Without public option, health care bill is "worthless," Dean says

[kpete]

Source: Yale Daily News

Without public option, health care bill is "worthless," Dean says
BY SARAH SCOTT

"Congress isn’t going to pass a bill that reforms health care," Howard Dean '71 said. "What we want is to have the kinds of choices so that we can reform health care."

Dean, former Head of the Democratic National Committee and a 2004 Democratic candidate for president, addressed 50 undergraduates at a Pierson College Master's Tea Monday afternoon. His talk on health care comes on the heels of the release of his new book, "Howard Dean's Prescription for Real Health Care Reform," as well as the start of debate about the health care bill on the Senate floor. According to Dean, the most important component of the health care bill is the public option.

"If we don’t have a choice, this bill is worthless and should be defeated," the former Governor of Vermont said.


Read more: http://www.yaledailynews.com/crosscampus/2009/11/30/without-public-option-health-care-bill-worthless-d/

[abelenkpe]

1. what????

Is the public option out?

[kirby]

103. It was never in...

not in a meaningful way. The CBO estimated only 4 million people would qualify it. Not very Public of an Option.

[theFrankFactor]

129. Worthless - Like the Democrat Majority!

This is the full intent of the Democrat leadership. To FUCK YOU!

Hi everyone, I posted a new episode to my podcast, The Frank Factor | Liberal and Proud!.

Please click the link below to view it.
http://thefrankfactor.podOmatic.com/entry/2009-11-30T16_37_38-08_00

Join actual Liberals and unconventional Democrats.
http://TheFrankFactor.com
See you there!

- TheFrankFactor

[daa]

2. Sad tosay I agree nt

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Amen, Brother.

[bjobotts]

109. The "Reform" bill has turned into the "Exchange" bill with no PO.Dean is right.

[bjobotts]

110. President Rahm got what he wanted-campaign support in exchange for no PO

[bjobotts]

111. Kill it and expand Medicare's 'budget' to cover everyone over 5 via reconciliation with 51 votes

[bjobotts]

112. Being a budgetary issue it could pass via reconciliation with 51 votes

[bjobotts]

113. The whole point of a PO was to open the door to gov. involvement in the ins. industry

[bjobotts]

114. which then could be expanded later on to lower prices and cover more people

[theFrankFactor]

130. Your Suggestion is Sensible but Doesn't Suck Corporate Cock and is Therefore Doomed

Hi everyone, I posted a new episode to my podcast, The Frank Factor | Liberal and Proud!.

Please click the link below to view it.
http://thefrankfactor.podOmatic.com/entry/2009-11-30T16_37_38-08_00

Join actual Liberals and unconventional Democrats.
http://TheFrankFactor.com
See you there!

- TheFrankFactor

[pundaint]

126. The President responsible for this is Obama

Do you imagine that Obama is so stupid that his Chief of Staff tells him what to do?

If you don't like what Rahm is doing, fire the guy who put him in place.

[dugaresa]

4. i agree

[DuaneBidoux]

44. bs. I have a preexisting condition and only 2 years left.

If this bill isn't passed I will be fucked--and I do mean royally fucked. Maybe we want a public option but I desperately need this preexisting issue to go away or I will have nothing in two years.

[DuaneBidoux]

45. I have a pre-existing condition and my plan covers me for only 2 more years.

Sorry if I agree with virtually nobody on this thread.

There will still be an awefully lot of Americans like me hurt without this package, with or without the public option.

[Go2Peace]

59. They need to pass a "regulation" bill seperately

that deals with pre-existing conditions and unfair billing practices. That will fix those issues and allow us to continue to fight for real reform.

Heck, if we did that how much you want to bet that another bill comes out in 6 months to just open up medicare to those who don't have insurance. What is the difference? We subsidise medicare for the elderly already?

[pnwmom]

87. Dream on. Neither of those things will happen if we don't pass reform now.

All the steam will be gone from the movement.

[pnwmom]

86. We have a young relative with cancer and no insurance due to an unrelated pre-existing condition.

So believe me, I understand and agree with you. It upsets me greatly to see how willing some people are to throw people like you overboard.

[bjobotts]

115. In order to save millions in the future rejected because of pre esisting or lack of money

[bjobotts]

116. That throw overboard thing works 2 ways when U consider future patients

[Doctor_J]

92. A lot more people will be screwn if it passes

without a PO those of us who already have insurance will be on the hook for another round of Big Insurance windfall. It will wipe out what little is left of the middle class.

[PHIMG]

122. I hope you havea buttload of money to spend on that insurance plan

WIthout a limitation on what they can charge you they'll price it so high the effect of the "ban" is meaningless.

Until we have everyone in one insurance pool, Medicare, we're ALL SCREWED.

[dugaresa]

49. i have two pre-existing conditions and I have 30+ years of working life left

and without it I am f*cked because of the fact that my employer is shedding healthcare every year and soon I will be paying more than $15K a year out of pocket. Pre-existing conditions being accepted only means I pay way more as I shop around to find the one with the lowest of the high rates mixed with excruciating deductibles.

I worked in health care billing for way to long to know the system is a mess and deep down I know that the public option is the only way to set things right.

[SOS]

100. Outrageously

The Senate bill will not go into effect until the year 2014.

War? Six months
Wall Street bailout? Six days

Health reform? 5 years

[MNDemNY]

56. Neither of these bills are likly to help you.

And they both do more harm than good. sorry, but Dr. Dean is right.

[pnwmom]

88. Dean didn't say that neither of the bills is acceptable -- only if the public option

is dropped completely. But right now it's in both bills.

[derby378]

5. Thank you, Howard, for coming around

YES! :bounce:

[offog]

69. About that German quotation at the bottom of your post ...

(Ref. derby378)

"Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen." - Heinrich Heine

... I understand just enough German to kind of translate it. It says something about how if we burn books, in the end we'll end up burning people. Is that about right?

[derby378]

71. You nailed it

And, of course, many of Heine's works were indeed burned by the Nazis.

[bjobotts]

117. But none of this is necessary.All could be resolved but for senate obstructionism

[bjobotts]

118. Arguing over details when all could be solved all covered but for lobbyists-priv ins

[bjobotts]

119. We shouldn't have to accept the failure of any of these issues.Fuck the senate.

[midnight]

6. It is hard to understand why so much time and money has been spent to

block the American worker from having access to affordable heath care that those who are writing this worthless bill have access to.

[valerief]

18. That's the easist part to understand. Good peasants are dead peasants in their world. nt

[Demeter]

60. Or Rather, Good Peasants are CHEAP Peasants--Kill Off the Expensive Ones

that way, no medical costs AND no retirement costs, either.

[defendandprotect]

36. You have to understand the suicidal nature of capitalism . . . profits before people . . .

[salguine]

50. I think "homicidal" is nearer the mark. Or maybe "genocidal".

[inna]

67. What I don't understand is that capitalism in other first-world countries

actually has a human face.

Ours doesn't.

[defendandprotect]

106. Because the GOP succeeded in de-regulating capitalism here . . .

not that it hasn't done harm at this point to other nations!!

Even though we had the New Deal, American never got more than 39% of labor unionized --

now they've knocked it down to 13%/9%??? somewhere there --

And we never had the health care nor vacation benefits, social benefits that Europe had.

Of course, capitalism has long been trying to erode what Europe has, as well!


PS: Basically unregulated capitalism is organized crime --

Capitalism is a ridiculous "King-of-the-Hill" system intended to move the wealth and

natural resources of a nation from the many to the few . . . and it succeeds mightily!

[pundaint]

127. Capitalism is an economic system why has it also become our Government?

Because we vote these bastards back in to office, because we're stupid. Government is to serve People, and it serves only those who bend it to their will. If it's doing your will re-elect it.

[mbperrin]

7. We actually need single payer, but the public option is the barest

possible minimum, so without it, yes, defeat the bill.

[defendandprotect]

37. Why not fight for MEDICARE FOR ALL -- btw, where are the buttons?

Everyone should be wearing one!

[Double T]

8. What would we expect from a worthless Congress.

[defendandprotect]

38. It's a pre-owned, pre-bribed corporate-Congress . . . .

So -- what's Plan B?

[Double T]

131. Plan B, C, D, E, F and G is.............

a Revolution. Start by VOTING OUT every single member of the 'do nothing congress'. Put the new freshman congress person on notice that the same thing will happen to them if they don't get the job done. Then we'll go on from there.

[defendandprotect]

133. Understand there are some progressive organizations coming in to try

to defend against the Emmanuel program of hatching new "little blue eggs" ---

Seems a little late to me now that the Congress is fully stocked with corporate Democrats --

and DLC --

AND, we need to get liberals/progressives aligned to move one way or the other ... TOGETHER ...

as a voting bloc --

Meanwhile, we can still hope that one day the Democrats will end these immoral/illegal wars --

but I'm growing more pessimistic!

I think Greider and Moore have been wise to point to the need to target -- but we also have

to target the DLC -- the nest of corporate vipers!

[Double T]

134. The collective 'dnc' (do nothing congress) tumor must be erradicated..........

like a stage 4 cancer. ALL are guilty as charged.

[OHdem10]

9. Without public option and forcing everyone to buy HI , this is simply

a big fat gift to the Insurance Companies. The Premiums
will be unaffordable. Those subsidies will not help
most people.

Dean is correct.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

19. Exactly.

Mandatory purchase without access by every American to a public option is nothin' but a steaming pile of pro-industry shit.

[emilyg]

39. +1

[ChiciB1]

47. And All the Pretty Little Speeches That We're Going To Be Hearing

will be filled with LIES!! Highlight what you think people want to hear, but HIDE the facts behind the closed doors!

[pampango]

10. New York Times article where Dean says about the same thing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/30/us/30iht-letter.html

"The party’s liberal base insists that the public option is the sine qua non of a decent health care bill. The liberal blogs are ballistic, demanding that Mr. Reid pass a bill using any procedures he has to. The issue is whether Mr. Reid will “let corrupt members of his own caucus” thwart the public will, reads one post; without the public measure, says the former Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean, the bill is a fraud."

"The majority leader sided with advocates of putting a public option in his bill, which is the framework for Senate deliberations. With both sides dug in, compromise is proving elusive.

Mr. Reid’s defenders say he had little choice but to include this provision to placate his party’s base; otherwise some Democratic lawmakers, such as Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia or Roland Burris of Illinois might bolt."

"The only way to get any Republican — Olympia Snowe of Maine and a couple of others — is to drop the public option and accept a so-called trigger in which a government plan takes effect only if health-insurance companies don’t meet certain targets on costs and coverage. Liberals say that would be a sellout to the insurance industry. Actually, the Urban Institute, a research group in Washington, said in a report released last week that a serious trigger would be more effective than the pallid public option in the Reid bill."
---------------------------------------
Dean obviously believes that HCR without a public option is not reform. I thought he supported the House bill with its PO, but I wonder if he supports the Senate bill with its PO.

[defendandprotect]

107. Who would defend Reid? Reid is Republican lite . . .

Reid is anti-abortion, as well --

and who knows what other else?

[treestar]

11. Why say things like that without giving the reasons

He's not giving us any reason and some of us don't have time to read tons of policy reports on the subject. What's the point of giving the interview without setting forth the reasons? I would not be comfortable with adopting his position unless I know why. Why aren't the other factors in the bill an improvement for a large number of people? Does he expect us to just blindly follow his dictates?

And I have the same thing to say to the senators who oppose the public option. They never support that position with facts either.

[dgibby]

25. Without a strong public option, there is nothing to keep costs down.

This bill is very much like the bank/Wall Street giveaways. There's nothing to keep the insurance industry from raising rates, costs. While the bill may eliminate pre-existing condition exclusion, the rates may be so high that no one could afford to buy the policy. Same for increasing rates if you have a catastrophic illness. You probably wouldn't be able to keep the policy even if they weren't allowed to cancel on you.

As it is now, the "public option" won't be available to most of the public and it will be so watered down as to be useless anyway.

I have very little hope that this bill is going to do much to help anyone, with or without the public option.

[Matariki]

51. The reason should be extremely obvious

Without a strong public option, mandated health insurance is nothing more than a big fat give-away to the insurance industry.

Without a strong public option - this was never about HEALTH CARE reform.

[laughingliberal]

73. The other factors in the bill are just fine if you are one of those priviledged to have unlimited

resources and can pay whatever amount of money the insurance cartels choose to charge you. May also help those who are at < 400% of FPL. Anyone in between will be about where they are today with the addition of a nice little fine for not purchasing insurance.

[PassingFair]

124. Right...Dr. Dean hasn't EXPLAINED himself.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51f4ApLK9kL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg


You haven't been listening.

[Old Codger]

12. this bill

Is pre-determined to fail, pretty much going to end up dead, they will point at each other to lay the blame... meanwhile we elect fatcat pols who pretend to care about the "people" Their definition of "people" (does not include us....) starts at some corporate level and goes up form there.

[fascisthunter]

13. we have got to rid corporate influence in our government

and we need to rid those who are bribed by those special interests on Wall Street. We also need to rid ourselves of corporations donating to campaigns and we need to create a system that is publicly financed for the candidates to use. Everyone gets the same amount of money to make their case to Americans.

There is much more, but this would be a good starting point.

* get rid of all electronic voting.

[Plucketeer]

40. I couldn't say it better, but...

...most of the voting public is too unconcerned to push for these reforms. They're prefectly happy so long as they can have a gun and a six pack. x( OH! and a bible to steer them to ultimate redemption!

[closeupready]

14. Dean is correct.

n/t

[tomm2thumbs]

15. Will Obama's legacy be Afghanis-nam and corporate weathcare?

Does anyone doubt he would have been supporting along side of all of us championing for real health care reform had he still been an every day citizen?

He knows it. We know it.

[2Design]

16. we need what congress has or take theirs away - Dean is the most truthful about any of this

The rest are not for the people

[Rosa Luxemburg]

17. yes

[Oregone]

20. The problem is, with a watered down firewalled option, its worthless with one

[bread_and_roses]

78. second that. I can't see what 's worth fighting for in this Bill

The "reforms" on pre-existing conditions, lifetime limits, etc., are good in and of themselves, but for one, should and could have been done long ago and two, without a REAL public option (an OPTION for the PUBLIC to choose) they won't mean much or help many. Even a REAL public option was a compromised start to what, and now, we are down to this - haggling over a Senate Bill that's near worthless. The Corp-o-Crats are really crying in their beer over this one. They'll scream and cry foul and oh-poor-us-we'll-go-bankrupt in public while cheering in the back room. THEY know what the American people really wanted, and it ain't this mess of scraps from the table.

[peace frog]

21. Truer words etc

Howard, have I told you lately that I love you? Thanks for saying what must be said.

[Bette Noir]

22. He's right.

I've emailed Obama and both my Senators repeatedly, saying that without a public option there can be no individual mandate to buy insurance.

Competition with the public sector is the *only* mechanism in the plan that would tend to reduce costs. Without that competition, we'll be bled dry.

[Horse with no Name]

23. I think at this point

The real Democrats are going to have to split from the DINO's and form another party--maybe they could be called THE TRUE DEMOCRATS.
Only then will we get meaningful representation and break the corporate stronghold on this country.
This big tent approach didn't work. We got the republican rejects who STILL are adamant about forcing tired and worn out agendas down our throat.
Dr. Dean speaks for me!

[Major Hogwash]

24. And now we know why Dean is not a part of the Obama administration.

They couldn't get him to shut up or lie about healthcare!!

[Piewhacket]

26. Agree with Dean.

[SandWalker1984]

27. This should be called the Corporate Health Insurance Profits Protection Act

as it's all about giving huge subsidies to the insurance industry and mandating 30 million more people buy coverange from the same insurance corporations that have raised the average premiums by 87% in the past 7 years. Profits of the top 10 companies also increased during that time period by 428%. Yet we are supposed to believe that once we are MANDATED to buy insurance from them, they will see the light???


Robert Reich recently said regarding the changes to the public option:

But what more can possibly be compromised? Take away the word "public?" Make it available to only twelve people?

Our private, for-profit health insurance system, designed to fatten the profits of private health insurers and Big Pharma, is about to be turned over to ... our private, for-profit health care system. Except that now private health insurers and Big Pharma will be getting some 30 million additional customers, paid for by the rest of us.

Upbeat policy wonks and political spinners who tend to see only portions of cups that are full will point out some good things: no pre-existing conditions, insurance exchanges, 30 million more Americans covered. But in reality, the cup is 90 percent empty. Most of us will remain stuck with little or no choice -- dependent on private insurers who care only about the bottom line, who deny our claims, who charge us more and more for co-payments and deductibles, who bury us in forms, who don't take our calls.

**********************


If you give up on this, what do Democrats have to brag about doing for healthcare reform in 2010?

Individual mandates? Fines and threat of prison for failure to purchase expensive, crap private insurance?

Making people buy crap insurance from the same old insurers that will continue to find ways to exclude their claims and drive up their premiums?

Handouts to the insurance industry of $600 billion in the form of the subsidies and credits given to the people who are forced to buy insurance?

Plus, they are not going to end the industry's anti-trust exemption.



The fallout will be not only in Independent voters but also Liberal and Progressive Democrats as well.

At least 2 groups will be happy with the mess the Democrats have made of healthcare reform -- the insurance industry and Palin supporters.

[Vidar]

28. A pity we couldn't have Dean as President.

[ldf]

102. maybe the party is no longer responsive

a new, progressive party, with dean and spitzer as p and vp nominees.

dean can handle the politics, he can represent the democratic wing of the democratic party, which the party obviously wants no part of.

spitzer can handle the corporations, which is why he was eliminated to start with. i don't give a squat about past indiscretions. (yes, it was gross hypocrisy, but one i can live with and get past.) if the republicans want to start throwing stones.... the examples that could be thrown back in their face are too numerous to mention.

those two could fire almost anyone up.

but i know, i am dreaming...

:shrug:

edit for coherent spelling

[Dinger]

29. Amen Brother From Me too (nt)

[JNelson6563]

30. Howard Dean, still speaking for me.

Some things never change. :-)

Julie

[humbled_opinion]

31. Worse then worthless...

In fact if there is no single payer reimbursement at medicare rates then this is a travesty. I was willing to accept that if we get a govt run insurance it will slowly morph into a single payer because the private sector could not compete with it but now... This bill will become a severe punishment on the very people that we are trying to help and it will be a boon for the insurance industy.

I will not be part of this even if it means scrubbing the whole thing. I would rather leave the system alone then accept what Democrats are debating on capital hill. I guess I will be looking for a third party...

Hey Doctor Dean you need a job?

[CRH]

32. If the Democrats can't pass a public option, ...

with the majorities they have now, it is time for the party base to refine its membership. Leadership in the house and senate need to play more hard ball within the ranks with blue dogs and red state conservative democrats exacting a price for not supporting key democratic party agendas. Make sure these congress persons deliver no pet projects to their districts, fund more liberal primary challengers, and use the power and influence of chairmanships to move the party fringes more to the center. Failing this, might as well elect republicans and invite deadlock.

edit for spelling

[swilton]

89. Actually

I wonder if the Democratic Party leadership really wants to pass this. Me thinks that they protest too much about the Republicons.

I think that they have taken the Progressives for granted - we can count on the progressive base like Kucinich and a handfull of others - but I question the motives of the Democratic Party leadership.

[MNDemNY]

33. Been sayin' it for months.

[Mr. Sparkle]

85. Thank you, thats exactly what i have been thinking ! How is this news?

Howard is 100% right, but this is hardly the top news story of the day.

[patrice]

34. I REALLY do wish I could support what's on the table, but I can't. Thank you Dr. Dean!

[knightinwhitesatin]

95. We could have had dean back in 04 if not for the frakking media

and their special effects team elevating that damn scream.

[defendandprotect]

35. So sadly true -- and thanks for telling the truth, Governor Dean!!

[yurbud]

41. I don't like it, but if it is defeated, Obama won't be able to anything the rest of his presidency

he'll end up like Bill Clinton, essentially tinkering with GOP initiatives.

If the bill passes, Obama could retain majorities in both houses of Congress in 2010, and still do some good--if he chooses to (a big if).

[ChiciB1]

46. One Question Though... When Is He Going Really Going To Take The

BULL BY THE HORNS and come out swinging. I'm really tired of this "wait & see" attitude, and I'm tired of wondering exactly what he really wants.

He said REAL PUBLIC OPTION, the last I heard. But what is being proposed is a piece of crap from where I'm sitting. Just to PASS SOMETHING and say you did is flawed if it ends up NOT doing any good. If reform is not seen by citizens then Obama will be blamed AND the Repukes win again!

He should have been fighting much harder from the get-go. For a while Dean was going along, but finally AND thankfully he has made his position VERY CLEAR! I understand where Dean stands, not so much with Obama! I could probably rant along about this for a while, but what's the use because I think we are going to get what they shove in front of us anyway!

It's a REAL shame and Obama and The Democratic Congress WILL be held accountable! So all I can say is PRAY that the people of America are going to be happy with what they get. I'm not sure they will be. NO HOPE, Not Much CHANGE!
JMHO

[yurbud]

58. he hasn't done it yet, but won't isn't as bad as can't.

[Q3JR4]

61. The leadership in congress

seems to have the idea that come election time you'll either have to vote for them or the other guys. If you're liberal they figure they're a shoe in.

What they don't realize is that if they turn their base off there is another alternative. We can vote for the third party contender, and defeat a democratic majority in the house and the senate, or we can stay home come the time of the next election.

Neither prospect bodes well for retaining "majorities in both houses of congress in 2010."

Q3JR4.

Remembering the fallen.

[Iowa]

72. Obama hasn't demonstrated the slightest inkling to do anything but tinker with GOP inititiatives...

This is a worse than worthless bill... a massive giveaway to the insurance industry, and it deserves to be defeated. As far as weakening Obama... I don't know if it's possible to be any weaker than this Caspar Milquetoast, passionless, spineless, stand-for-nothing president. We waited for 8 torturous years for a real president. Obama stretched that into 12. Our only hope is to elect a real Dem like Howard Dean, or Alan Grayson, or Dennis Kucinich. Until then the corporate raid on the country will continue unabated. The impact of this bill's defeat on Obama is the least of our worries.

[humbled_opinion]

77. WHAT?

I just don't get anything that you are saying. Obama is not as wrapped around this as you might think. In fact if he drops it because the Congress cannot get it right that will make him more popular not less. But if he actually signs a steamy pile of Crap into law that will be what loses the seats. Look at the Polls... This is all because of healthcare he is losing more and more everyday.

[yurbud]

94. polls consistently showed people wanted an option to get out of private insurance

congress chose corruption over doing that.

If Obama can't get Congress in line for what he himself said is a top priority, he is powerless.

[humbled_opinion]

98. If Obama is powerless

With a Congress that is completely controlled by Democrats that its not Obama that is powerless it is the people that voted for Him and those in Congress because it is WE the people that put them there and WE are not getting what we Put them there to do? Can you even fathom why that is?

[yurbud]

135. money talks, voters don't

[humbled_opinion]

136. True enough but we always get snookered into voting for some

DINO who jumps to the right every chance they get. It just makes me so depressed all that work all that hope and now all this let down.

What I need is to drop out of politics, just let is come what may, I can't make a difference anymore sucks to be an American.

[yurbud]

139. look into anarchism. The name sucks, but the ideas work

you essentially ignore the existing hierarchy and make a new horizontal structure like a grocery co-op, a credit union, a union, or wikipedia.

They work without screwing people.

[PHIMG]

123. I LOVE YOUR CARTOON!!! :)

[Plucketeer]

42. I couldn't agree more

It's just mind-boggling when you consider how BLATANTLY EVIDENT it is that it's the insurance company monies that deny us REAL and SUBSTANTIVE health care, so they can continue to give us half-assed and expensive health care! I'm not that proud to be an American anymore. It's turned from a badge of nobility to a membership in the club of legalized thievery.

[INdemo]

43. I think most Democrats have already come to that conclusion

And now its all for show..healthcare reform was defeated weeks ago. Those millions invested by the insurance and drug industry has gone a long influencing the public and all those millions into the political coffers has helped kill the bill...
If we get anything it will be higher rates so the insurance industry can recoup some of their ad money.

[winyanstaz]

48. Once again the good Doctor is right on the money...

Thank you Dean!
This bill is worthless without the public option..period.

[Vinca]

52. I agree. They can always pass a separate bill for zero dollars

that takes care of the pre-existing condition exclusion and other practices. I desperately need health coverage, but I do not want to be served up to United Healthcare on a gold platter like a big, fat goose reading to get its bones picked clean.

[irislake]

53. You betcha.

You are probably worse off on top of it. What a sleazy bunch of politicians!

[mvd]

54. The public option is critical to the bill IMO

Otherwise it would be better to go even more incrementally (help people with pre-existing conditions) if we can't get single payer or price controls.

[AllyCat]

55. Agreed. It's absurd how we are fighting for what the insurance cos want us to have.

[Milo_Bloom]

57. No Public Option... No Mandate

Keep the regulatory measures alive, but do not allow health care to be mandated without a public option.

That is the line that needs to be drawn in the sand!

[MNDemNY]

62. You CAN NOT do away with "pre-existing conditions" without a mandate.

They go hand in hand, otherwise why would healthy people buy insurance until they need it. An actuarial nightmare.And with out a strong PO there nothing to keep the industry in check.

[enlightenment]

66. Single payer would fix that . . .

sigh.

[MNDemNY]

68. "ONLY" single payer will fix it all.

Medicare for all!!!!!!!!

[enlightenment]

76. Agree.

I don't like the "Medicare for All" phrase, though. Never have. And I despise that 'free' nonsense some people spout off. Just because you don't pay at the point of service doesn't mean a single payer system is free.

Not that it matters; I don't believe I'll live long enough to see anything like a true, nationalized, single payer system paid for with a regulated and graduated system of taxes/fees.

[mvd]

70. I agree; without a public option, there should be no mandates

But we can give immediate help to those with pre-existing conditions and keep pushing for the public option. I wouldn't worry about the cost of that, because long term, we want something greater anyway.

[Triana]

63. 100000% agreed with Dean

I hope he runs again. He's got my vote (again)

[HughMoran]

64. Agreed

It's a public option or nothing.

[swilton]

65. Finally!

A Democrat who couageously tells the truth!

[Faryn Balyncd]

74. "If we don’t have a choice, this bill is worthless and should be defeated," H. Dean

Only truth can be a foundation for progress.


k and r

[me b zola]

75. I agree with Dr Dean.n/t

[SaveOurDemocracy]

79. No Public Option = No Health Care Reform. K&R n/t

[geckosfeet]

80. The governor should live on $12,000 a year for a while.

[highplainsdem]

81. Honesty - what a concept. Thank you, Howard - we need more like you.

[rhett o rick]

82. Why is manditory insurance required if we dont get a PO? I agree with Dean. nt

[jtrockville]

104. Because the priority is to protect industry, not to serve our needs.

[mother earth]

83. They should've cut out the lobbyists and taken action against

the monopoly of a health care cartel, big pharma & insurance companies have all the power still.
While we bleed money in every facet of our lives while we basque in the wave of unemployment.

[and-justice-for-all]

84. I concur....w/o a Public Option, er are not getting real reform...

and when corporations run your Government, what do you expect.

[Doctor_J]

90. he's being too kind - it's worse than worthless

it will be a huge FAIL and be blamed on the Dems. It may keep seats for a few DINOS like Nelson and Lincoln, but when it ends up being a disaster the REpukes will claim that they never voted for it. They're pissed because it covers too many people, when it fact it covers too few, and in the wrong way,

[Faryn Balyncd]

97. You've nailed it.

[knightinwhitesatin]

91. I could not agree more with Dean

more money for people, less for war.

[earcandle]

93. So America, what is your death preference? Disease, crime, or the afghan and iraqi international

police forces invading the country in about 10 years? 
So... ah... that would be by "war", then. 
Occupying forces trained by ourselves.  
Sound familiar?

What do we do?  

[MasonJar]

96. I totally agree, no public option, no bill. Otherwise it is just something Obama can

claim as a victory, not real erform. It is just more moola for the healthcare establishment, not the doctors and nurses, the insurance companies and the pharmaceutical thieves.

[lovuian]

99. yep

if the bill sucks the Dems will get the fall out

[New Dawn]

101. Forcing people to buy a service from private companies is fascist economics.

[Odin2005]

105. +1 for the good Doc!

[defendandprotect]

108. kick

[pam4water]

120. So true.

[eridani]

121. Yes, Howard, but not just any old public option will do

It has to be open to ANYONE--otherwise it's neither public nor an option.

[mstinamotorcity]

125. What pisses me off

I feel like we didn't work this hard to have a majority house and senate to be told no. Public Option should have been medicare for all. Plain and simple. But you got these low-lifed congressmen and senate leaders who have taken enough money to feed small nations. Mr. Dean is right, without a government sponsored plan this is a bunch of malarchy.I have been dealing with my own medical battles and low and behold my premiums have already increased. So i say those who don't join the fight for a public option will one day need it.

[rhett o rick]

128. If Congress wont reform health insurance, we MUST reform Congress. nt

[LaPera]

132. Insurance companies knew exactly which Dems were weak, unscrupulous & corrupt, who could easily be

completely paid-off and not give a shit about anyone but themselves..

The insurance corporations went after the four Senators (Lincoln, Landrieu, Nelson & Lieberman) and the four still continue to lie, whine and make up shit to stall, obstruct and do the dirty, filthy deeds for their masters, the wealthy insurance corporate blood suckers.

The insurance industry absolutely knew what Dems could be bribed and counted on to fuck up the health care public option bill for everyone who desperately needs help & an option other than the insurance companies outrageous premium cost..

These are bought & paid for, selfish, greedy Dem assholes, Lincoln, Landrieu & Nelson and greedy Independent insurance company puppet & asshole, Lieberman!

Anyone who isn't aware of what brother Howard Dean says, either has their head up their ass or they are despicable paid-off republican (and democrats)!!

[mstinamotorcity]

138. if i were in a meeting of any kind

I would second that. But lets not forget as soon as we find out their opponents who want their seat we will be there to help them get it. I just hate this bulls--t they call a healthcare bill.But i do know that if we can get some key elements in the bill maybe we can tweek it down the line. F--k the trigger,unless its to trigger if we want to take congress and senate public option.Because its just so twisted that people we elected have a public option and we don't. Think maybe we should opt out of paying their salaries and healthcare,and let their corporate dollars do the paying i mean that is who they are showing their loyalty to. Well you know what going to happen now,somewhere there is a wonderful democratic member looking for the dirt on those afore mentioned clowns. And as soon as we get it we shout it from the rooftops or at least every website we can. }(

[unkachuck]

137. "If we don’t have a choice, this bill is worthless and should be defeated,"

....the Good Doctor has spoken....now that's a prescription from which we all can benefit!