Open Left

Depends on what "real" means here... (4.00 / 9)

And what strings come with it.  For example, if the insurance industry demands an individual mandate in return for supporting this public option, it would likely be a real step away from single-payer...and we'd see insurers reap a bonanza of new customers, revenue, and influence in the delivery of medicine.

That's why the Baucus protests are so important.  If witnesses before the Senate Finance Committee are not allowed to mention or debate single-payer healthcare,  then we'll have no way to consider the impact of the various public option proposals, and to guess which will lead to or block single-payer reforms.

Of course, nurses and doctors will be protesting Baucus again, outside the Senate Finance Committee meetings on Tuesday at 10, with the "Florence Nightingale Day Protests"

The National Nurses Organizing Committee (AFL-CIO) is the largest RN union in U.S. history, representing thousands of activist nurses in all 50 states, and leading the fight for guaranteed healthcare, patient safety, and nurse rights.

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by: National Nurses Movement @ Mon May 11, 2009 at 15:42:48 PM CDT

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agreed -- keep up the pressure! (4.00 / 1)

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by: seabrook @ Mon May 11, 2009 at 15:49:57 PM CDT

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I think the absolutely key issue (4.00 / 5)

in any public option is whether it introduces a slippery slope whereby, over time, more and more of the public will plunk down for the public option over private options. That, of course, will happen only if the public option is so defined that it can exploit the natural advantages such options should enjoy: lower overhead; no obligation to impose a profit; the ability to negotiate down the price with health care providers, device manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies. Insofar as a public plan is stripped of these advantages, the likelihood that the public plan might bring about single payer goes down dramatically, perhaps to a vanishing point.

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by: frankly0 @ Mon May 11, 2009 at 16:24:40 PM CDT

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I Am A Huge Fan (0.00 / 0)

    I have been doing everything with Progressive Democrats for America.  I think Democrats for America had a better last week on how to get there.  Now, I am wondering.  I wonder what Dean's reaction is?

    Is it possible that the Progressive Caucus will not vote on this plan?
    Similiarly, can these 16 Democratic Senators block the legislation without a public option.  It seems that Ron Wyden, just caved a little.  He says that there must be not just a pledge, but "strong legislation."  The private insurance co's will use their massive lobbying fleet to break the laws.

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by: Jason Cataldi @ Mon May 11, 2009 at 17:58:41 PM CDT

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