Comments on: Note to Chamber of Commerce: Please Update to This Century http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/ Firedoglake weblog Sat, 18 Feb 2012 04:57:00 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: masaccio http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922322 masaccio Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:40:27 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922322 <p>Let’s give some credit here, Obama has wrung some concessions out of the big Pharma toads too, including a cost-cutting $80bn.</p> Let’s give some credit here, Obama has wrung some concessions out of the big Pharma toads too, including a cost-cutting $80bn.

]]> By: masaccio http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922321 masaccio Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:39:24 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922321 <p>Well, from your fingers to Obama’s lips: he made that argument this morning in the press conference according to this from <a href="http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/?last_story=/politics/war_room/2009/06/23/obama_presser/" rel="nofollow">Salon</a>:</p> <blockquote><p> Why would it drive private insurance out of business? If — if private — if private insurers say that the marketplace provides the best quality health care; if they tell us that they’re offering a good deal, then why is it that the government, which they say can’t run anything, suddenly is going to drive them out of business? That’s not logical ….</p> <p> But just conceptually, the notion that all these insurance companies who say they’re giving consumers the best possible deal, if they can’t compete against a public plan as one option, with consumers making the decision what’s the best deal, that defies logic …</p> <p> I think that there is a legitimate concern, if the public plan was simply eating off the taxpayer trough, that it would be hard for private insurers to compete. If, on the other hand, the public plan is structured in such a way where they’ve got to collect premiums and they’ve got to provide good services, then, if what the insurance companies are saying is true, that they’re doing their best to serve their customers, that they’re in the business of keeping people well and giving them security when they get sick, they should be able to compete. </p></blockquote> Well, from your fingers to Obama’s lips: he made that argument this morning in the press conference according to this from Salon:

Why would it drive private insurance out of business? If — if private — if private insurers say that the marketplace provides the best quality health care; if they tell us that they’re offering a good deal, then why is it that the government, which they say can’t run anything, suddenly is going to drive them out of business? That’s not logical ….

But just conceptually, the notion that all these insurance companies who say they’re giving consumers the best possible deal, if they can’t compete against a public plan as one option, with consumers making the decision what’s the best deal, that defies logic …

I think that there is a legitimate concern, if the public plan was simply eating off the taxpayer trough, that it would be hard for private insurers to compete. If, on the other hand, the public plan is structured in such a way where they’ve got to collect premiums and they’ve got to provide good services, then, if what the insurance companies are saying is true, that they’re doing their best to serve their customers, that they’re in the business of keeping people well and giving them security when they get sick, they should be able to compete.

]]> By: Synoia http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922316 Synoia Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:04:30 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922316 <p>Except for the Insurance, Pharma, Medical Devices and Hospital members. You know the 18% of GDP members?</p> Except for the Insurance, Pharma, Medical Devices and Hospital members. You know the 18% of GDP members?

]]> By: masaccio http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922314 masaccio Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:59:41 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922314 <p>I agree. I think that may be behind Wal-Mart’s statement.</p> I agree. I think that may be behind Wal-Mart’s statement.

]]> By: masaccio http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922313 masaccio Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:57:43 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922313 <p>I really don’t understand anything these guys say. It’s really like they think McCain won or Bush the Last was somehow reelected.</p> I really don’t understand anything these guys say. It’s really like they think McCain won or Bush the Last was somehow reelected.

]]> By: Hugh http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922266 Hugh Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:03:56 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922266 <p>It wasn’t just a question of appointees. It is their reporters and how they dutifully repeat the spin of whoever is in power.</p> It wasn’t just a question of appointees. It is their reporters and how they dutifully repeat the spin of whoever is in power.

]]> By: Hugh http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922265 Hugh Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:01:54 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922265 <p>As for the Chamber of Commerce, if it had been on the Titanic, it would have come up with a two part solution to the problem.</p> <p>1. Throw all the passengers in steerage overboard to lighten the load.</p> <p>2. Then do nothing. Let market forces work out an equilbrium with the iceberg.</p> As for the Chamber of Commerce, if it had been on the Titanic, it would have come up with a two part solution to the problem.

1. Throw all the passengers in steerage overboard to lighten the load.

2. Then do nothing. Let market forces work out an equilbrium with the iceberg.

]]> By: perris http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922264 perris Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:01:40 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922264 <p>npr was staffed by bush appointees hugh</p> npr was staffed by bush appointees hugh

]]> By: Hugh http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922262 Hugh Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:58:16 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922262 <p>Just as most elected Democrats begin acting like Republicans, most “progressive” organizations when they become well known go all status quo. </p> <p>This applies to other organizations as well. Jane had a post about NPR today. At one point in its history, it portrayed itself as the alternative to the MSM. It then became successful and joined the MSM. </p> <p>There is a lesson here that all of us in the blogosphere should keep in mind.</p> Just as most elected Democrats begin acting like Republicans, most “progressive” organizations when they become well known go all status quo.

This applies to other organizations as well. Jane had a post about NPR today. At one point in its history, it portrayed itself as the alternative to the MSM. It then became successful and joined the MSM.

There is a lesson here that all of us in the blogosphere should keep in mind.

]]> By: JoeBuck http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922261 JoeBuck Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:58:10 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/23/note-to-chamber-of-commerce-please-update-to-this-century/#comment-1922261 <p>The Chamber of Commerce is screwing its own members. A public option is the best way of getting people with small businesses who want to provide health benefits for their employees out from under the insurance industry.</p> The Chamber of Commerce is screwing its own members. A public option is the best way of getting people with small businesses who want to provide health benefits for their employees out from under the insurance industry.

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