Public Option Called Essential

[FourScore]

Source: WaPo

Several leading Democrats voiced concern Monday about an apparent White House shift on health-care reform, objecting to signals from senior administration officials that they would abandon the idea of a government-run insurance plan if it lacked the backing to pass Congress.

In the Senate, where negotiations are now focused, John D. Rockefeller IV (W.Va.) said that a public option, as the plan has become known, is "a must." Sen. Russell Feingold (Wis.) said that "without a public option, I don't see how we will bring real change to a system that has made good health care a privilege for those who can afford it."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) said that the plan will be included in whatever bill is voted on in the House. "There is strong support in the House for a public option," she said, though she did not demand that the administration express support for the idea.

One Democrat predicted that without the provision, the bill could lose as many as 100 votes in the chamber...

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/17/AR2009081702859.html?hpid=topnews

[Left Coast2020]

1. Here is the phone number list for Kent Conrads office.

http://conrad.senate.gov/about/staff.cfm

I am really pissed at this dude. He goes on TV and says there are no votes--all because he is getting paid by insurance industry--just like his buddy Bacus. Well, FUCK YOU CONRAD. I hope the people of your state find a dem that has more values than you ever had and send your ass packin. You are a POS Sen. Conrad. I don't know what the limits are on this thing but I am really pissed. I hope people call his phone numbers and make his phones burn up.

Everyone needs to call this turd. Its up to us. And when I get pissed I let people know it.

I'm going by a small sliver of hope from DR. Dean that we will win a Public Option--as he stated to K.O. on MSNBC tonight. But I'll tell you this Condrad repug wanna-be needs to go. Bacus too.

Are you pissed too? Then start calling!!!!!!!!!!!

[lovepg]

2. Sorry but I am afraid our phone calls are losing in the face of campaign ..

bribe money. But hey I will do it anyway. I am a fan of the futile gesture.

[denem]

4. Target the Progressives. They know the stakes.

Congratulate them and request they vote against any Bill without a Robust Public Option. THAT will stop sell out legislation, one way or the other.

[daninthemoon]

10. Anthony Weiner did a terrific job on msnbc this morning

[NewJeffCT]

5. Not just calls

The freepers, birthers, deathers, etc are going crazy with their calls, faxes and emails.

[northernlights]

6. bs -- fight fire with fire

In the face of campaign $$ by BIG insur and BIG pharma, make it clear to your rep that if there is no public option, then you, your family and your friends will OPT OUT.

The way things are today, unless you are actively getting help from insurance for some illness or injury, you'll be better off saving your $$ and buying healthcare if/when the need arises.

There needs to be an INSURANCE STRIKE. When recalcitrant congress members can take back to thei big insurance financiers that the $$ will dry up without public option because of the rising number of planned OPT OUTS, then we can win.

I have not had health insurance for most of my adult life. Thank goodness, because if I'd handed them my hard-earned $$ instead of saving it, I'd be homeless now.

JUST LET THEM KNOW YOU WILL OPT OUT.

[customerserviceguy]

8. That's a nice idea, but impractical

When car insurance went mandatory, the only effective way to opt out was to either get rid of your car and take the bus, or drive without insurance and hope to hell you didn't get caught. Then some states started making having proof of insurance as part of the annual auto registration plan.

Of course, you are going to have to check off a blank on your Federal income tax form, and if you don't have the insurance, you'll get dinged with a penalty that will be backed up with the same force that is used to collect back taxes. I suppose that if you worked 100% off the books, you could avoid it, but most of us wouldn't possibly have that option.

[Odin2005]

12. Conrad is bought and paid for by Blue Cross of North Dakota.

[denem]

3. The Appropriate Word is 'Non-Negotiable'.

Activists could do worse than send encouragement and congratulations to those committed to a robust public option. The blue dogs play their all or nothing games all the time. Time for progressive democrats to say, we have the facts and the people behind us, you will carry the blame for failure.

A strong, tightly organized Progressive Caucus is critical to this Administrations' success. 'Make me do it', as FDR once said.

[pattmarty]

7. If we don't get the public option, fuck it and leave it as it is (shitty).........

.............In a couple of years the majority of people will revolt for a true public plan, like Medicare for all. After not even a year in office, Obama has been a disappointment, NOT the change we "could" believe in. As I have started to refer to him, the black Clinton.

[Swede Atlanta]

9. I've started working on my list of Senators and Congresscritters....

Starting with Conrad and Baucus. I told both of their offices that without a robust public option there will be no true reform.

Even if they prohibit pre-existing condition rules, cancellation of policy for any reason other than non-payment and eliminate lifetime caps, this will not achieve our end. Why?

Because the insurance companies, in order to continue to pay their top executives lavish salaries, bonuses and perks, and to return maximum investment to the shareholders will simply raise premiums and further squeeze what they will pay to providers. So premiums will continue to skyrocket.

The only way to bring down the cost is to dampen the feeding at the trough. What a despicable thought that people actually profit because of another's illness. I think there is a place for private insurance at least for now. But a public option will make the insurance companies truly compete on quality and service.

The public option will offer coverage at a lower premium because the profit motive is gone.

Next on my list is my Congresscritter here in Georgia (thank God I live inside the Perimeter) to tell John Lewis to vote no on any reform that does not include a public option.

I would rather see no reform than to take some watered down solution that will only preserve the status quo - i.e. the exploitation of health care for profit.

And if there is no reform with public option it is clear the Democrats have no business in the majority because they squander it. The party of "no" and their buddies will sabotage every other priority initiative from climate change to energy. The Democrats will have shown themselves to be the party of "can't".

[KyleA]

11. Party of can't, great line

Obama was never anything more then a moderate liberal who talked a good game. He does not have the backbone to get the job done. And he will still be hated by the right even after he caves in to them.

[Odin2005]

13. Health care is a FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT, not a commodity!