Comments on: Early Morning Swim: Rachel on the Public Option http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/ Firedoglake weblog Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:51:10 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: james http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959277 james Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:56:34 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959277 <p>The one they’re greasing up to insert in America’s anus.</p> The one they’re greasing up to insert in America’s anus.

]]> By: james http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959275 james Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:54:57 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959275 <p>We have to stop trying to find the political jiu-jitsu in what this president is doing and accept the fact that he was bought and paid for as evidenced by the campaign contributions from Wall Street especially the FIRE segment of the economy.</p> <p>Maddow spoke about something at the top of her show that just jumped out at me yesterday while I was watching to closing bell on Wall Street. All the health care companies and insurance companies associated with HMOs had banner days closing up significantly while the rest of the market tanked. That should let everyone know that the word has gone out from the administration that as far as the prez is concerned anything is acceptable except a plan that will actually help the average person and have a negative impact on the insurance/pharma industry.</p> We have to stop trying to find the political jiu-jitsu in what this president is doing and accept the fact that he was bought and paid for as evidenced by the campaign contributions from Wall Street especially the FIRE segment of the economy.

Maddow spoke about something at the top of her show that just jumped out at me yesterday while I was watching to closing bell on Wall Street. All the health care companies and insurance companies associated with HMOs had banner days closing up significantly while the rest of the market tanked. That should let everyone know that the word has gone out from the administration that as far as the prez is concerned anything is acceptable except a plan that will actually help the average person and have a negative impact on the insurance/pharma industry.

]]> By: Elliott http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959204 Elliott Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:39:07 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959204 <p>What poll is that?</p> What poll is that?

]]> By: Indie http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959201 Indie Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:38:08 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959201 <p>Government involvement leads to rationing and higher taxation in order to control costs. Without reduced service or higher taxes, deficits occur. See Medicare, the Post Office, Public Education.</p> Government involvement leads to rationing and higher taxation in order to control costs. Without reduced service or higher taxes, deficits occur. See Medicare, the Post Office, Public Education.

]]> By: Indie http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959197 Indie Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:34:35 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959197 <p>No but I am telling you my perception of the public mood. A poll out this morning shows a pluraluty 47% of Americans now oppose a government administered and government subsidized ‘public option.’ </p> <p>There is a fine line between ‘promoting the general welfare’ and providing the general welfare. The public option takes us over the line, and on a path where the authoritarian bent of government seeks to impose its will on the people it is meant to serve.</p> No but I am telling you my perception of the public mood. A poll out this morning shows a pluraluty 47% of Americans now oppose a government administered and government subsidized ‘public option.’

There is a fine line between ‘promoting the general welfare’ and providing the general welfare. The public option takes us over the line, and on a path where the authoritarian bent of government seeks to impose its will on the people it is meant to serve.

]]> By: letsgetitdone http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959195 letsgetitdone Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:20:21 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959195 <p>The lifting on HR 676 is not near as heavy as on the PO. A new NBC poll just appeared showing that more are now against the PO than favor it. Progressives are marshaling their shock troops now for no purpose but to go down with the PO ship. As Jane Hamsher has said “the PO <em>is</em> the compromise.” The problem is that the industry is opposed to the compromise. They don’t want it; so why should we want it. It’s time to return to HR 676, a bill we can believe in and really fight for, and a bill that people can read (30 pages in length) and understand.</p> The lifting on HR 676 is not near as heavy as on the PO. A new NBC poll just appeared showing that more are now against the PO than favor it. Progressives are marshaling their shock troops now for no purpose but to go down with the PO ship. As Jane Hamsher has said “the PO is the compromise.” The problem is that the industry is opposed to the compromise. They don’t want it; so why should we want it. It’s time to return to HR 676, a bill we can believe in and really fight for, and a bill that people can read (30 pages in length) and understand.

]]> By: masslib http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959194 masslib Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:02:22 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959194 <p>It will be reconciled from the bills already out of committee that do not include a viable public option. Sooner or later, public option advocates are going to have to define what the feck the public option is. John Nichols says it better than me:</p> <p><a href="http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/463782/don_t_let_the_white_house_spin_the_public_option_debate" rel="nofollow">http://www.thenation.com/blogs.....ion_debate</a></p> It will be reconciled from the bills already out of committee that do not include a viable public option. Sooner or later, public option advocates are going to have to define what the feck the public option is. John Nichols says it better than me:

http://www.thenation.com/blogs…..ion_debate

]]> By: texasaggie http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959193 texasaggie Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:54:28 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959193 <p>I have seen Chemonics at work in West Africa. They are one of the sleaziest organizations going, a Beltway Bandit on the order of Blackwater. Based on what I know, I would be very surprised if someone on the ground in Afghanistan read the reports that Chemonics did for USAID and was able to recognize them as being about the same project.</p> I have seen Chemonics at work in West Africa. They are one of the sleaziest organizations going, a Beltway Bandit on the order of Blackwater. Based on what I know, I would be very surprised if someone on the ground in Afghanistan read the reports that Chemonics did for USAID and was able to recognize them as being about the same project.

]]> By: row4it http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959192 row4it Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:24:19 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959192 <p>New to all of this, first post and all, and…</p> <p>Thanks for this answer. This has been on the top of my “I don’t get it” list for a while, and the MtP go-round with Rachel et al. only made it worse. I simply don’t understand why everyone is obsessing on the “level playing field” thing with regard to the public option. I didn’t think this was a game! </p> <p>If I decided to start up a police force and then claimed that the real one couldn’t be supported by taxes because it wouldn’t be a level playing field for me, I’d be laughed out of town (and rightfully so). So why does that argument fly with my health as opposed to my security?</p> New to all of this, first post and all, and…

Thanks for this answer. This has been on the top of my “I don’t get it” list for a while, and the MtP go-round with Rachel et al. only made it worse. I simply don’t understand why everyone is obsessing on the “level playing field” thing with regard to the public option. I didn’t think this was a game!

If I decided to start up a police force and then claimed that the real one couldn’t be supported by taxes because it wouldn’t be a level playing field for me, I’d be laughed out of town (and rightfully so). So why does that argument fly with my health as opposed to my security?

]]> By: Crosstimbers http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959191 Crosstimbers Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:24:08 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/18/early-morning-swim-rachel-on-the-public-option/#comment-1959191 <p>My understanding is that appointed subcommittees from the three House committees with bills meet to reconcile their bills into a single bill, which is then voted on by the whole House. Unfortunately, in the Senate, Harry Reed is likely to designate which Bill will considered to be adopted by that body and voted on by the whole Senate. Senate and House committees will then be appointed to reconcile the two bills and the result sent back for vote. Definition of a public option would have to occur during all of the sub committee reconcilliation meetings. I don’t know how you think it would improve the situation if I develop a very specific concept of what is acceptable to me. If you think that is being unwilling or unable, so be it.</p> My understanding is that appointed subcommittees from the three House committees with bills meet to reconcile their bills into a single bill, which is then voted on by the whole House. Unfortunately, in the Senate, Harry Reed is likely to designate which Bill will considered to be adopted by that body and voted on by the whole Senate. Senate and House committees will then be appointed to reconcile the two bills and the result sent back for vote. Definition of a public option would have to occur during all of the sub committee reconcilliation meetings. I don’t know how you think it would improve the situation if I develop a very specific concept of what is acceptable to me. If you think that is being unwilling or unable, so be it.

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