I’m talking about scrap what is there now. Begin again with hearing on single payer. Bring out in public what is good about it. Have it well publicized the voters can see and hear what’s what.

That is the way you build support.

Now, we have a hodge podge.

– The starting time of the PO and the exchange to be within one year. A 2013 start dates makes the bill unacceptable to me, since if people don’t see benefits from the bill immediately, I think there is a good chance that Democrats will lose at the polls in 2010 and 2012, and they deserve to lose as well

– The PO to be available to everyone and not restricted only to the unemployed, and those who can’t get insurance through their employment. Without this, there is a good chance that the PO won’t be able to compete with the private insurers and also won’t lower insurance prices

– The PO rates to be tied to Medicare rates. Pelosi’s Medicare + 5% is OK, but we also need careful structuring of Medicare rates so that rural/urban differenecs don’t kill the PO in rural areas.

Don’t you agree?

I say start from scratch and hold hearings on single payer

We don’t have to start from nothing and we don’t have to hold more sham hearings: HR 676 / Medicare For All is a real bill already in the House that builds on an existing program.

Call Congress and tell them to support HR 676 / Medicare For All: the only real option for the American public.

“I am pushing what’s called a level playing field public option, which means there will be competition,” he told WXXI. “If you like your insurance now, you keep it. But there will be an alternative if you don’t.”

Conflating opt-out for individuals with opt-out for states?
You might almost think that Schumer has something to hide.

1 unless the fine is more in cost than the comparable insurance, the fine won’t do much. Currently, the fine is less as I understand. And, I think the number of people subject to fine is less.

2. There is no reason, if you feel you are healthy, to buy insurance before you get sick. So, I’m not just talking about people who don’t carry insurance now because they think they are quite healthy; I’m talking about people who HAVE insurance now, but have it “just in case” they get ill and want to be in before it happens. Now, there will be no reason for them to be “in” “just in case.” Many of them will save money and drop out. Why spend it when you don’t need to?

If you get sick, or think you might, you get insurance then. You can’t be turned down.

As I say, it’s like having a car insurance situation where you don’t have to buy insurance until you get in an accident. Why would you pay until then??

This whole thing has become a real mess. They should have had hearings, looked at everything, including single payer, brought the public along and then put together what came out of the hearings well. Not, put something together in the back room and then try to find people to support it.

I say start from scratch and hold hearings on single payer. Shit can the whole thing.

This whole thing will be DOA before it starts, especially with the economy getting worse.

And the mandate is NOT like car insurance. You can get car insurance for couch change. Health insurance is about the cost of a mortgage.

Good luck. All for nought.

The ONLY thing that makes ANY sense is single payer.

If the public option is required for a year or two, that is fantastic. The state legislatures won’t be able to take it away from their constituents if its popular.

And now all the focus needs to shift to the Wyden amendment. Anyone should be allowed to join the public option. A national public option that states can opt-out of that would only affect 5% of the population is a hollow victory.

Bob in AZ