My greatest fear on the HCR bill is

[Craftsman]

no one other then a few senators and their staffers have read it. I want to know everything in this bill before it is voted one. This is to important to just blindly trust any group of politicos.

[Laelth]

1. My greatest fear is ... that it will pass.

Doing nothing would be better.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Craftsman]

2. I am beginning to think you are right.

[Fire1]

3. Really? The odds of modifying are much better than starting

over. Ain't gonna happen.

[Laelth]

4. I don't even want to start over. I want the Federal Govt. out of this entirely.

The current system is unsustainable, and everyone knows it. Change will come, eventually, UNLESS we pass the disastrous bill that's currently on the table.

California will probably pass single-payer on its own in 2011. All they need is a Democratic Governor. The legislature has already passed the bill. Schwarzenegger vetoed it. Once California has single-payer, most (if not all) states will follow suit.

It's likely that if we pass a new law now, the new law will preempt single-payer, i.e. the Federal law will preempt state law and prevent states from enacting a single-payer system.

THIS is what the health insurance companies fear. THIS is what brought them to the bargaining table. THIS is why they are not fighting Obama's tepid reforms, and THIS is why it is extremely important that we do not pass any health insurance reform bill this year.

Let's not settle for a bail-out of the health insurance industry. Let's insist on the eradication of it. In all likelihood, California will lead the way in 2011 ... if we can just give them time.

Canada got its single-payer system one province at a time. That seems to be the way it will have to happen in the U.S.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Fire1]

6. Some states already have some form of public plan.

I've read that Mass. has such a plan that really is not that great in terms of affordability while Vermont's plan is the complete opposite. So, wagering a bet on whether one state gets single payer and others follow suit, is pretty tenuous.

[Laelth]

7. Agreed. Mass' plan is awful.

And the plan the Federal Congress is considering now is based upon the Mass. plan.

We'd be better off doing nothing on the Federal level if what Congress is considering now is the best we can do.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Winterblues]

8. How the Hell can california pass a single payer plan when they are billions in deficit

California like most states has a balanced budget law. They can not run deficits. There is no way in Hell California can pass a single payer Bill unless it gets it's fiscal house in order and as long as a Republican is their Governor that probably will not happen. Republicans do not know how to govern. In fact they hate Government and say constantly that Government can't do anything right and do their damndest to prove that..It almost sounds like you have those same sentiments.

[Laelth]

9. California has had no trouble selling bonds.

It can be done. It's not that big of a problem, really.

:dem:

-Laelth

[GreenArrow]

5. It's generally not wise to build

on a weak foundation.