public option

Flatline ObamaCare

Sat, 07/18/2009 - 8:50am | posted by Brett Bittner

Interestingly, government intervention in the 1960s introduced a third party (insurance co/HMO/PPO, etc) into the one-on-one relationship between doctor and patient. Prior to that, people paid premiums for medical insurance policies designed to cover catastrophic medical events like cancer, serious accidents and the like, NOT for physicals, check ups or routine visits. Instead, the DOCTOR and the PATIENT negotiated a rate for services based on the patient’s ability to pay on an individual case by case basis. The introduction of a third party shorts the doctor AND raises the costs for the the patient, as the third party must also be paid. Yes, health costs have soared, but further government intervention - especially a government takeover of a free market healthcare system - is NOT the answer.

Another Democratic Senator Says He Won’t Let Public Option Survive

Wed, 11/11/2009 - 1:35pm | posted by Doug Mataconis

Senator Ben Nelson joined the growing list of Democratic Senators seemingly committed to a filibuster of any health reform bill that contains a public option:

In a warning sign for the White House, Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska tells ABC News that he’ll vote to block any health care bill that looks like the bill passed by the House.

“Well, first of all, it has more than a robust public option, it’s got a totally government-run plan, the costs are extraordinary associated with it, it increases taxes in a way that will not pass in the Senate and I could go on and on and on,” Nelson said in an interview that is part of ABC News’ Subway Series with Jonathan Karl.

“Faced with a decision about whether or not to move a bill that is bad, I won’t vote to move it,” he added. “For sure.”

This comes as Harry Reid says he plans to move forward on the bill next week:

Jesse Jackson Jr: The Public Option Will be Like the Post Office

Wed, 08/19/2009 - 5:54pm | posted by Chris Moody

Appearing on CNN this week, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. defended the public option health care plan by comparing it…

To the post office!

Jackson argues that the post office keeps the costs of stamps down, so “we don’t have to pay $100 to send an over-night letter” using FedEx or DHL. According to Triple J, the public option will have the same effect.

To be blunt, this is a mind blowingly stupid things to say.

Watch: