Obama Signals Public Option Could Be Dropped

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REFERENCE - GLORIA FROM CALIFORNIA
COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE,IT IS SUCH A - shame - OUR 'REPRESENTATIVES' HAVE PRIORITIES THAT COME BEFORE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE PEOPLE THEY WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT , OH DEAR WHAT A TERRIBLE SHAME .
CONSEQUENTLY THESE MATTERS SHOULD BE PUT TO THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES , AND NOT LEFT UP TO THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE .
YOU MENTIONED THE IRAQ WAR , I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN THE RESULT OF A 'PEOPLES VOTE' ON THAT ONE , INSTEAD OF THE TERRIBLE DECISION THAT WAS MADE , ALL THOSE POOR PEOPLE AND WHOSE RELATIVES , PAY THE PRICE.

DONALD P . of OH 12:00PM August 20, 2009

Since the Senators say there are not enough senate votes to pass a public option, let the people decide. I understand that the insurance interests and lobbyists have promised that any senator who votes for a public option will not receive the usual campaign contributions from the insurance interests. Furthermore, the insurance interests will donate generously to that senator's opponent in the next election and will work for the defeat of any senator who votes for a public option.
Okay, then let the people vote on it. Just back off on any legislation for now and in November 2010, put this on the ballot in every state. Something to the effect of...
"Regarding health care reform, the option I most strongly prefer is:
Option 1. Do nothing. Leave the insurance coverage as is and make no changes.
Option 2. Extend medicare to all U.S. citizens.
Option 3. Do not change medicare, but extend to all U.S. citizens below the age of 65 the same insurance that is now provided for all federal employees.
Option 4. Do not change medicare, but extend to all U.S. citizens below the age of 65 the same insurance that is now provided for the members of congress, the senate and the president.
Option 5. The congress, the senate and the president shall prepare a final version of health care reform legislation and shall submit it to the general public for a vote."
I remember during the campaign that candidate Obama said if he were elected president, he would make sure all Americans had access to health insurance that was affordable and was as good as the insurance provided to the congress and senate and president. When questioned about how he would pay for such a plan, he responded that he would pay for it by eliminating much of the waste and inefficiency in government, he would streamline the health care administration and go to electronic record keeping and eliminate fraud and waste, and he would also provide additional federal funds by bringing the troops home from Iraq within six months of taking office.
I have read in my local newspaper that one of the generals in Iraq has recommended that the troops be brought home from Iraq in August 2010 instead of later, as the administration currently plans. I hope that President Obama follows that general's recommendation. Personally, I don't know why the troops aren't being brought home from Iraq NOW!
We the people should decide this issue. We the people do not depend on campaign contributions from lobbyists and special interests. We the people are not beholden to the insurance interests. Since the president and the senate seem unwilling or unable to put the interests of the public ahead of their own personal interests, give the matter over to the public for a vote. We will tell the politicians what we want.

Gloria from California of CA 2:34AM August 18, 2009

So much depends on the rules established to govern a co-op and how they compare to the rules governing other members of the healthcare system. More at http://www.healthcaretownhall.com/?p=1288#more-1288

Jeremy Engdahl-Johnson of WA 12:21AM August 18, 2009

Anybody that thinks Co-ops will work are lying to themselves. The insurance industry has a cost structure that is too expensive. They will never be able to keep costs down. Their ceo's make too much, they have to pay lobbyists to keep supporting their industry and they have to pay advertising. The system of multiple insurance companies is inefficient and cumbersome because people have to keep reapplying for coverage when they switch jobs. Our system costs us too much in extra taxes because we pay to reimburse hospitals who care for uninsured. The uninsured have no choice but to use the extremely costly emergency rooms for their care and we pay for it with higher taxes and higher insurance premiums.

tim collins of TX 7:30PM August 17, 2009

Whether or not we/he does this, what's so bad about using one of the in place products? The civilian federal employees coverage plan, or the VA? At least we know what it will cost per person.

Grif of WA 6:31PM August 17, 2009

I want public option!!!! This is what President Obama was in favor of... Pelosi NEEDS to KEEP FIGHTING THIS IS CRAZY TO GIVE UP ON PUBLIC OPTION!!!! I will not support President Obama anymore if we do not have public plan. If he can't pass public plan then do medicare for everyone and there can be a triered program for people to buy in. Take out the 65 years old to qualify. Do medicare coverage based on income. President Obama is too passive and does not stand up for what he believes in. He is letting the MAJORITY DOWN!!! He can repel the Reagan Tax Breaks and have plenty of money to pay for health care. Again the middle class
and poor is left in the cold. MY VOTE WILL BE FOR BERNIE SANDERS FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!

linda of IL 6:18PM August 17, 2009

I think that the idea of consumer co-ops could actually be more effective than a public sector idea. It allows it to be more localized and grassroots. I think this is a good option that allows the needed reform and options while keeping it decentralized and controlled more directly by the citizenry.

Emmett Doyle of MN 6:14PM August 17, 2009

Dr in Germany that's an associate at CVS (that donated to Obama's campaign)???
http://watchdog.net/contrib/34145/frederick_b_jr_lacey

typical of MO 6:04PM August 17, 2009

"to continue to chase that rabbit, I think, is just a wasted effort."
I disagree. Obama has flushed out the whacko's. He exposed the corporate and Political interests who will fight anything he proposes. His opponents haven't read what's proposed, they whipped out the mobs to scream about socialism and birth certificates. This isn't an election, Obama can wait a few weeks, change things, andsend it out again. Each time the lunatic fringe starts screaming "Obama scares me!" they lose credibility with the vast majority of Americans who realize that the current system is unworkable and who elected Obama to change things.
The party of NO loses every time they start a scream fest. Fear, Hatred, Distortion and Division is all they've got.

thebob.bob of OR 6:02PM August 17, 2009

Unfortunately, we need political reform before we'll get real health care reform. With several trillion flowing through the federal veins, there's a lot of leaches who are, or want to, latch on.
On this subject alone we have: grain and sugar crop subsidies, which go mostly to corporate farms, making us fatter: Pharma subsides in several laws, including medicare part D, driving up costs; and ERISA laws that have given health insurance companies a blank check to back out on their contracts, when in ERISA plans.
We don't allow judges to take bribes when deciding cases, but congressmen can accept them, when deciding laws. Until that's stopped, it's hard to accept another area where lobbyists have us by our ... wallets.

ProfElwood of IN 6:01PM August 17, 2009