What’s the plan?

Can anyone here tell me what Obama means by “public plan”? Outline with some details?

Please????!!!!!

If it’s anything like the ideas Schumer floated it should be killed. There’s much out there which will mean very little to help real people.

This guy has apparently never read any economics and is unaware that even under competition theory, there are things called market barriers, oligopolies, perverse incentives, and, horror of horrors, natural monopolies.

Apparently he’s unaware that even if the backward nation of Florida, they have things called regulated monopolies that provide him electricity, gas, water, sewage, and so on. He’s probably a customer of Florida Power and Light, one of the more backward private, but regulated monopolies in the country. Or he may be a customer of a municipal utility owned by his city or local utility district. There is no competition, yet these are essential services he uses every day.

There is a strong argument that the provision of health care has elements of natural monopoly, so that a regulated monopoly is not only necessary but the most efficient way to provide the service. And studies indicated that most regions are stuck with only 1-3 major companies, not enough for effective competition to do what a good market is supposed to do.

Florida is no exception. See this interactive map, and click on Florida.

So one answer to the question “Who’s afraid of a public plan?” is free market zealots who seem not to mind if the non-competitive health care industry provides less care, lower quality and higher costs. The other answer is any non-competitive seller in that market, because they stand to get rich at the public’s expense.

It’s very important to whip the NO vote, though: Will you pledge to vote AGAINST a bill that omits a true robust public option? (with the four qualifications). Asking for ‘critters to pledge their support is easy, and votes are easily hidden in reconciliation and conference bills. But a public pledge to vote AGAINST a bill without real reform is what we need to whip.

It’s a start.