Comments on: Health Care: The Public Option

By: Why Healthcare Reform Failed | Lee Eldridge

Why Healthcare Reform Failed | Lee Eldridge — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:47:06 +0000

[...] to explain how their “solution” would cure the problems we face with health care. (Here’s a link to a previous post as to why the plan in Congress would lead to a single payer, government run [...]

By: Just Plano Bob

Just Plano Bob — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:13:17 +0000

isn’t it a comfort to know that the O GREAT speaker of the house does not care what you oppose? Her day is coming……..

By: Congress is Empowered by their Beliefs in Healthcare Reform | Lee Eldridge

Congress is Empowered by their Beliefs in Healthcare Reform | Lee Eldridge — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:47:13 +0000

[...] I’ve had several discussions with friends about proposed health care legislation in Congress. I’m on record that we badly need healthcare reform in this country. But I oppose a move towards a government run system. And my continued fear is that the “public option” being discussed is the piece that ultimately leads us in that direction. (I’ve made my case for why the public option will lead to a government run system here.) [...]

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:59:16 +0000

I liked the TV analogy

By: Lee Eldridge

Lee Eldridge — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:54:47 +0000

I’m good with smart regulations and proper oversight. (I’ve got another analogy I’ll share at some point about my views on regulations.) But I would disagree that improved regulations would basically equal a government run system, therefore you might as well have the public option. There are tons of industries with very strict codes and regulations, yet these industries are not government run.

And why will the left settle for nothing less than the public option? Because the left WANTS a single payer, government run system. And this bill indirectly achieves that.

By: Steven Guiot

Steven Guiot — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:57:25 +0000

The only way I’m seeing it is to price cap what insurance charges, make it illegal to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions, put limits on out-of-pocket expenses for patients… in other words, regulate it so much that it is essentially government run healthcare. What the Repubs and Insurance companies seem to want is mandatory coverage for everyone with very weak, little, or no new regulations on health insurance companies. The left won’t settle for less than a public option. Obama’s playing the middle and is likely to get squat. We’re all going to end up with the same old problem, which I’m sure is also just fine with the insurance companies.

By: Lee Eldridge

Lee Eldridge — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:38:38 +0000

Thanks Steve. It certainly wasn’t intended to be cold. The administration has repeatedly said that the bills in Congress do not create a single payer, government run system. Technically they are correct. It does not create it directly. My concern is that the long-term consequences of the bill WILL create a single payer system. And even of greater concern to me is that this is their intent.

There are many ways for us to take care of those who need assistance without directly or indirectly creating government run health care.

By: Steven Guiot

Steven Guiot — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:25:50 +0000

Lee, your easy to follow analogy is too easy. Plus you ask us to make worse-case leaps-of-faith several times to get to your conclusion. Anyway, just seems very cold-hearted to be comparing health insurance to T.V.’s. I know you just did it for the analogy sake, but how people accept the health and well-being of a living human being as a commodity to be profited from is beyond me. As disturbing as it is to me that a comparison like that can even be made… I wish it was disturbing to more people.