I just had an idea on health care.

[RDANGELO]

If the health care bill that comes out of congress does not have at least a good public option, the President should veto the bill and announce that he is proposing a windfall profit tax on the health insurance industry until one is passed. The money collected could go directly to medicare. He should be sure to explain the effect of all the money and lobbying from the insurance companies is having on the process. This Will put the squeeze directly on the real problem.

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Socialist! nt

[Froward69]

2. Agreed!!

[Vinca]

3. How about an executive order that takes health benefits

away from everyone in Congress? Let them try to buy insurance on their own . . . especially the older ones and those with pre-existing conditions.

[johnaries]

4. Here's the problem - insurance companies don't make profits

from premiums. They use the premiums to invest in the Market. Therefore, when the market is down their profits are down. They then raise the premiums to increase their investments. However, when the market is up they don't lower their premiums - they just keep them at the inflated prices.

That is one of the many fundamental problems with Private Health Insurance and why we need a single-payer system or at least a public option.

edit to add: this is why a windfall profit tax won't work. Since the market is down, the Insurance companies can easily claim their profits are down.

[salguine]

5. If the President could enact a windfall profits tax with an announcement, why couldn't he

enact single-payer with an announcement?