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It appears Mary Landrieu (D-LA) has created the unholy grail of terrible gimmicks meant to cripple the public option. It is a several-year-delayed, triggered, state-based, non-public co-op limited to the exchange option:
Landrieu calls her proposal the “competitive community option,” which sounds remarkably similar to a trigger proposal advocated by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).
A state-based nonprofit insurance competitor would kick into effect where coverage is not considered affordable. It would receive seed money from the government, but would be funded through premiums.
In contrast to Snowe’s proposal, Landrieu’s proposal would not be available on Day One. Landrieu refers to her idea as a “fallback.” She said the insurance market reforms should be given a chance to work.
This is absurd. The simple addition of a trigger designed to never be pulled was enough to ensure a public option will never be a reality; this massive additional bundle of qualifiers is sufficient to ensure this “alternative” will be a laughing stock. Would it even be possible to make this idea more worthless? How else could Landrieu, Lincoln, or Lieberman make it even weaker? Is an idea floating around to limit it to only people whose last names start with J? Maybe they will demand that this non-public option be run by a board of directors comprised of cats? Perhaps it can only sign up customers between 2 and 3pm on Sundays in months that end with -uary.
If Democrats think they can sell this worthless pile of bad ideas as a public option, they must have a very low opinion of the intelligence of the American people.
The Democratic party needs to prepare themselves. If Senate Democrats think they can pass a bill forcing Americans to buy extremely expensive junk insurance from for-profit corporations, with only the vague promise that possibly, after five more years of abuse, they might get the to choose a completely unworkable, state-based, non-public “alternative,” they are in for a rude awakening. If there is no real alternative to the abusive, for-profit, private insurance companies, and very meager tax credits, I don’t know how progressives can morally, politically, or intellectually allow an individual mandate to become law.
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Open Season for the Landrieu “Public Option:” February 29th
“If Democrats think they can sell this worthless pile of bad ideas as a public option, they must have a very low opinion of the intelligence of the American people.”
They believe the corporate media. They think the “competition” of the two-party system is any more “real” than WWE. Might they just be right?
They’re throwing every wacky idea they can think of at the health care plan now. Must be terrified that the lobbyists will ask for their money back. I’ve never heard such nonsense in my life.
Edit’s not working.
LoL, every day a new neutered “public option” is floated… but theyre not fooling anyone…
They’re such cowards. They won’t admit that there will not be any public option in this bill and it will only be a mandate to buy insurance.
which is sorta like the Holy Roman Empire:
neither competitive nor community-friendly nor an option.
“YOU’RE drunk!”
“I am not, I’ve never felt better in my life!”
RETTTTCCCHHHHHHH!!!!!!
“Ok, NOW I’ve never felt better in my life!”
-Family Guy
Jon Walker, thanks for the sharing . . . I’m not throwing up AT you, but with you . . ;-)
Teddy P, at Zed, it’s Open Season now, for emails, calls and letters just to show her what the 70% of the Nation and we the people think about her shit.
I mean, a volume of millions of contacts putting her in her place? Mess her head up, sometin ‘speshul, ya know.
*G*
Excellent post, Jon. More progressives should be beating this drum.
It’s really getting to the borderlines of . . . oh never mind, they crossed batshit crazy long ago. I’m out of adjectives and invectives about this HCR and all the other issues.
Fuckin A, eh? Too fuckin crazy to describe anymore . . . sigh.
You have to jiggle it a little. /s
LOL. Landrieu has jiggled it until it not recognizable.
We all get any jiggier and we’ll be bouncing off the walls AND floors and ceilings . . . ;-)
And NOT from edit function junctions . . . lol
This proposal could only come from someone who has absolutely no understanding of the dynamics of the health care system, and no concern for anyone’s well-being but her own.
John has it EXACTLY right:
“If Senate Democrats think they can pass a bill forcing Americans to buy extremely expensive junk insurance from for-profit corporations, with only the vague promise that possibly, after five more years of abuse, they might get the to choose a completely unworkable, state-based, non-public “alternative,” they are in for a rude awakening.”
When the Senate shows contempt for the American people, the people are obliged to be contemptuous in return.
It’s time to organize primary challenges across the Democratic Party, and to use the effort to list-build for a new Progressive Party, and massive civil disobedience should this now-totally-worthless excuse for reform be signed into law.
Way OT, But I spotted one single ’08 St Michelle today.. but it 14.00. Boy oh boy was I tempted.
“She said the insurance market reforms should be given a chance to work.”
They’ve had their chance to reform. They’ve chosen to rake in the profits instead of providing affordable premiums and adequate coverage.
Time’s up. They’ve proven to be miserable failures at doing the right thing. More temporizing will accomplish NOTHING.
Wierd, I keep trying to post a comment about that Riesling, but I keep getting database errors.
My POINT was that it’s tonite keeping me sane from all the fuckity goin on.
It’s a GREAT wine!
I listened to Carper from Delaweare today and he pitched this worthless piece of junk of a Public Option to Ragian. He sounded just as stupid as the bill. I called Reid, Schumer and Bernie Sanders. i told their Aides that if a bill like this passes, that the spineless dems will go down. We need to primary them. They are Republicans who couldn’t win on the Republican ticket. 2010, primary, primary, primary!!!!!
I got a letter today from Anthem of CA. My premiums will increase from $350 for a high deductable plan that covers little, to $412 for the same plan, to cover “increased medical expenses”.
That’s a 17.7% increase on the $350. If I go to Kaiser Permanante, an HMO, its $850 with a $50 copay.
I hope this pile of HCR fails. I refuse to pay premiums for a “mandate”. Throw my ass in Jail, I’d get better and less expensive health care.
landrieu. why doesn’t this douche nozzle just shut the fuck up?
i know. somebody just call me when the conference starts. the bill will be shit
Good Evening.
I thought we already dissed her today. Didn’t we?
Whatever. I guess there’s always a new opportunity, eh?
Baby, it’s cold outside. (still picking music for my concert next weekend.)
I like a good duet.
douche nozzle? That’s a new one for me. Hi BL. Honey, I’m decorating the tree. Douche Nozzle. You’re cracking me up.
64 in The City Beautiful. Nice
what’s it there?
Louisiana produces some interesting senators. Too bad neither cares about the public good.
55. I gots my red thinney work out suit on. Gotta grab that holiday thing where I can.
Kinda sucky political stuff going on, huh?
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.
Don’t worry – Jindal will fix everything when he’s the prez. s/
Oh, that’ll be the day.
And represent such a high standard of political honesty and competence, IIRC. Heckava Job, Mary.
Yup! It will be Jindel Bells all the way!
I was at the dentist this morning (routine stuff, and they now have digital x-rays) and they had KOST and its month of Christmas music on.
One of the numbers was a version of ‘Santa Claus Is Coming to Town’ that made me think it came with elves in pasties and g-strings. Tassels, too. Danged close to bump-and-grind caroling. I about broke up right then.
Jindal’s Balls,
Jindal’s Balls,
Sailing all away . . . . .
They don’t hear anything except what the village wants them to hear.
A million pitchfork march, surrounding the WH and the Capitol and all the congressional office buildings?
I’m in for half a million in Sacto, anytime.
Or DC, if expenses and travel are fully covered . . . *G*
I’ll do the base camp cooking if Kelly don’t mind being a part of it, too. He can have the Big Touque, too. *G*
Gotta get down with Honey, she’s home after 10 hours, and I got teri beef and veggies to go over Madras Curried Rice with ginger and garlic . . *G* Worked 4 10′s this week to have 3 off!!!
Weekends HERE!
IIIIIITTTTTTT”SSSS FFFFFRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDAAAAAAAYYYYYYY!
(Chateau St. Michelle, 2008 Rieslinig, cheap, today)
Bark with ya Pups later . . . .urp . . . . ;-)
One is left wondering ever so much more and more just what was the point when the D Party and its leader Barack the Changer decided to introduce any idea of reform last spring of 2009? What was the point?
Who needs the CrazyTown R Party throwing roadblocks and large quanities of fly paper wherever it can to slo mo or stop American HCR here in 2009 or any time over next 5,7 or 10 years when the D Party is doing the deed?
So question now becomes where is Barack the Changer? Where is the D Partys’s leader who spent 2008 telling us how he was going to do the changes we could believe in? Really getting tired of this Obama AWOL performance regarding this HCR which he did not have to kick off last spring. Barack Obama did not in 2009 have to begin HCR nor did his D Party.
So what gives? My growing take away is the D Party wanted to shake the campaign funding tree and Big Pharma,Big Health Business and For Profit Insurers are throwing the money in and around WashingtonDC.
So the D Party wants to shake the campaign funding trees and then after the money is raked in the PO — which was first stop compromise after any Single Payer Plan got axed — has now been compromised down once – twice – three times – oh heck — it is down to what JW describes above.
Clearly the D Party at this point is going to end up with this HCR about where it was on 01/21/2009.
The Kabuki Theatre has been fully staged and the performance was stellar.
At this point I hope the D Party takes some big hits in 2010 and Barack the Changer has to really sweat it out in 2012 and then may still not win a second WH term. He deserves the sweat time and he does not deserve to be re-elected for foisting this fake and bait and switch HCR on the Americans who voted for him ( Number 1 Reason ) or on all Americans just on principle ( Number 2 Reason ).
JW lays it out well above and the D Party is doing this — not the Rs.
Barack Obama doesn’t need to go half way around the world to South Asia to find shitstorms of political turbulence. This HCR Fail is right here in and across these United States. Why the hell did Barack Obama even consider any HCR here in 2009? Obama did not put up a fight for what needed to be done in first place –Universal Single Payer — and is not fighting for a viable 50 State One Program PO Health Security Plan.Instead this compromised by D Party to point of not existing PO is where it so very likely will end up. With mandated join and pay and WashingtonDC doing the shovel over of Federal funding going to for profit insurers.
For the love of Marys son what was the point D Party? What?
Upcoming elections should have consequences for R and D Party. Real consequences as in Progressive American Party is formed and starts to take out Rs and Ds. Time is long overdue. Well past overdue.
Dude. This was just written to keep her on good terms with insurance donors. Landrieu’s fully aware there’s no chance the Democrats would pass this.
OK- With yet ANOTHER poll out showing huge support for the public option(60%), this time from a large press organization (Reuters), no major new outlets are covering it. Do a google news search “public option poll”- 28 results-(mainly blogs)!!!!
This is absolutely hopeless. There is no possibility for substantive health reform, when the playing field is so rigged against it by media, special interets, corporate bribes. Very depressing.
Ya know, yer sanity is quite disturbing considering how much I worked up to the insane.
MikeSong, yer catchin my ear like a 5 part harmony newgrass jam with solo’s for everyone.
Nice call, MS . . . hmmm . . .
This pig won’t fly. Mary’s just throwing every monkey wrench into the nachinery that the insurance companies tell her to, and by doing so is sure to reap a few hours of national noteriety and media attention.
Is it possible that Reid can refuse to send any bill from the Senate to the conference committee, then have the Senate committee members show up to the committee hearings just to advise the House members what can and can not pass the Senate in the final bill? Seems to me this was done once before, with Medicare (or maybe it was Medicaid). Of course back then LBJ was president, and he wouldn’t have put up with the crap going on in the senate today – he would have had the wayward Democratic senators over to the White House and convinced them of the importance (to their future careers) of passing the bill he wanted. We don’t have LBJ now.
It appears the Democrats are in race with the GOP to alienate every voter in America and self destruct their own Party.
Okay, how about this?
We go with the trigger option. But here’s how it will work. From the signing of the bill the S&I Insurance industry AND the “For-Profit” medical care industry must reduce costs by 2% each year for the first five years without effecting patient services, bending the cost curve down. Each year after that they must reduce the cost 1% each year until the cost of healthcare is reduced to <= to 10% of the GDP. If either the S&I Insurance industry OR the “For-Profit” medical care industry fail to make the REQUIRED reduction levels the TRIGGER is squeezed.
Once the trigger is squeezed, it makes illegal “For-Profit” in the entire healthcare delivery system in the US AND activates Universal Single Payer Healthcare.
The MIC, the Medical Insurance Complex, has had American by the short hairs for too long. This “Trigger” ties both industries together to reduce their costs to patients. If either fail, they both fail. We need to put the focus of cost reduction squarely on those who work every day to provide PROFIT for their shareholders first, and provide healthcare second.
We need to put a stake in the heart of the predatory, obsolete, yearly S&I Insurance industry. Let it go the way of the Buggy Whip and Slide Rule industries!
“Is an idea floating around to limit it to only people whose last names start with J?”
I was thinking, Q.
The problem is that many of these folks do not see their future careers in Congress, but rather in the Insurance Industry (can you say “lobbyist”?)
Prediction: They have finally engaged the wedge that will split the progressive wing of the party. They are going to trade away the public option in exchange for dropping the Stupak Amendment. They are going to trade away the promise of real HC reform for the status quo on abortion under Hyde with the expectation that they can get back the women’s rights true believers.
I hope the woman’s rights coalition is smart enough to recognize that if they go for this trade, they will become the pariahs responsible for killing the public option and it may be the last legislative victory they ever achieve.
Let’s see if the progressives can stick together and let this turkey of a bill become the roadkill it deserves to be. I’m not holding my breath.
It is hard to decipher what motivates people to oppose the PO. And the question needs to be posed generally.
Even though as designed the PO is at a disadvantage with respect to private plans it still saves money according to CBO and it is a haven for those whose medical conditions require costly care. These are real advantages that can not be just blown off. Furthermore arguments as to whether the PO should be included in the current HCR effort do not in the least depend on the fact that SP is a better alternative, that while true is irrelevant.
The PO is at a disadvantage wrt to private plans primarily because it is not allowed to adjust premiums to account for the cost of care of enrollees, while private plans are allowed to do so. But this fact only means that rather than go into a private plan where their premiums, subsidized if needed, will increase their profit, people with costly care will instead go into the PO and benefit only themselves.
The cost of subsidies to the taxpayer to cover people that need expensive care, where needed, is the same no matter which plan covers them. By having the PO you in essence deprive private plans from further profit.
This highlights the absurdity of alternate proposals to do away with the PO, such as those proposed by Landrieu, et al. You can not argue against it in terms of cost containment because while it reduces cost, the PO is not the main provision of HCR designed to bring down cost. Such things as savings from Medicare and Medicaid are much more important in this regard.
Neither can you argue that it is coercive for the government to require you to be insured, because then all you need to argue against is the provision that mandates coverage. In this regard if mandates are precluded then people who are uninsured are free to opt for the PO or private plans as suits their purpose. If the thought of being insured by a private insurer is repugnant to them they will opt for the PO, regardless of your medical care needs.
Calling Mary Landrieu a Democrat is really stretching the definition. Louisiana has a long and rich history of buffoonery among our elected officials, and she’s obviously a traditionalist. Landrieu, Vitter, Jindal, Fleming … the one who’s ostensibly a Democrat is hard to differentiate from the others. Some years back, I had an opportunity to talk briefly with the late, great Molly Ivins. When I told her I had been raised in Louisiana, she groaned. This current crop of swill-peddlers is right up there among the pantheon of hucksters that has kept Louisiana lower on the food chain than a Chalmette catfish for as long as anyone can remember.