There is no starting over

[Sgent]

either we pass something, or we condemn 100,000's of people to death, disability, or bankruptcy (see IOM & Harvard studies on the lack of health insurance).

If we don't pass something this year/early next, the issue is dead for at least a decade.

[WeDidIt]

1. Then let it be dead for at least a decade

Still better than the piece of shit they're ending up with.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. Slogan contest?

I actually agree with some of the implied arguments, but not presented in the genral form of Bush arguing to invade Iraq.

[Libertas1776]

3. And if we pass something

the issue will still be dead, only now we'll be stuck with this abomination called "reform."

[Joe the Liberal]

18. Exactly, either way it's not looking good. n/t

[provis99]

4. Ok, Chicken Little. Did you see that slogan on a DLC pamphlet?

[nemo137]

5. The argument goes that the process is so overwhelmingly poisoned now

that there's no chance of redemption. I'm taking the Silver analysis as a ray of hope, and as it stands now, this bill will do something which is a start.

[still_one]

6. Don't try to sell me that shit. From another poster, earlier, I think this sums it up quite well:

1. No Single Payer

2. No public option

3. No expanded Medicare coverage

4. No drug re-importation

5. No cost controls

6. No renegotiation of drug prices

7. Capped annual coverage for care

8. Individual mandated coverage

9. Anti-trust exemption for insurance companies

10. A tax on middle class insurance plans

11. Taxes that start up in January, but benefits that don’t start until 2014

[dysfunctional press]

10. what i don't understand- what problems do the repukes have with it now...?

it could very well have been written almost identically by any one of them.

although- i guess that they'd probably scrap the subsidies...and when they come into power in 2010, they will.

[TCJ70]

13. They still gain political capital...

...by defeating it and branding it a purely democratic bill. Even though it's gone from healthcare reform to healthcare handout. It doesn't matter as long as they don't vote for it.

[tridim]

14. They would have never passed the other (good) reforms in the bill.

They wouldn't have even considered them.

[dysfunctional press]

17. and they'll probably gut those things in 2010, if not the whole bill.

so what's the point of crapping on the public with this p.o.s. in the first place...?

[tridim]

21. Because minus the mandate, it doesn't crap on the public.

There are good reforms in the bill.

[dysfunctional press]

23. for now, maybe...

but the pukes have until 2014 to change a lot of it- and they will.
and they'll get a start on it in 13 short months.

[tridim]

12. 10 and 11 are Republican talking points.

And you left out the good parts of the bill.

Overall I think the bill sucks, but there is more good than bad.

[MNDemNY]

19. all true

taxes insurance benefits for many middle class Americans. Taxes start right away meager benefits start in 2014. all true. this bill sucks,must be put down.

[tridim]

22. The Insurance reforms start immediately

And you know it. You may not like it, but the reforms are indeed a benefit for people who get sick.

Claiming otherwise is GOP style semantics.

[MNDemNY]

26. What I said is true. All true, and YOU know it.

This bill must die.

[DJ13]

7. Drop the mandates, increase the aid to the poor

Otherwise this "reform" just increases the misery for millions of people.

[Old Codger]

8. I am afraid

They will pass this piece of crap and strut around forever bragging on it and not revisit it again, if they care so little about the people that they cannot even vote in an ability to get cheaper prescription drugs they show their true colors...

[ZombieHorde]

9. We don't know if the "good parts" are going to be "good parts."

Do you know if the current HC plan is going to have maximum co-pays?

Will insurance companies be allowed to cut people off for the rest of a fiscal year once a patient uses a certain amount of coverage in a year?

Without knowing the answer to these questions, we can not really come to your conclusion of "or we condemn 100,000's of people to death, disability, or bankruptcy."

[Walk away]

25. BCBS is going to be happy to raise my premiums X3.

They are going to love the extra $. Now when I finally have to give up Health Insurance I can be fined for it. This is not reform.

[optimator]

11. good. let people die then.

It isn't worth corporate tyranny, and threats don't work on me.

[galileoreloaded]

15. You won the Wed. nite award for hyperbole!!!! Congrats!!! n/t

[MNDemNY]

16. Kill this bill.

Do not buy this bullshit line. This bill is a boon to the industry a bust to the people.

[Walk away]

24. +1 Let it fail.

To pass this mess is just wrong.

[sellitman]

20. Pass something, pass anything?

No thanks.

The Bill that's left takes us backwards.

Kill it now while we can.