Comments on: President Blanche Lincoln Says “No Public Plan For You”

By: expatjourno

expatjourno — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 06:25:42 +0000

You should be congratulating Obama. It’s his policy of betraying his supporters to curry favor with the right wing that has led to his falling approval rating.

By: cbl2

cbl2 — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:06:15 +0000

dead solid perfect !

a more fitting portrait via Cousin Howie

By: MarkH

MarkH — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 06:09:43 +0000

pregnancy a pre-existing condition? Good one.
See, the trouble with tribbles is…

By: MarkH

MarkH — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 06:08:28 +0000

The default position in this debate should be that people should have choice wrt who provides their insurance or care. To that end people who like their private insurance, whether employer- or individual-based should be able to keep it; people who like their Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP or Federal Employee plan should be able to keep that AND all individuals should be able to switch to another private plan or (at least) 1 public option plan via the Exchange.

Let any rep or senator (try to) explain away their opposition to a public option (of some kind) while keeping their Federal Employee plan. I dare them!

By: MarkH

MarkH — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 06:01:48 +0000

Tax credits have been used for a lot of things, but it’s a dangerous tool in this case because smaller companies won’t necessarily have a lot of taxes on which to provide credits.

It’s also dangerous to entangle health care with the tax system when we might want to reform the tax system in the not so distant future.

Besides, what’s the difference between a tax credit (holding off on taking money a company would have paid to the government) and taking money from the general revenue fund (the same money except taken from the gov’t instead of from the company)?

Isn’t it the same money whether it comes from the company or from the gen. revenue fund?

In either case you’re using the same actual money, but in one you’ve entangled the tax system needlessly. And, in both cases you take money from the overall business sector (which is already struggling) instead of the health care/insurance sector (which is the one overburdened with all of our money).

Taxing small businesses and individuals just now would be seriously dangerous for the economy. What good is healthcare insurance if you lose your business or job?

Either take monies from the general revenue fund which have been drawn from the broadest base (thereby making it the least prejudicial and punitive to any one group) or take it from the health care/insurance sector which has been overcharging us already.

By: MarkH

MarkH — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 05:49:33 +0000

Still hoping for the perfect and not getting that or the good? Pity.

By: TomSullivan

TomSullivan — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:47:43 +0000

Huzzah!

By: JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin

JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:24:44 +0000

I don’t know if she had twins, but you’re right, a private insurance company would have charged her up the wazoo for it.

People really need to start calling these Senators on the fact that they have a public option, but no one else does.

I like your “(R-Walmart)” caption.

By: dcblogger

dcblogger — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:23:32 +0000

Blue Cross Democrat! Brilliant!!!!

By: warrenterrah

warrenterrah — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:02:08 +0000

Blanche Lincoln(R-Walmart) is the one with the twins right? Wonder how much her out of pocket costs were for her labor and delivery. Probably $25. Out of pocket would have been $20K or something and my insurance co. probably would have said it was a preexisting condition and not covered it.