Concerned about the bill's cost, so the public option needs to be killed?

[Wetzelbill]

Is that really an argument anybody takes seriously?

The CBO report on the Kennedy HELP Bill without the public option put the costs at around a trillion dollars over ten years, then with the public option included the cost of the bill was 400 billion less.

WTF?

It's like bizarro world.

This is why I hate following politics -- I know, I know, I love it too but for other reasons. Politics is just so childish, and everything seems bass ackwards.

Let's see.

We need to restrain the cost of the bill, so you exclude the part that cuts costs.

More?

You aren't a credible voice on Iraq and foreign policy, unless you have been wrong on everything for years now, especially the war itself.

We have to follow the rule of law no matter where it leads, but we can't pursue the people who actually committed the worst crimes, because they are at the very top levels of government and it would be bad for our country to go that route.

You are considered a fiscal conservative, when you fully supported the policies that created our national debt and were against the ones that balanced the budget.

And on and on and on.

Honestly, how frustrating is this all? It's nervewracking.

[OHdem10]

1. If the bill is really too costly, then table it. Do not screw up a lot

of Americans with a bad bill.

Or is too costly being used as an excuse because the Conservatives
Dems and GOP) simply do not believe in the basic concept of health
insurance for all.

[Wetzelbill]

2. I think the GOP just doesn't really believe in it

and the ConservaDems are being paid not to.

[trayfoot]

3. Until the U.S. stops spending trillions on war, then don't insult our

intelligence by saying "the cost is too great"!

[Wetzelbill]

4. even considering that

they have a choice, pass a bill that costs less and is more impactful, or pass a bill that is costs more and has less benefit. They are saying they are concerned about costs, so then they have to go with the more expensive bill. That doesn't even remotely make sense.

[L0oniX]

5. Oh ..but if its a war then it's all good!

[Wetzelbill]

6. well yes, but that just pays for itself

like magic, right? :)

[Overseas]

7. I think 47,000,000 uninsured and millions bankrupt from medical bills is too high a cost.

But if we're really serious about costs, why don't we use the system other countries use to COVER EVERYONE with more benefits than even Medicare offers, at a lower percentage of their GDP than we spend on healthcare? It's called SINGLE PAYER.

Ours could be an expansion and upgrading of Medicare.

Republicans will fight that tooth & nail because it feels so great to have health security. I know, I had it as a resident alien in another country. Feels great and I'd love the Democrats forever for making that happen.

[Wetzelbill]

8. yeah but there is only one real problem with that

It actually makes sense, which means our political leaders will run as far away from it as possible.

[Overseas]

9. If we were serious about addressing our national health emergency, expanding Medicare

would come out on top.

That's why the private insurers hired the amoral right wing PR firms to gin up dangerous fear and hatred to storm town halls with ridiculous rumors. Heaven forbid we spent August discussing the many ways in which the current cruel, privatized Pay-to-Play system is broken.

The private insurers were willing to pay for professional bullying to distract us from discussing the economics of healthcare. Because opening up Medicare to all who choose it makes the most sense.

After the right wing PR firms have been exposed for stimulating dangerous sentiments merely to protect private profits, I am amazed to hear any Democrats talking about how we need to keep things fair for private insurance companies. Is dangerous professional bullying fair?

[redqueen]

10. It's a total lie... but they know the public is mostly too stupid to know better.

They know Bush was right about one key point... that there are some people you CAN fool all the time, and those are the ones they focus on.