Comments on: Bingaman Backpedaling on Public Plan?

By: bgrothus

bgrothus — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:30:43 +0000

Jane, I know this is EPU-land, but I wanted to mention that I just got an e-mail from one of the main groups in NM that has been working on a single-payer plan for NM. They tell us to call our reps and tell them not to support any federal-level plan that does not allow an opt-out for states that want their own plan.

They say they have met with the Senators/Reps/staffs of same and have emphasized this issue.

So perhaps Bingaman’s statement is in line with this input from his constituency/single payer advocates in NM.

I think he does know that single payer is where we want to go. But I also have the hindsight from the post later in which McCaskill says it is going to be hell to get the discussion to move our way.

By: STTPinOhio

STTPinOhio — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:41:18 +0000

I don’t know if it’s my own bias, but I couldn’t help hearing serious sarcasm in Obama’s comment. It was almost as if he too wants a national single-payer plan and knows that for-profit insurance just won’t be able to compete with a good public “option.” So this should eventually lead to single-payer.

That’s been my take as well.

There’s just no way private insurance can compete with a real public plan because of the private plan’s fiduciary responsibility to make a profit, not just cover costs.

So, people are gonna run to the public plan in droves.

To stop the bloodletting, private plans will have to drop rates to stay competitive.

By: nahant

nahant — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:15:27 +0000

Funny you say that I have been commenting here @ the Lake that a Constitutional Amendment may be the only way we get a Government Health Care system run something like the VA! Where your co-pays are scaled on how much you earn.
I know this is a bit radical but what if every health citizen has an obligation of 18 months to somehow serve their country just after they graduate from High school or they quit HS! And in return they get Health care for life!! Of course all children would be covered by their parents. Just think what could be done for the public good! After all it is our country and Freedom is not Free!

By: foothillsmike

foothillsmike — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:08:30 +0000

I too think we need to have public financing but I think the only way we are going to get it is if we get enough state legislatures to push for a constitutional ammendment.

By: foothillsmike

foothillsmike — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:58:02 +0000

That must be the “real Montana” that Sarah Palin could feel at home in.

By: nahant

nahant — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:57:42 +0000

YES! But that is a whole nother subject!! Our current crop of Vets should have the same benefits as were in the first GI Bill! How a country takes care of their Vets says a lot about it. I am still pissed that the Repukes cut benefits for millions of Vets out! They refuse to take care of those who stood up for all of us!
I feel health care falls under their same bullshit philosophy of “Drowning the Government in the Bath Tub” No matter what I could not vote for one of those Slugs of society.
You Street is a start in our taking away the Government from the Money right and giving back to the American People!

By: cbl2

cbl2 — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:46:58 +0000

sounds to me like he’s entranced by the siren’s song of Big Daddy Baucus’s Glacier Pac

note this poll for Montanan’s on Single Payer - aiyeee !

loved this:

“No matter the issue, Max always puts Montana first,” says his spokesman, Ty Matsdorf. “

as in first on the list for fundraisers

By: foothillsmike

foothillsmike — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:42:25 +0000

I wasn’t trying to suggest that the banksters are anything but greedy bastards but that a cost is a cost.
PS thank gawd for the VA and Champus

By: Sufilizard2

Sufilizard2 — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:41:26 +0000

I don’t know if it’s my own bias, but I couldn’t help hearing serious sarcasm in Obama’s comment. It was almost as if he too wants a national single-payer plan and knows that for-profit insurance just won’t be able to compete with a good public “option.” So this should eventually lead to single-payer.

But he’s always been good at getting people to project their own views onto what he says.

By: bonkers

bonkers — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:36:31 +0000

I think Obama also knows that an overwhelming amount of people will choose the public option, thereby setting on the rapid path to single-payer. Using their own frames against them. After an initial aversion to the public option talk, I realize how really subversive it is, as you pointed as well.