Yesterday Josh Marshall decides the reason folks don't understand the public option is because Democrats use big words. Today, Marshall's Talking Points Memo publishes this:
During a tele-townhall with constituents today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he supports a public option...but then he added an extremely important caveat. Reid said he doesn't think the public option ought to be a government run program like Medicare, but instead favors a "private entity that has direction from the federal government so people that don't fall within the parameters of being able to get insurance from their employers, they would have a place to go. "
Now just what the fuck is that supposed to mean?
Talking Points Memo's Brian Beutler tries to parse it:
That sounds suspiciously like Reid would prefer a so-called co-op system, which almost all reformers regard with suspicion, and many regard as a non-starter. Reid is ultimately more than just one vote, too. If the Senate passes a health care bill through the regular legislative process, he'll be the one marrying two different pieces of legislation: one which creates a public option, and one which creates co-ops. Likewise, if the Senate passes health care reforms on a partisan basis through the so-called reconciliation process, his office would take the lead in determining whether to try an include a public option in the reconciliation bill.
You tell me: What's there to be confused about?
I'll say it again: You guys just don't get it. You can't sell health care, er, insurance, er, whatever the fuck it is today reform until somebody in the White House or Congress actually makes up their mind as to what health care, er, insurance, er, whatever the fuck it is today reform is supposed to be.
Morons.
""private entity that has direction from the federal government".
There is a useful word for that - Fascism.
Posted by: PeterUK | August 29, 2009 at 01:51 PM
Good to see Harry Reid has the same sort of backbone Barack Obama does.
Posted by: Dennis the Peasant | August 29, 2009 at 03:34 PM
There is a useful word for that - Fascism.
Depends on the intent, I think, Peter. In a sense, private entities already take direction from the feds (e.g., the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Or a matter of degree, as this is a really slippery slope.
But in this sense, yes, it's Fascism, because Reid offers it as a "compromise" to outright socialism. And especially since a "private entity" created by Congress to "take direction from the federal government" on health care is effectively NOT a private entity at all. It's pretty much an attempt to nationalize the medical industry in all but name, effectively the same intent as the "public option".
No matter how prettily you package it, shit remains shit.
Dennis.....when did Reid ever have a backbone? Even B.O. (Before Obama)? He's pretty much bent in whatever direction he thought would get him into a position of power within the DNC for a long time. He's little more than a mouthpiece for various leftie organizations.
Posted by: JeffS | August 29, 2009 at 04:27 PM
JeffS
Yes. It's pretty much what Mussolini did. This is the much vaunted "Third Way".
Posted by: PeterUK | August 29, 2009 at 04:51 PM
Mussolini, eh? There's a great role model for Reid to follow. In more ways than one.
Posted by: JeffS | August 29, 2009 at 04:59 PM
It's a private public option, Dennis. What's not to understand? It should fit in perfectly.
Posted by: richard mcenroe | August 29, 2009 at 05:45 PM
I couldn't agree more that there is no clarity about what exactly is being proposed. Ridiculous...propose something and stick to it...let people evaluate it, and act accordingly.
Posted by: jane2 | August 29, 2009 at 07:08 PM
Clarity was not the intention of the drafters of this bill. This was designed to arrogate as much power as possible to the government without the public becoming aware of it. It has as much to do with health care as the Anschluss.
Posted by: PeterUK | August 29, 2009 at 07:51 PM
Peter, one could say that Nazi Germany took the health of German citizens (and, eventually, other nations) very seriously. Just not in a very healthy way.
Posted by: JeffS | August 29, 2009 at 09:39 PM
NO CO-OP'S! A Little History Lesson
Young People. America needs your help.
More than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% of republicans). Basically everyone.
According to a new AARP POLL: 86 percent of seniors want universal healthcare security for All, including 93% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans. And 79% of seniors support creating a new strong Government-run public option plan, available immediately. Including 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans, STUNNING!! Senator Max Baucus, You better come out of committee with a strong government-run public option available on day one.
The History:
Our last great economic catastrophe was called the Great Depression. Then as now it was caused by a reckless, and corrupt Republican administration and republican congress. FDR a Democrat, was then elected to save the nation and the American people from the unbridled GREED and profiteering, of the unregulated predatory self-interest of the banking industry and Wallstreet. Just like now.
FDR proposed a Government-run health insurance plan to go with Social Security. To assure all Americans high quality, easily accessible, affordable, National Healthcare security. Regardless of where you lived, worked, or your ability to pay. But the AMA riled against it. Using all manor of scare tactics, like Calling it SOCIALIZED MEDICINE!! :-0
So FDR established thousands of co-op's around the country in rural America. And all of them failed. The biggest of these co-op organizations would become the grandfather of the predatory monster that all of you know today as the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry. And the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry.
This former co-op would grow so powerful that it would corrupt every aspect of healthcare delivery in America. Even corrupting the Government of the United States.
This former co-op's name is BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD.
Do you see now why even the suggestion of co-op's is ridiculous. It makes me so ANGRY! Co-op's are not a substitute for a government-run public option.
They are trying to pull the wool over our eye's again. Senators, if you don't have the votes now, GET THEM! Or turn them over to us. WE WILL! DEAL WITH THEM. Why do you think we gave your party Control of the House, Control of the Senate, Control of the Whitehouse. The only option on the table that has any chance of fixing our healthcare crisis is a STRONG GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION.
An insurance mandate and subsidies without a strong government-run public option choice available on day one, would be worse than the healthcare catastrophe we have now. The insurance, and healthcare industry have been very successful at exploiting the good hearts of the American people. But Congress and the president must not let that happen this time. House Progressives and members of the Tri-caucus must continue to hold firm on their demand for a strong Government-run public option.
A healthcare reform bill with mandates and subsidies but without a STRONG government-run public option choice on day one, would be much worse than NO healthcare reform at all. So you must be strong and KILL IT! if you have too. And let the chips fall where they may. You can do insurance reform without mandates, subsidies, or taxpayer expense.
Actually, no tax payer funds should be use to subsidize any private for profit insurance plans. So, NO TAX PAYER SUBSIDIES TO PRIVATE FOR PROFIT PLANS. Tax payer funds should only be used to subsidize the public plans. Healthcare reform should be 100% for the American people. Not another taxpayer bailout of the private for profit insurance industry, disguised as healthcare reform for the people.
God Bless You
Jacksmith — Working Class
Twitter search #welovetheNHS #NHS Check it out
(http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)
Senator Bernie Sanders on healthcare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)
American HEROES!! :-) Click replay to play http://bit.ly/j31oU
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbWw23XwO5o) CYBER WARRIORS!! - TAKE THIS VIRAL
Posted by: jacksmith | August 29, 2009 at 10:27 PM
::sigh::
Another candidate for the gulag.
Posted by: Uncle Fester | August 29, 2009 at 10:41 PM
"It's a private public option, Dennis. What's not to understand?"
I don't know, Richard. It's pretty ovious that it's a public private option.
Posted by: Tim | August 30, 2009 at 09:41 AM
did someone let mark back in?
Posted by: Billy | August 30, 2009 at 04:45 PM