Is there still a chance that the House will rescue the Public option?

[Cetacea]

There appears to be a bit of a buzz going around regarding this. Not that I have any realistic expectations that one can still be salvaged. But then again...

[yourout]

1. about the same as single payer.

[white_wolf]

16. As bad as this sounds

I'm starting to think the only way we will ever see any real health care reform or economic equality in this country is through revolution.

[Cleita]

2. None, from what I'm hearing and reading today.

It may be rescued down the line though because when the barely informed Americans realize that they are going to be forced to do something that doesn't have a choice to fall back on, there might be a revolution about it.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Back in 1922, Emma Goldman had this to say about 'democracy'

The western model of parliamentary democracy could more accurately be characterised as a '4-year dictatorship'. The crucial difference between 'representative' democracy and 'direct' democracy is that under the former, voters have no part in deciding policy and are unable to recall their representatives. Instead they have nothing more than the illusion that by voting they are in some way able to control the political process.

http://struggle.ws/rbr/freerev.html

She also said that if elections really changed anything, they would be made illegal.

[Cetacea]

10. Yeah. Good read. Thanks.

[Guilded Lilly]

15. Sad but true

"they have nothing more than the illusion that by voting they are in some way able to control the political process."

I am about a third of the way through the article at your link. Thank-you. Thought provoking.

Unfortunately HOPE behind a vote does not equal control.

[Selatius]

17. You can find a fair number of people here at DU who are opposed to direct democracy.

The ability to challenge an act of congress through a referendum as well as the ability to recall sitting legislators and presidents is a form of direct exercise of power. If the American people had these tools given to them at the start of this century, we likely would've had a say in whether or not we were to go into Iraq or had a say in whether we give banks 800 billion of our taxpayer dollars (we probably would've told them "no") or whether we would accept a health care reform proposal with no Public Option (we probably would've said "no" on that one as well).

[IndianaGreen]

18. and Susan and Evan Bayh would be flipping hamburgers at McDonalds

instead of making a killing out of their Big Pharma and Big Insurer investments.

[Selatius]

22. And Joe Lieberman would probably be facing a recall referendum any time now.

A man can dream. A man can dream...

[Selatius]

4. Yeah, there's a chance, but I'm honestly not going to hold my breath. Deals and payoffs were made.

I don't really think the Public Option is going to make a return.

[Cetacea]

8. I do know that it is being debated in Conference and Unions are applying pressure.

But if the votes aren't going to be there in the Senate I guess their efforts will be wasted.

[blues90]

5. As much chance as holding Obamas feet to the fire. nt

[JFN1]

6. No.

The corporations have completed their takeover of our Democracy, and have decreed there will be NO public option, but there WILL be mandated private insurance.

And this is where the House will leave it - guaranteed.

[johnaries]

7. I'm afraid the closest we're going to get are the much less effective

state-based co-ops that are in both bills.

Unless the citizens of Connecticut rise up and convince Lieberman otherwise.

[dhpgetsit]

9. Some house progressives said earlier they would

not support HCR with no public option. Will they really make a stand?
They could force the Blue Dog assholes to vote against meaningful HCR and then try to get re-elected.

[TheKentuckian]

11. About the same odds an elk has against a supernova

They left a little room under the 900b from which the House will "win" additional subsidies but I think that's it. The House doesn't have much wiggle room to do anything structural as far as funding or how the system will work. They might get the option of the Senate language or Stupek on choice.

[dkf]

12. Obama doesn't want it

Give it up.

[Guilded Lilly]

13. it's all about getting the bill passed

right now, period. I doubt that there is anything that will truly keep the insurance companies in check in any way, or give the citizens of our country any affordable options that give us any power whatsoever... just so the Democrats can say they passed health reform.

Rock, meet hard place. And guess who will end up smashed in the middle?

Future bills seem to be the only chance and that is a mere pipe dream. It isn't going to happen. Not in this country, not in my lifetime, not with these legislators.

I would be delighted to be proved very wrong.

[earcandle]

14. I hope we have some recourse that will hold our reps responsible for this failure to care about the

American People. 

[HughMoran]

19. I doubt it

I don't see it happening.

[ipaint]

20. Over the ins. industry's dead body.

In other words not a chance in hell.

[ChicagoSuz219]

21. I believe there will be something akin to the Public Option...

...but with a different name.