely has to get active on this one, or bribery will win again.

I’m not advocating against a public option for health care, but I don’t necessarily think it is the best or only option. I work for a hospital evaluating contracts with insurance companies and in my boring job I have had a lot of time to think about this.I don’t think a public option will lower the cost of health care nor do I think it will put us on the road to socialized health care.People (idiot’s) get all crazy when you start talking socialized/universal health care because they think the quality of care diminishes. They site waiting in long lines for procedures, having the government chose your doctor, paying 60% income taxes, colon cancer rates in Canada… blah blah blah. All you have to do is look at the average life expectancy of any country with socialized health care and you see it is extremely effective.These people don’t realize how easy it is for an insurance company to drop you. If you get really sick and the ins. company decides it is going to cost them more to get you well than you can pay them before you qualify for Medicare, they drop you. It’s that simple.My solution is an expansion of Medicare to include pregnant women, children until the age of 18, low income earners, catastrophic and chronic illnesses such as cancer, AIDS, etc., and veterans who have served one term in the military.People who don’t meet these qualifications would still need to purchase health insurance for regular doctor’s visits, or unexpected injuries.This would effectively eliminate the dirty practices of insurance companies such as pre-existing conditions and lifetime/annual maximums. This will also lower insurance premiums because insurance companies don’t have to pay out so much. Private insurance can also cover the 20% of patient responsibility Medicare does not pay for.This solution creates a safety net in our society. It will eliminate the need for state Medicaid programs. It stimulates competition among health insurance companies. It keeps lobbyists and politicians representing the interests of health insurance in business. It does not lower the standard of care. It can be paid for by a national sales tax on products that raise the cost of health care like cigarettes, alcohol, processed/fast food, firearms, etc. and taxes on actions that companies take that cause illness like pollution. And it is the first step toward a nationalized health care system.I am not really sure why I chose this site to write my health care manifesto. I guess I should find something better to do on a Saturday night.