Can someone tell me WHY we can't have a public option? No BS please.

[metapunditedgy]

I can think of all sorts of reasonable arguments in favor of it, but in opposition all I can conjure up is visions of loons waving signs with bad grammar.

Perhaps a few Congresspeople could explain clearly to us _why_ we can't have a public option. No slogans, no bullshit, just explain the reasoning.

[WeDidIt]

1. Because the Insurance companies have bought the government.

That's it in a nutshell.

What we'll get will actually be WORSE than if they do nothing.

[metapunditedgy]

4. Well, yeah, but it's still up to Congress to explain their actions.

I don't think "I was paid to vote against it" will be an acceptable explanation.

[timeforpeace]

26. Actually it's entirely because Obama hasn't shown leadership on this. It was his issue but he

hasn't acted like it was, and he (and we) has lost it.

[Cleita]

6. Yes! That's the right nutshell.

Our government is corrupt and our real rulers are the corporations. Welcome to fascism with a smile.

[tridim]

2. Who said we can't have a public option besides the insurance industry whores?

And please be specific.

[BobRossi]

3. Try this.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090816/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_health_care_overhaul_6

[emulatorloo]

8. don't pin your hopes on an Associated Press story - they exaggerate sometimes EOM

[GreenArrow]

27. They tell the truth sometimes too. n/t

.

[tridim]

10. Yes, that has been posted about 600 times this morning..

Yet it says nothing about THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS giving up on the public option.

[rocktivity]

15. The story is built around one out-of-context line by Sebeilus

"I think what's important is choice and competition, and I'm convinced that at the end of the day the plan will have both of those -- but that is not the essential element," she said of the government-run insurance option on CNN's "State of the Union" show.

Exactly what does she mean by the "essential element"--the choice and competition, or the public option? And why can't the public option be one of the choices?

Keep in mind that the national media stand to lose a chunk of ad revenues from for-profit healthcare if the public option goes through.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Taverner]

20. Don't listen to TriDIM - plugging his/her ears and saying LALALALALALALA

[tridim]

23. Can you answer the question?

[Botany]

5. Because we have a for profit congress

On Friday, Bloomberg News reported that 3,300 Washington lobbyists are working on health care: "That's six lobbyists for each of the 535 members
of the House and Senate, according to Senate records, and three times the number of people registered to lobby on defense. More than 1,500 organizations
have health-care lobbyists, and about three more are signing up each day. Every one of the 10 biggest lobbying firms by revenue is involved in an
effort that could affect 17 percent of the US economy."

According to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, in the first half of the year, this adds up to $263.4 million worth of high-level kibitzing
around the House and Senate office buildings and various other DC locales where ears and elbows are bent in advance of twisting arms. Bloomberg
notes, "Drugmakers alone spent $134.5 million, 64 percent more than the next biggest spenders, oil and gas companies."

http://www.truthout.org/081509Z?n

[metapunditedgy]

7. Of course, but what are they going to tell the voters?

I demand a reasonable explanation.

[divideandconquer]

14. We live in a plutocracy and god forbid this cash cow for the rich be closed down

Think of how much money the overclass would lose if they lost monopolistic competition in healthcare? To save this huge cash cow they're pulling out all the stops in the media that they own and with the Congress they seem to own.

[glinda]

16. That is exactly right and at the root of the problem.

[Crunchy Frog]

9. Because the insurance industry won't let us.

[Cleita]

17. The right answers are from everyone who said we are owned by the insurance companies.

I should add, we are also owned by Big PhRMA. My only hope is that the medical professionals will stop taking insurance and demand cash accepting only traditional Medicare and other government financed health programs where there is no middleman private insurer or HMO involved. People can always submit bills to their insurance themselves. The boycott has to start somewhere. I would hope people turn to herbal remedies whenever possible although I know some drugs you can't substitute with herbs. Also, people should demand generics whenever possible takes a lot of the profit away from the brand names. It's going to be up to us to bust this monopoly up. I know it's not possible for everyone to do this, especially those who are stuck with HMOs, but a lot can be done nonetheless to send them a message.

[cliffordu]

11. NO one of any value to the decision is saying that.

[Mojambo]

12. Because competetion is bad.

Monopolists don't give up their monopolies.

[Enrique]

13. they say that it will put private insurers out of business

and then we'll get an evil European style health system.

It's a bogus argument, but that's the argument they're making.

[glinda]

18. That is ok by me. They are killing our household.

[Cleita]

19. And it's also a lie. All countries with robust national health plans also

have private insurance, even Canada, for things that national health care doesn't cover, like fancy hotel suite like hospitals, private nurses and many other bells and whistles perks.

[PassingFair]

30. Those private plans are add-ons.

The private insurers don't call the shots in Canada and the UK
the way they do here.

And they don't COLLUDE with hospitals to
make healthcare realistically beyond the
reach of average citizens the way insurers
do here.

The scary thing about the "Public Option"
IS that it will lead to National Health,
and WE will have CHOSEN the OPTION ourselves.

THAT is what they fear.

[Cleita]

31. Well, sorry if they can't have the whole enchilada.

We don't need them, however, it's disingenuous to say that they won't be able to sell some kind of insurance. Personally myself I would outlaw all insurance and have a government disaster fund instead, however, I'm always way ahead of my times in my thinking.

[Scarsdale Vibe]

21. Ask Kent Conrad. Apparently he knows of a Dem senator willing to filibuster.

I think Conrad is just talking out his ass to influence the debate, and that in the end no Dems will filibuster. A public option would pass the House, the only threat to a public option right now is a turncoat Democratic senator.

[AdHocSolver]

22. Contact your Congress critters and tell them: "No public option, No vote!"

If they can't use lobbyist money to "buy" your vote, they will have more incentive to listen to you.

Send a similar message to your local and state Democratic Party leaders as well. I have seen good progressive candidates ignored or handicapped by Democratic Party leaders who favored more right-wing candidates, and in one case, practically shut down the only Democrat challenging a Republican.

[Kievan Rus]

24. Because we can't make the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes, can we

After all, that would be SO unfair. Two helicopters, two mansions, five yachts and twelve Italian sports cars just aren't enough for some rich fat cat to have. If you're for having the wealthy pay their fair share, you're a dirty Communist.

:sarcasm:

[Tim01]

25. With enough money, corporations can put in office whoever they want.

And the corporations don't want a public option. They have purchased our government.

[salguine]

28. Because rich, monied interests, in this case the health care industry, outright

own your government, that's why. Lock, stock, and senator.

[PassingFair]

29. Because the "Public Option" is BETTER than "Single Payer" at this stage....

We have NO chance of ramming National Health
into being until over 50% of our citizens HAVE
no health care.

A REAL "Public Option" will offer comprehensive
care at prices that "for profit" insurers will
be unable to compete with.

As unemployed and self-employed people FLOCK
into the Public Option plan, they will become
such a FORCE that doctors, hospitals and pharma
will be DELIGHTED to lower their costs to gain
the volumes.

Public Option IS the "thin end of the wedge"
that conservatives (unwisely) fear.

It is the BEST way to begin America's journey
to National Health care, without coercion and
WITH guaranteed coverage for all.

If there is NO Public Option to FORCE prices down,
there will BE NO REAL REFORM.

Just a HUGE, UNFUNDED debacle that will drive our
country further into debt and into an inflationary
spiral.