Possible silver lining if there is no public option for now

[LuckyTheDog]

If the feds are do not become committed to the task of creating a new bureaucracy to run a public option, that could actually be good for us in the end. It leaves open the future possibility of simply saying "screw it, let's not reinvent the wheel" and then expanding Medicare to everyone.

I think that should be our "second day" strategy. We take what we can get now, and switch to a simple, straightforward message: Medicare for all in 2010.

Thoughts?

[dtotire]

1. Good Idea

We should allow anyone to buy into Medicare, and pay a reasonable premium, with co-pays. My guess is that the annual premium for a family would be around $8-9000. It would have to offer the same benefit package that private health insurers will be required to offer. If this can be done, there would be no need for a public option in the current legislation.

[RDANGELO]

2. We will win this eventually.

A lot of people have been led to believe that it is possible to give health care to everybody at substantially lower cost without government involvement. One way or another they will figure out that this is a canard. We may have to go the non government route just to prove it. As long as the majority has the attitude that everyone should have affordable health care and that the costs have to come down, we will eventually win.

[Kansas Wyatt]

3. Whenever actual Democrats replace Corporate Politicians.

What we have today is nowhere close to what the People of this country voted for.

Yet the White House and the Corporate Congress Whores can't figure out why people do not approve of them anymore. They think acting Republican and representing only Corporate America doesn't have anything to do with it.

What makes them think they can play chess when they cannot even play checkers?

[Laelth]

4. 2011 would be a better year, but, otherwise, I am with you. k&r n/t

:dem:

-Laelth