A good analogy

[ProSense]

A good analogy

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Salon's Mike Madden makes a good point:

WASHINGTON -- There's no reason to be afraid of a public health insurance option -- unless you're also afraid of public colleges and universities.

Or at least, that was the analogy President Obama drew in defending the public option in tonight's speech: "It would also keep pressure on private insurers to keep their policies affordable and treat their customers better, the same way public colleges and universities provide additional choice and competition to students without in any way inhibiting a vibrant system of private colleges and universities."

It was a far better metaphor than the one he's used earlier this summer, comparing the public option to the Postal Service and private insurers to FedEx and UPS. (For one thing, the post office might conjure up visions of long waits for service.) So many Americans have attended public colleges that it's hard for opponents to say they don't do exactly what Obama said they do -- provide an alternative, without inhibiting private colleges.

If advocates for the public option are smart, you might be hearing this comparison a lot in the next few days.

On Wednesday night, President Obama spent seven full minutes discussing the public option and explaining the need for it.

Even though he said that he was open to other solutions that would achieve the goals of the public option, the mere fact that he spent seven minutes addressing the public option not only shows that President Obama understands its central importance to health care reform, it also shows that when he chooses to be, he is still the best advocate for it.

[polichick]

1. I think the public/private college analogy is very good. Of course...

...there are A LOT of public colleges and EVERYBODY can go to them ~ which is why they create competition for the private schools.

[johnaries]

2. I agree with the President, if someone can give me another

idea or solution that does the same thing as the Public Option I'm willing to go for it. So far, nothing matches the Public Option. I think that's his stand, as well.

[Cha]

3. The President and his Team

learn when something doesn't work and move forward.

"It was a far better metaphor than the one he's used earlier this summer, comparing the public option to the Postal Service and private insurers to FedEx and UPS. (For one thing, the post office might conjure up visions of long waits for service.) So many Americans have attended public colleges that it's hard for opponents to say they don't do exactly what Obama said they do -- provide an alternative, without inhibiting private colleges."