Comments on: Mike Ross Likes the Baucus Bill, Loves Co-ops

By: MarkH

MarkH — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:13:25 +0000

I’ve heard the Mass plan is something of a failure on cost control. What was wrong with it or missing that was (obviously) needed for cost control?

Why did it fail?

By: reader

reader — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:29:45 +0000

From Canada ….

I use a pet food co-op in my neighbourhood & they have just started a people food (cute) co-op across the street.

So there, Mr. Mike Ross.

By: prostratedragon

prostratedragon — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:59:04 +0000

Where’d they go? Mine just now vanished. [You can still see them in the feed, though.]

But then, they were reminding me of something else …

By: Gasman

Gasman — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:56:21 +0000

I hope that FDL follows through and helps support a more progressive opponent to challenge Ross in a primary fight. His response is out of step with what Americans consistently say they want in healthcare reform. I’m willing to bet that the stats in Arkansas aren’t that much different than national numbers. If so, Ross may have just stepped in deep doo doo. If FDL and other groups help Dem opponents, Ross is going to be frantically scrapping off his shoes for the next 6 months or so.

By: WarOnWarOff

WarOnWarOff — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:48:47 +0000

Those Blue Dogs bare an uncanny resemblance to the Donnie Darko Bunny.

By: alank

alank — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:46:44 +0000

I believe Romneycare had a public option component, apparently an adaptation of the Hacker model. The main feature of Romneycare, however, is the mandatory insurance component advanced enthusiastically by Newt Gingrich.

By: Phoenix Woman

Phoenix Woman — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:27:01 +0000

Don’t forget, we’re already seeing the Baucus Co-Op Bill’s beta test in Massachusetts — where it’s called “RomneyCare”, hasn’t done much to extend health care (especially quality health care), and costs much, much more than what existed before.

By: dakine01

dakine01 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:22:27 +0000

I wonder how Ross responds when someone points out the mathematics to him? I’m sure the patter will be fully circular in logic and reasoning going ever in circles while saying nothing.

By: cbl2

cbl2 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:19:15 +0000

politely urging all firedogs to read the whole ‘letter to constituents’ link - lie upon lie, upon lie

I spotlighted the post to Arkansas Dem Gazette staff - and included Senator Rockefeller’s reality based refutation for their perusal - along with some “aggressive strategist”’s take down on Rachel’s show

wake the fuck up and smell the perfidy Arkansas

By: cinnamonape

cinnamonape — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:56:24 +0000

In its place is a uniquely (and familiar) American proposal - a co-op.

No they aren’t. There are co-ops in many parts of the world…Indian women use financial coops to make loans to one another. People pool their money to buy a collectively used tractor. Coops are as ancient as human social units. But there are also CORPORATE Co-Ops…such as the National Milk Board, etc. These fix prices, develop production targets, etc.

Co-ops have been around for years and not just in health care. Many of you are probably familiar with electrical co-ops and farmers’ co-ops. As a nonprofit, member-owned group, a health care co-op would operate similarly in that they are controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions, and a member-elected governance board.

He’s trying to make it sound all cuddley. Like a food Co-Op or farmers market. The problem is that co-ops often fail. They get manipulated by their suppliers, or can’t offer competitive prices. The big guns are always shooting for them b/c they are usually the weakest competitor in the market.

Food co-ops work because the members can contribute to aspects of the operation to reduce cost…”sweat equity”. But do you want a volunteer handling the Stat on a surgery? Handling personal documents relating to you, or your families, health issues?

The only Health co-op in Arkansas utterly failed less than 5 years after it formed. It had about 500 members, was heavily dependant on Federal aid and experimental seed grants, and when those ran out it died. There is no evidence that it reduced health care costs, even locally.

Now if there was a NATIONAL, subsidized (at least for administrative and start-up/organizational costs) Co-Op this might be a different story. Only a freely available system would have the power to negotiate for plans that would be diverse enough to fulfill the different needs of members.