Quote:
Originally Posted by dc_dux
actually Cynth, my remarks were directed more to Cimarron, who has consistently used libertarian-speak to misrepresent the health reform bills in question.
Despite the conservative/libertarian rhetoric and fear mongering, there is no single-payer, government-controlled, socialist type system under consideration. There is choice in every proposed bill, including a government-administered option (to complete with a private option) in the House bill, that is not likely to even be considered in one Senate proposal.
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This where I say "Liar, liar - pants on fire!" Obama, Frank, Schakowsky have all stated that the public option is the first step towards single-payer and that is what they want to see happen. Were it not pub dis, I would send you the link. I have never misrepresented the health reform bill. I challenge you to find one post where I have.
As to choice, it's a matter of arithmetic. If a company pays 15% for private insurance, yet their "penalty" for not providing insurance will be 8% (it's in the bill) - they will drop the private, force their employees to public, and enjoy a 7% gain in income. Enough companies do this and private doesn't have enough base to survive. That puts 10s of millions more people on the public option and less and less competition (choice). Immediately the public system is strained and taxes must be raised. Immediately, the doctors make less money for the same service because medicare (the current system) and the public option (the future system) pays significantly less to the doctor than private insurance. So, the doctors are willing to see less and less new patients on public in leiu of their private customers. This naturally rations care, reduces choice (of doctors), delays diagnosis, and causes more expensive treatment due to decreased early detection and prevention. This is a perfectly rational argument against the private option.
The fact is, there is not one word about tort reform in these bills. Wonder why that is? (53% of congress are lawyers, and the president...)
---------- Post added at 11:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:01 AM ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by roachboy
and so here we are again in another little performance of how it is that the debate about health care gets derailed then stalled by the Officially Sanctioned Collective ADD brought to you by your pals in the insurance industry and their media shills on the right.
way to be reflexive, comrades, and not just enact what the op is asking about.
sheesh.
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I already put up my proposal (#136). No one has responded to it. I suppose the rest of you are fine with the system proposed in the 5 bills before congress. Don't talk to me about avoiding the OP.