Of course it is. It means Americans have a choice. Which is exactly the point behind a free market system and a regulated public option would mean the thieving insurance companies would be forced to bring their costs down to compete. So sad for them that it means they have to stop robbing us don't you think (sarcasm).
October 23, 2009 04:48 pm at 4:48 pm |
Edwin
No, Meka.
The American Way is about having opportunities to make money. Giving consumers choices rarely helps businesses make money, because competition is bad for profits.
You can't sell a $5 cow for $10 if someone else is willing to sell the cow for $6. Some opponents of public option are afraid that the government would try to sell the cow for $4, which a private business couldn't do. But most people against the public option, like most people for it, really have no idea what the words really even mean.
My limited understanding is that the public option is essentially something like Medicare, and that only a small number of people will really be effected by it at all (unless the screaming about it causes the health care bills to fail).
October 23, 2009 04:50 pm at 4:50 pm |
Grace
Competition is supposed to be the thing that drives capitalism but forever big corporations have tried to corner a market by destroying the competition or merging with them and setting prices... They've been successful all too often which is a main reason we pay so much more for gas, oil, energy, HEALTH CARE, communications, etc, They slice up the country so all get their fair share of the market.. now that's real competition isn't it ... yeshrightsure!!
October 23, 2009 04:52 pm at 4:52 pm |
Maria - Proud Democrat
If the White House really wanted us to have choices, they would break down the barrier that prevents us from buying insurance across State Lines.
Telling us that we will now have 2 options instead of one, is not really giving us choices. It's backing us into a wall.
We would much rather have the ability to choose between the 600 insurance companies and plans available nationwide.
THAT IS REAL CHOICE
October 23, 2009 04:52 pm at 4:52 pm |
cgillette369
dana bash real name is RUTH SCHWARTZ.
October 23, 2009 04:52 pm at 4:52 pm |
Tony
As long as paying for it is optional too. Let the progressive states kill their insurance industry.
October 23, 2009 04:57 pm at 4:57 pm |
DJ
Yes keep the momentum going and demand that Congress grow a spine and do something for the people for a change instead of always catering to the well-to-do millionaire bankers or lobbyists.
October 23, 2009 04:58 pm at 4:58 pm |
Phil
I believe the only solution we have to stop the party politics is to elect an ALL INDEPENDENT CONGRESS, NO DEMS, NO REPS.
Congress is no better than two sports teams playing to win the next 2 year super bowl.
I don't watch sports and I don't care which party wins. I just want the best IDEAS to win.
I'm an independent and we are growing every year.
Its time for an independent majority in Congress.
October 23, 2009 04:59 pm at 4:59 pm |
John from NY
The Public Option is simply a horrible idea. Until the barriers against free market competition for insurance companies and the ridiculous tort system are corrected we don't know how competitive it can get and how many amaericans can get insurance. There are too many barriers now that drive up insurance costs. The gov't will fail us as they have with social security, medicaire, fanny mae, freddy mac.
And this is coming from an independent who voted for Obama. I will vote against any senator or congressman who votes for a public option before finding the positive effect if the non competitive barriers are removed. We need a stepped approach to this.
October 23, 2009 05:08 pm at 5:08 pm |
kaleto
What idiot would want government run health care over their existing health care? The only people who want a "government option" are those with NO health care, because free poorly run health care is better than none.
Incidentally, CNN says organized crime is now delving into Medicare and Medicaid fraud. If the government can't keep the mob out of the EXISTING poorly run, too-expesive health care it manages, does anyone expect them to run a new health care system more efficienty?
October 23, 2009 05:09 pm at 5:09 pm |
Bob in Pa
The public option needs to be sleepin with the fishes.
October 23, 2009 05:10 pm at 5:10 pm |
Gary
Stop this nonsense about public options. The healthcare reform we want is:
1. Serious malpractice reform.
2. Insurance companies that operate across state lines
3. No pre-existing condition exclusions
4. Medicare and Medicaid can negotiate with drug companies
5. Insure all children.
No public option! No government panels! No more taxes! No more government involved in our healthcare! Its really not that complicated.
October 23, 2009 05:10 pm at 5:10 pm |
seebofubar
The government only has the rights that are explisitly granted in the Constitution. Nowhere is the government given the right to act as an insurance company or to interfere with private enterprise. Obama took an oath to uphold the constitution, if he signs a bill with a public option in it, he should be immediatly removed from office and jailed.
October 23, 2009 05:12 pm at 5:12 pm |
Sue
Do WE get to choose what health program WE PAY for for the Obamas?????
October 23, 2009 05:15 pm at 5:15 pm |
Michael M, Phoenix AZ
With the insurance companies already raising premiums for the Medicare Supplement plans by 200% for next year the public option seems like the better deal. My premium just doubled from what it was last year!
October 23, 2009 05:15 pm at 5:15 pm |
tpbco
To everyone who wants the public option and let the government take over healthcare....got your swine flu shot yet? I hear that a lot of people HOPE to get one some day...this decade.
October 23, 2009 05:19 pm at 5:19 pm |
Billie Sutton
I don't support any plan that does not include a public option!
October 23, 2009 05:24 pm at 5:24 pm |
ICARE
These dummycrats... I meant dumbocrats.... I mean DEMOCRATS are so weak, lame and dumb.....
Cant ever win a fistfight!! But that's good that they are weak,otherwise, we'll be at war.
It seemed like all the God-given CON brains have been given to the REPUBLIKON.. I MEAN REPUBLI CAN....
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Of course it is. It means Americans have a choice. Which is exactly the point behind a free market system and a regulated public option would mean the thieving insurance companies would be forced to bring their costs down to compete. So sad for them that it means they have to stop robbing us don't you think (sarcasm).
No, Meka.
The American Way is about having opportunities to make money. Giving consumers choices rarely helps businesses make money, because competition is bad for profits.
You can't sell a $5 cow for $10 if someone else is willing to sell the cow for $6. Some opponents of public option are afraid that the government would try to sell the cow for $4, which a private business couldn't do. But most people against the public option, like most people for it, really have no idea what the words really even mean.
My limited understanding is that the public option is essentially something like Medicare, and that only a small number of people will really be effected by it at all (unless the screaming about it causes the health care bills to fail).
Competition is supposed to be the thing that drives capitalism but forever big corporations have tried to corner a market by destroying the competition or merging with them and setting prices... They've been successful all too often which is a main reason we pay so much more for gas, oil, energy, HEALTH CARE, communications, etc, They slice up the country so all get their fair share of the market.. now that's real competition isn't it ... yeshrightsure!!
If the White House really wanted us to have choices, they would break down the barrier that prevents us from buying insurance across State Lines.
Telling us that we will now have 2 options instead of one, is not really giving us choices. It's backing us into a wall.
We would much rather have the ability to choose between the 600 insurance companies and plans available nationwide.
THAT IS REAL CHOICE
dana bash real name is RUTH SCHWARTZ.
As long as paying for it is optional too. Let the progressive states kill their insurance industry.
Yes keep the momentum going and demand that Congress grow a spine and do something for the people for a change instead of always catering to the well-to-do millionaire bankers or lobbyists.
I believe the only solution we have to stop the party politics is to elect an ALL INDEPENDENT CONGRESS, NO DEMS, NO REPS.
Congress is no better than two sports teams playing to win the next 2 year super bowl.
I don't watch sports and I don't care which party wins. I just want the best IDEAS to win.
I'm an independent and we are growing every year.
Its time for an independent majority in Congress.
The Public Option is simply a horrible idea. Until the barriers against free market competition for insurance companies and the ridiculous tort system are corrected we don't know how competitive it can get and how many amaericans can get insurance. There are too many barriers now that drive up insurance costs. The gov't will fail us as they have with social security, medicaire, fanny mae, freddy mac.
And this is coming from an independent who voted for Obama. I will vote against any senator or congressman who votes for a public option before finding the positive effect if the non competitive barriers are removed. We need a stepped approach to this.
What idiot would want government run health care over their existing health care? The only people who want a "government option" are those with NO health care, because free poorly run health care is better than none.
Incidentally, CNN says organized crime is now delving into Medicare and Medicaid fraud. If the government can't keep the mob out of the EXISTING poorly run, too-expesive health care it manages, does anyone expect them to run a new health care system more efficienty?
The public option needs to be sleepin with the fishes.
Stop this nonsense about public options. The healthcare reform we want is:
1. Serious malpractice reform.
2. Insurance companies that operate across state lines
3. No pre-existing condition exclusions
4. Medicare and Medicaid can negotiate with drug companies
5. Insure all children.
No public option! No government panels! No more taxes! No more government involved in our healthcare! Its really not that complicated.
The government only has the rights that are explisitly granted in the Constitution. Nowhere is the government given the right to act as an insurance company or to interfere with private enterprise. Obama took an oath to uphold the constitution, if he signs a bill with a public option in it, he should be immediatly removed from office and jailed.
Do WE get to choose what health program WE PAY for for the Obamas?????
With the insurance companies already raising premiums for the Medicare Supplement plans by 200% for next year the public option seems like the better deal. My premium just doubled from what it was last year!
To everyone who wants the public option and let the government take over healthcare....got your swine flu shot yet? I hear that a lot of people HOPE to get one some day...this decade.
I don't support any plan that does not include a public option!
These dummycrats... I meant dumbocrats.... I mean DEMOCRATS are so weak, lame and dumb.....
Cant ever win a fistfight!! But that's good that they are weak,otherwise, we'll be at war.
It seemed like all the God-given CON brains have been given to the REPUBLIKON.. I MEAN REPUBLI CAN....
cant believe I'm one of those dummycrats..