I don't disagree with any of this except the suggestion the democrats could have passed anything they wanted. The problem there is what did a majority of democrats "want" and was it a big enough majority to pass any thing the majority of democrats "wanted". It certainly wasn't in the Senate! I think you and Jem have confused holding a majority of Seats with a majority of votes on any particular issue. But of course holding a majority of seats does not guarantee a majority of votes. Therein lies a defect in your thinking I believe. By the way, that Health Affairs rundown of the Public Option battle is thorough and accurate as far as I can tell. One thing left out is that the bipartisan bill that Baucus was trying to forge in the Senate did not include the Public Option. Baucus knows which side of his bread has the butter. Obama and Pelosi always favored inclusion of the public option, but they also recognized early on that they were not going to get it through the Senate. The votes weren't there to break a filibuster. Obama and Pelosi did what had to be done to get a Bill through both houses. It is a bad Bill and a Good Bill at the same time. Its major defect is that there are only quite ineffective cost control measures. And cost is at the very heart of the U.S. Healthcare problem. You can say that Obama and Pelosi caved to the insurance industry, which in effect they did. But what they had to do, and what they wanted to do are not the same. They made the decision fairly early in the fight that something was better than nothing. I think they made the right decision, because had the ACA not passed in its fatally flawed form we would have been one step further away at this point from where we will eventually end up. It's inevitable, so why not go ahead and take a baby step toward the inevitable.
So how's the gov't going to 'control costs'? Oh, yeah, I think I can figure that out. Denial of care. How else? But that's a-ok if the gov't decides who gets their care denied, isn't it? I mean if they require 'end of life consultations' to someone with an expensive disease, what's the problem with that, right? On the other hand, if the governor of Miss lets the free mkt decide who gets their care denied, that's so heartless that it should make anyone's blood boil, shouldn't it? Isn't that funny how that works? Gov't denies care, not so bad. Mkt denies care--MURDER! I know you won't answer, but I'll put forth the question anyway. What makes you think you should be able control other people's lives?
I think we need to clear this up. Piezoe is arguing about a public option. Now the democrats were not clear about this but the public option is not single payer and its is not govt paid for health care. Piezoe is changing this subject away from single payer to the public option. The dems could even include a govt negotiated rate or large group into their plan. (which it turns out is the public option) Obama never even tried for single payer. This was insurance company care from the beginning Piezoe. This crap is all on Obama and the dem leadership.
I don't think the republicans get it yet. the electorate are tired of WASHINGTON DYSFUNCTION. OBSTRUCTIONISM created by the repugs! (see McConnel)the repugs sensing power, up to the same old tricks. they think they just won lottery with Drumpf they don't know what they are in for LOL, (in 4yrs they will "get" it , ahh 6 months tops do the repugs realize the orange vote was for an "upset"? to rock WASHINGTON? nah. they operate on one election cycle to the next, its pathetic. repugs think biz as usaul, are they in for a rude awakening, WE AMERICA all are in for...the same
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry...s_58792072e4b09281d0eaaaf1?y4gb5h6z14c7rjm7vi FIVE CALLS..c'mon man, i don't even call my mistress that often!
thank goodness the adults will be in charge in less than a week. Pretty darn glad the trump team was able to diffuse this petty political sabotage. As if Obama didn't interfere elections.
I agree with this comment. its seems the establishment dems and rs want to fight about things rather than makes things better. Imagine if schumer with a single payer voucher type plan so good that Trump and the republicans had to back it or they would look really bad. Everyone but the insurance companies and the bankers who owned them could win and we could all have inexpensive basic insurance and supplement it if we wished. Can you imagine how stupid the democrats are. So many of them lost their jobs over obamacare and they are still listening to Obama and sticking with his plan. And the establishment republicans don't have a plan yet. morons both.