Framing this "birth control coverage" issue...

[targetpractice]

I've yet to hear any pundit, analyst, or talking head point out that this kerfuffle could be solved by the "public option" that was shot down long ago... Hey, you religious organizations don't want to provide complete healthcare coverage to your employees as part of your subsidized program? Okay, don't deduct anything from their paycheck and let them opt for a public insurance program.

Seems like this issue demonstrates another reason why we need a "public option" for national healthcare.

[seeviewonder]

1. +1000

Or even single payer in the long run.

[targetpractice]

3. You're right...

The "debate" surrounding this issue is a good example of what's currently wrong with how media organizations handle such things... the "echo chamber" is babbling about religious freedom for organizations.. Tell me where our Constitution protects religious freedom for organizations? Maybe it's alongside the part where it says corporations are people. I thought the Constitution protects individual rights.

Universal public healthcare should be our aspiration... call it "single payer" or "socialized medicine", or whatever. When can we resuscitate that argument? After Obama is re-elected?

[seeviewonder]

12. Very well said...n/t

[progress2k12nbynd]

2. I like you're thinking

But then they'd frame it as 'no public dollars for abortions'

[targetpractice]

4. Drat... I forgot about that carve out. n/t

[SmileyRose]

5. Oddly I disagree with you

I don't believe for a second the Catholic Church will dump insurance bennies and risk losing staff in places like Catholic hospitals. They have to compete.

IMHO the real issue at stake is whether your boss has the right to make your private medical care decisions.

The whole point of the progressive point of view on all the issues surrounding medical care is to maximize individual freedom. We stand for access to basic medical care for everyone without regard to wealth beliefs or whether or not they have a job. By contrast the so called conservative point of view is to take all our choices away and leave us at the mercy of whatever rich white man signs the paychecks.

[targetpractice]

6. Perhaps I was too inarticulate...

I totally agree with you... Employers shouldn't dictate our healthcare options — based upon religious or any other reasons.

Therefore, my contention is that a universal, public, single-payer, or socialized healthcare option is the ultimate answer.

[brewens]

7. Didn't health care insurance companies decide that was revenue nuetral? I was pretty

sure they at least break even on it. What you save on one unwanted pregnancy, buys a lot of birth control pills. The right-wingers keep saying we're forcing religious institutions to pay for something that goes against their faith.

[Tx4obama]

8. Lawrence O'Donnell pointed it out on his show Wednesday night.

Video segment here discussing single-payer/contraception: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/#46321122

p.s.
And don't miss this important one too:
Video: Lawrence O'Donnell interview with Dan Boies - Constitutionality of birth control mandate
here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/#46320611

[targetpractice]

9. Thank you, thank you!

I was hoping someone would point me in the right direction.

[RainDog]

10. this is a family health care issue

because pregnancy impacts both a wife and a husband and any other children they have. obviously people who attend the religious services of this institution ALL OVER THE WORLD do not follow this demand to ignore one's family responsibility because of some person who has never been married trying to tell the world how it should have sex or a family.

honestly.

[Brettongarcia]

11. Offer partial opt-out only

Still have mandatory health ins. at the workplace; just let conscientious objectors opt out of whatever portion would have paid for reproductive services (3%?).

Single payer would have been better. But?