Comments on: Harry Reid’s “Corporate” Public Option: Not Public, and Not an Option

By: archiebird

archiebird — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:27:15 +0000

Thanks for replying. But I’m just curious. How do they plan to pay for a public option anyway? A portion of it, of course, would be paid for by the recipient. What about the other portion? When do the Bush taxcuts end, and what are the current Admin. thoughts about letting them lapse? My gut tells me that that Obama would probably let the rich keep their money. He’s been such a disappointment at times. I know they’re going after UBS, but Amy Goodman reported that there are over 50,000 Swiss Banks Accounts that are avoiding US taxes,and Obama has only negotiated on less than 5000.

By: BMcGarth

BMcGarth — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:44:44 +0000

Must have been a time in our history when the Majority Senate leader would say anything & the larger majority of the populace his party represents would just go-along.

Cuz it seems Harry Reid is still stuck in that point in time.
And for Dc blogger suggesting BBoxer as Senate leader.Is there something I am missing ? BBoxer ,the so called liberal senator who didn’t have the gumption to support the black caucus when they pleaded for the support of ONE US SENATOR to side with ‘em so that a congressional inquiry could be launched to query the 2000 election of GWBush.And the same BBOxer who went all the way to Connecticut to campaign & lie about Lieberman’s stance on pregnant women wanting to visit hospitals when Lieberman was being challenged by Ned LaMont.

By: SomeGuy

SomeGuy — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:07:05 +0000

Single payer would be better than Switzerland’s style of insurance, but would the public option be better? Maybe if the public option was not watered down it would be as good or better than Switzerland’s style of insurance. I watched the President’s speech the other day and I really hope he wins the public option for America.

By: masaccio

masaccio — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:15:25 +0000

archiebird, the idea of medicare for all is plausible. The cost is a sticking point, and, of course, insurance companies would rather eat snakes.

The only reason the public option is limited to 5mn people is because the exchange is more like a gateway than a real exchange. It limits the people eligible to use it. That can be changed now or later, and we all hope it will. On the other hand, if the public option is limited in the ways the Blue Dogs want to, it won’t really be that much cheaper.

By: PaulaT

PaulaT — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:17:05 +0000

Does Reid have a primary challenger? He’s in trouble, which is a good thing, but would rather have him picked off by a better Dem than a worse Repub.

By: archiebird

archiebird — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:01:32 +0000

Something I thought of before I fell aspleep last night. According to the CBO they approximate only about 5 million purchasing a Public Option insurance plan through the government. Would it be possible to set up a ‘public option” through medicare? It would mean people are able to purchase medical insurance through medicare. It could be set up that way? Right? Alot of the groundwork is already laid with medicare doctors and what not. A person would pay a pre-determined premium (based on income) directly to the government through medicare. Back to the topic: Note to Harry Reid: Public Option MEANS PUBLIC! DUH! NOT PRIVATE. Can we get rid of him now? Is there somewhere I can donate to his primary opponent? Does he have a primary opponent? If not can we get him one quick?

By: masaccio

masaccio — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:13:31 +0000

I’m not sure how this advances the discussion. Perhaps you are self-gratifying like roxsteady @ 39?

By: masaccio

masaccio — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:12:11 +0000

I don’t disagree. I do think a public option can be done that will start driving down costs.

By: earlofhuntingdon

earlofhuntingdon — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:03:41 +0000

Harry Riedless, as ever, kowtowing to the private sector, which never does any harm and always does good. He long ago followed Alice down that rabbit hole. He is unable to think or act outside the little box Alice put him in after he drank the potion that said, “Drink This”.

By: solerso

solerso — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:48:54 +0000

right. and im glad that some are shocked out of thier “hope” that Obama is anything but a neo liberal “market” hack, but dont despair of it and give up! have you already forgotten the bush dictatorship..er decidership? have to have together for the long haul