I have been trying really hard to understand why the Democrats are in such a hurry to pass a health care bill. What is wrong with taking a little more time to get it right? And what is the final goal of the Democrats? Barney Franks spills the beans: It is government-run, single-payer health care.
4 comments:
Smells like Socialized medical insurance to me!
I think Barney Frank was very honest and he said outright that he personally favors single payer health care. He also pointed out his strategy to get there. I have no problem with him holding that opinion. As Alan pointed out in an earlier comment, it is the democrats themselves that are holding up the single payer bandwagon. They hold absolute majorities and if they wanted to pass and impose single payer, they could. But there are Blue Dog Dems and others who are not willing to go there. Frank said it himself, we don't have the votes (Republican or Democrat!)
That agenda is Frank's not that of all Dems as is proven by the fact the Dems are holding it up.
Some democrats want single payer. I don't.
I do want public option and I want it reasonably soon. I do not look at it as a stepping stone to single payer or to socialized medicine although Congressman Frank does.
Let's remember that single payer means that it is the government that is the single payer on all medical bills. That does not mean that it is the government that runs all hospitals, clinics, and health care cooperatives. These entities would still have to compete, like schools for vouchers (an idea that many conservatives think is just fine) for patients. The money that would flow to the health care facilities would flow from the government not individuals or insurance companies. Single payer would mean the death of big health insurance companies (although not necessarily all), that's why I am against it. Single payer would not mean that our system would wither up and become less than it is.
Let us consider (me too cause I'm against single payer!) : if competition between schools for government $ in the form vouchers is such a good idea for the all the many reasons trumpeted, why not for health care as well?
I suppose the reverse could be argued as well: If vouchers are so bad, then why is the public option so good? The argument cuts both ways.
In the end, the blue dogs are Democrats, and they will come around, and the fact of the matter is that there are not that many of them in comparison with the more liberal democrats. So I can't help but believe that a majority of the Democrats in congress want a single-payer system. It is obvious that Pelosi does since she claims that the insurance companies are the villains. And Reid is for whatever Republicans are against, good or bad. So unless things change, it is a single-payer system that we will end up with.
Boy, I hope not. My rep and both senators that represent me are all voting against it no matte what anyway.
I will write to Obama just so I can say that I voiced my opinion.
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