Will DU unite, in protest, if mandatory private insurance without a strong public option IS the bill

[debbierlus]

The final bill.

It seems nearly unanimous that DU desires health reform with a strong public option (with single payer as the ultimate goal).

So, what will we do as a community, IF, the final bill equals nothing more mandatory private insurance with a very weakened public option (weakened meaning heavily restricted enrollment, time delay of when enrollment can start, and no provisions for oversight from congress & the voters - this would basically dilute the public option to the point of uselessness, as the plan could not compete with private insurers, if they have very low enrollment rates. The house plan already allows providers to opt out of the public option, altogether).

Will there be protest?

Or, will we write it off as the 'best' we could get and accept it since no passage at all would 'undermine' Obama?

Will there be any consequences to the dems who blocked a strong single payer option?

[bluethruandthru]

1. We need to work as a community now to get what more than 2/3's of the country wants....

I'm not willing to wait until it's all a done deal. Everyone must act now to let not just your congressperson..but every member of congress know that we want Single Payer....but the ABSOLUTE LEAST we'll accept is a public option that allows everyone to participate - no restrictions...and all doctors/hospitals, etc. must accept it.

We've got momentum on our side now. With the economy in such bad shape and so many out of work or working part time..and still others terrified of losing their jobs because that means losing their insurance...we have to push hard NOW.

[NightWatcher]

2. my protest will be nothing

how much will I give to the Dems next election cycle? nothing
which Dems will I be volunteering for next time? none of them
which Dems will I support and vote for next time? none of them

They can go run to their corporate johns to rent them for as long as they continue suck on their naughty parts in exchange for monies to get elected.

[Atticus]

3. I agree that a public option should be our minimum acceptable outcome, but

what do we mean by "protest"?

A march on the Capitol would be an appropriate protest of the cowardly compromise apparently in the offing. If, however, we "protest" by "e-mailing our Senators and Congressmen"---AGAIN!---then I say don't bother. If we're going to roll over for Big Pharma and Big Insurance, then just do it and don't pretend we are "protesting".

[eridani]

4. A weak public option is worse than nothing

Of course I will protest, and I hope the Progressive Caucus will stand firm.

[villager]

5. a day of coordinated sit-ins -- civil disobedience if necessary -- at congressional offices

...around the country.

All on the same day. That way, people everywhere can participate, even if they can't get to Washington.

Your local Congressional bagman (or woman). Your state's corrupt senator. Go there. Don't leave when asked. If there are enough, all over, at the same time, they will finally start to get spooked. A little.

And it will be more exciting than television!

[truedelphi]

6. That idea is a very good idea.

Also any big city rallies should include storming the M$M offices in those cities.

The Hispanic organized immigration protests succeded in part because the protesters had their marches on a Monday, when the media is out and on the prowl.

When we have our marches on the weekend, we guarantee ourselves as little coverage as possible.
That needs to change.

[pinstikfartherin]

21. I like this idea.

I can't make it to Washington, but I could do this.

[customerserviceguy]

7. OK, so Jim DeMented says it will be President Obama's "Waterloo"

Do we need to believe it? That's just some wingnut's definition, we don't need to accept it.

No President ever gets 100% of what he wants. Failure to get full single-payer just means enough people are not hurting hard enough yet.

We need to take over more Repuke seats in 2010, and then we try again. We should have enough of a track record of success by that point to be able to make our case.

[crim son]

8. You betcha.

And I agree with the "nothing" policy suggested above. The healthcare debate this time around has been truly eye-opening as far as I'm concerned i.e. the needs of the people are NOT being met and our reps couldn't care less. It makes me furious.

[elocs]

9. You will be disappointed if you believe DU will unite as you hope.

DU was not truly united in its support of Barack Obama when he was running for president. If not for DU rules which indicate there must be support for the Democratic candidate there would have been much more "constructive criticism" of Obama at that time than there was.

Ultimately, Republicans succeed because they stand together and are for the most part disciplined and united against the Democrats. I think of that quote from the American Revolution about how if "we do not hang together we will all hang separately". If they were of the same fiber and attitude of today's Democratic Party congressional members we would all be speaking British English today.

[donco6]

10. I think Obama should veto this bill. It's worthless.

Worse than worthless - it perpetuates the myth that health care and insurance are symbiotes. Insurance is nothing but a parasite. It provides nothing, but the opportunity for obstacles to arise between you and your health care.

[debbierlus]

28. Ah, a voice of reason. I like your style.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

11. No, some people will be happy with whatever shit passes. I won't. This is #1 on my list.

[bvar22]

12. The best protest:

Pick one or two "Blue Dogs" and make their Primary a National Referendum.
The Left shouild organize Nationally, and focus our contributions and efforts at unseating one or 2 of the WORST offenders.

Evan Bayh is up for re-election in 2010, and would be an excellent target.
Even if if we are unsuccessful at unseating Bayh, by combining our efforts, we CAN make his Primary Pure HELL, and it would put the other Conservative Democrats on notice of what will happen if they abandon their Party vote with Republicans.

The Democratic Party already knows they lose my vote if they are successful at fucking up Health Care Reform.

[Senator]

20. The best opportunities

While I agree with the nationalized primary as the best tactic, we have one opportunity in that vein that should not be missed with Sestak challenging "new-dog" Specter in PA. Also, "taking Obama's seat" with Jan Schakowsky would send a strong anti-dog message.

Not that I disagree with targeting Bayh, but the "one or two" target(s) limit is essential to success and these other opportunities could be easier "wins."

--

[TheKentuckian]

23. Bayh is only slightly less popular than Jesus in Indiana.

I don't know why he'd be seen as an excellent target other than being someone many would like to see kick rocks. An excellent target would seem to be someone that is vulnerable not a rock to dash our ships upon.

[shimmergal]

25. Also, let's see what Bayh does before

organizing against him. He _did_ end up voting with progressives for "cramdown" on underwater mortgages, not the chosen Blue Dogs position.

And his dad was a true liberal. Aside from his popularity in the face of WAY too much right wing craziness in Indiana. I think there are better targets.

[grantcart]

13. yes

[masuki bance]

14. Mark this down- If Obama signs it, DU will rally around it. Period. nt

[debbierlus]

27. The sad thing is that you are probably right. But, I hope not.

[LWolf]

15. No.

There are some on DU that would not unite to oppose anything Democrats did during Obama's tenure.

[donheld]

16. So we can count you out?

[LWolf]

18. Count me out of what?

I'm already protesting any pseudo health-care reform that doesn't actually ensure that every person in the U.S. has equal access to equal care.

[donheld]

17. Yes I'm in

[NoPasaran]

19. I plan to go to Olive Garden

[Enthusiast]

24. One would hope so.

:fistbump:

[Vidar]

22. One would hope so.

[Doremus]

26. General strike. General strike. General strike.

Anything less is a waste of time.

[PVnRT]

29. Anyone who does will be a "concern troll trying to undermine Obama"

If tomorrow, he announced he supported drilling for oil in ANWR, hordes of cheerleaders here would say that it's a good thing and flame anyone who disagreed.

[quiller4]

30. No. I'm willing to accept incremental change even if the increments are small.

[debbierlus]

32. That wouldn't be incremental change, it would be a HUGE step backward

Giving health insurance companies control of our national health administration system...

[Zodiak]

31. I'll leave...as in quit this community

I'll be done with American politics.

No more activism....I will disengage completely because frankly, it is not worth my time to get involved in a process that shuts my concerns out before the process even starts (and my concerns were the majority opinion). This exercise has shown me that our political system doesn't give a rat's ass about its citizens, and citizens don't give a rat's ass, either. Wait for the downfall is all I can tell you after that because after this perfect Democratic storm, anything less than meaningful healthcare reform is deliberate and unforgivable.

So there are better things to do with my time. Perhaps take my Ph.D. overseas so I can get out of this shit-stain of a country where I have to listen to stupidity and meanness masquerading as a political philosophy. Y'all can watch the shadows on the wall of the cave all you like....I'm finally going to turn around and get free of this insane system.