Healthcare, if no reform Dems necks will be on the chopping block!

[Sheepshank]

I'm absolutely convinced the only way to lower healthcare costs is to create a Public Option. Public Option will create true competition (instead of the contrived collaboration that is going on right now) and drive down the prices.

If Public Option is scrapped, where is there any incentive for insurance companies to make true and significant changes and lower costs?

Even worse. If some of the healthcare reform passes, (excluding a Public Option), such as no pre-existing, no denials, true portability etc, you will see insurance premiums skyrocket. Insurance Co. WILL say that these requirements are what is driving up the cost (they were forced to eliminate cost cutting measures) and Insurance will place the blame at the feet of the Dems.

How would it be possible NOT to pass Public Option with that kind of a ax hanging over our heads?

[tooeyeten]

1. there is no time like the present to make a change

for the benefit of Americans.

Corporations are going crazy fighting the "public option" evidenced by opposition of Kent Conrad, who is in the insurance industry's pocket.

[Taverner]

2. And great, we mirror the Weimar Republic

If Dems switch to the Green Party after Obama, think Weimar Republic, and the next asshole who comes along will turn the US into a full out dictator...

[dysfunctional press]

4. i won't switch to the green party- i'm just done voting altogether.

i no longer see any point in it.

[Warpy]

3. The problem is the culture inside the beltway

and too many of those old boys are in some kind of la la land where having disgusted Democrats stay home like they did in 1994 isn't possible.

It's all too possible and the sooner they figure that out, the sooner we'll get a real health insurance reform bill on Obama's desk.

If not, they're going to be the minority party again.

[Sheepshank]

5. the way I see it

Obama is painted into a corner. He must push for Public Option. He cannot afford the fallout of rising insurance costs without it. Nothing else is a viable choice any more.

To pass any healthcare bill without a Public Option will be catastrophic. Insurers will get totally out of control on costs and that will come back on the Dems. Insurers will do what ever it takes to blame the Dems for any increase in costs, so that they can get back to business as usual with the next Right Wing Corporate saviour/POTUS. Without the Public option, the Repukes will have a foot hold for 2012 and do away with anything in the bill including pre existing, lifetime caps etc.......the very things the insurers will belly ache that drove up the costs.

A future Republican POTUS, could easily be swayed to remove those provisions the insurers worry will bite into profits. BUT, a Republican POTUS is VERY unlikely to dismantle an entire population that has purchased and lives with a Public option coverage.

It must be public option or nothing. And as mentioned in other threads, doing nothing is not an option for all those that need coverage NOW, so that leaves us with only one thing, a Public Option!