NYT - Doctor's Note - Questions for Howard Dean

[DinahMoeHum]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/magazine/12fob-q4-t.html?_r=18ref=magazine

(snip)
As a former practicing physician, governor of Vermont and head of the Democratic National Committee, did you write your new book, “Howard Dean’s Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform,” to appoint yourself as the go-to person on health care policy? What, exactly, is your role in all this?
My role is to try to get the Democratic Party to do the right thing. I believe that if we don’t pass the health care plan with the public option, it won’t be health care reform, and we’ll lose a tremendous number of seats in 2010.

By “public option,” you refer to a plan that would give most Americans a choice between their current health insurance and a new Medicare-style public plan. Which is very different from the sort of comprehensive single-payer plan the Canadians have.
You’ve got to start from where you are, not from where you wish you were. The Europeans have much more comprehensive and cheaper health care plans than we have, but they got there because their health care systems were essentially destroyed during World War II. We grew our private health care system around World War II — the only way that American employers could give their employees a raise was to enhance health-insurance benefits — so to change it to a totally public plan is crazy.
(snip)

more at the link above...

[PDJane]

1. Not changing to a public plan is crazy.

It gives you the same old thing, which is for profit healthcare....and mandated insurance.

[monmouth]

2. I'm thinking/hoping POTUS will not sign anything that doesn't include at

the very least a public option. I'm thinking/hoping it will happen. I've temporarily stopped shopping for supplemental insurance (outrageous costs for a retired person)until after this happens, which it will.....Gotta have "Hope", right?

[Iwillnevergiveup]

3. The stars are in alignment

Health care is paramount in American lives. If you're not sick, you know someone who is.