Comments on: How We Lost The Public Option http://www.rantsofrob.com/2009/08/18/how-we-lost-the-public-option/ Progressive Politics and Culture Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:39:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: chris brewer http://www.rantsofrob.com/2009/08/18/how-we-lost-the-public-option/comment-page-1/#comment-233 chris brewer Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:16:32 +0000 http://paraproductions.com/rantsofrob/?p=358#comment-233 hey rob, good post. I sent you an e-mail with my thoughts on the strategy going forward. tell me what you think hey rob, good post. I sent you an e-mail with my thoughts on the strategy going forward. tell me what you think

]]> By: Bill Newton - Florida Consumer Action Network http://www.rantsofrob.com/2009/08/18/how-we-lost-the-public-option/comment-page-1/#comment-228 Bill Newton - Florida Consumer Action Network Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:32:18 +0000 http://paraproductions.com/rantsofrob/?p=358#comment-228 Single payer would be great. Problem is, it just isn't going to happen. So the decision for progressives is whether incremental health care reform is acceptable, or in the alternative, to allow the Republicans to win and greatly weaken President Obama. I'd rather have some reform than stronger Republicans. Maybe we can save some of those 22,000 lives. It might not be the perfect solution single payer is, but it might save a few thousand. The Democrats are what their constituents make them. I include their paying constituents -- the many corporate contributors to Democratic candidates. But the grass roots and progressive organizations must also be heard. We must not be a house divided and we may not have the luxury of giving up because an Obama messenger slipped up in the messaging. Will the public option morph into single payer the way the Republicans say it will? Would coops somehow morph into single payer? Canada kind of backed into single payer. Wouldn't there be a strong incentive for the government to expand Medicare -- a single payer system? The battle is joined right now. The heat is on, in the streets, where we used to kick ass. The Republicans are tasting blood. Its ours. Time to get it in gear and turn this thing around. Single payer would be great. Problem is, it just isn’t going to happen. So the decision for progressives is whether incremental health care reform is acceptable, or in the alternative, to allow the Republicans to win and greatly weaken President Obama.

I’d rather have some reform than stronger Republicans. Maybe we can save some of those 22,000 lives. It might not be the perfect solution single payer is, but it might save a few thousand.

The Democrats are what their constituents make them. I include their paying constituents — the many corporate contributors to Democratic candidates. But the grass roots and progressive organizations must also be heard. We must not be a house divided and we may not have the luxury of giving up because an Obama messenger slipped up in the messaging.

Will the public option morph into single payer the way the Republicans say it will? Would coops somehow morph into single payer? Canada kind of backed into single payer. Wouldn’t there be a strong incentive for the government to expand Medicare — a single payer system?

The battle is joined right now. The heat is on, in the streets, where we used to kick ass. The Republicans are tasting blood. Its ours. Time to get it in gear and turn this thing around.

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