There is certainly a lot to say about the health care debate in this country, but let's start with BO's assertion that the public plan option is needed in order to “keep insurance companies honest.” RedStateVT wonders why the government would stop with health insurance providers. Why not offer a public option to keep the "auto insurance companies honest?" Wait a minute! Why limit the government's dishonesty prevention program to just insurance companies? This idea has legs! We could have an entire shadow network of government-run companies with the objective of keeping American industry honest. Worried about getting ripped off at the grocery store? Not to worry! Obama Foods will ensure that the consumer is not being ripped off by the local produce manager. Concerned that you might be getting a raw deal at the mall? Obama Dry Goods can give you peace of mind. The possibilities are endless.
And that, gentle readers, is called the slippery slope.......
The public option appears deader than a doornail, thank goodness. But even without it, the Baucus proposal is so repugnant that not even the deranged Dems will vote for it.
ReplyDeleteIt's all pain and no gain. 1) Mandatory premiums with jail time for non-payment!? Not even Hillary wanted to incarcerate the uninsured. 2) $500 billion cuts in Medicare. Okay by me, but do the Dems really want to stick it to elderly voters? 3) Taxing high premium plans. Finally a good policy proposal, excellent in fact - thanks John McCain. Except that the majority of those with Cadillac plans turn out to be union members and public employees (redundant, I know). Again, do the Dems really want to vote to hurt their friends?
I don't see it passing, but if it does the Republicans will have one heck of an issue to run on next year. Some Dems are under the illusion that once passed Obamacare will become permanent like Social Security or Medicare. But in their cleverness to game the CBO, the proposals don't go into effect until 2013. The GOP could run on a plank to overturn it, get elected, and pass a popular healthcare overhaul all before Obamacare even become operative.
All pain and no gain. The Dems aren't that stupid, are they?