So, the anti-Reformers say that the "public option" will force insurance companies out of business

[zbdent]

in part because the Government, because it's so much bigger, can negotiate better prices due to volume.

But where was that concern for the "smaller" producers ... when Wal-Mart decides to move in to an area, and Wally's size allows it to negotiate better prices due to volume?

Wal-Mart puts the smaller "Mom-and-Pop" places out of business due to undercutting their prices because the size of Wally World allows them to make bulk purchases and absorb temporary losses ...

[ejpoeta]

1. for the same reason that any store will cry 'we can't compete' when any other big store comes in

AFTER they claim competition is good when the little stores try to keep them from coming in. In a nearby town a big grocery store chain wanted to go in. There was a small family owned grocery store and several other small establishments. they had petitions and tried really hard to keep Tops out of there. Tops insisted that they wouldn't put others out of business!! they would just give people another choice.... they came in and all the little stores are now gone. Then walmart wanted to go into this town. Tops was the one screaming about competition being bad..... I can tell you that walmart didn't put tops out of business though.... tops is still there. But those little mom and pop stores are all gone. Tops is big enough to compete with walmart... they just don't want to HAVE to compete with walmart.