Blow up that healthcare bill.

[steelmania75]

It's a mess. It's not reform unless there's a public option, and there isn't, so let's just start over:

EXTEND MEDICARE TO EVERY AMERICAN.

Done.

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. Public opion is never going to happen, so what your really saying is don't change anything

[Cronus Protagonist]

3. Is that a mantra, an aphorism or just a plain old surrender?

Either way, it doesn't work for me.

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. It's just the grim reality of it. The social upheaval required isn't going to happen

And the ironic part is that all the alienation about not getting it will end up driving the gop right back into power.

[endless october]

4. there's more of a majority than Bush had

and he got those tax cuts passed.

the public option can't be negotiable, but President Obama would have to go all out to get it.

HCR doesn't work without the competition the public option provides.

[The_Casual_Observer]

8. Admit it, tax cuts were the easiest thing in the world to pass.

The public option would require a titanic shift in the entire social structure like we have never seen before.

[endless october]

12. shit, a large part of the country is already on the public option.

medicare, medicaid, and not to mention every congressperson already is on public care.

opening it up to the middle class isn't that much of a stretch no matter how the repubs paint it.

[The_Casual_Observer]

17. The middle class is the bulk of what makes the whole economy work

It's a big deal, bigger than anything. I'm not saying that it isn't what needs to happen, but
it would take the social equivalent of the impact of multiple 9/11 events to make it happen.

[FiveGoodMen]

2. Amen!

It's a piece of shit.

[pscot]

5. That won't fly, but here's something that might

I just sent this to both my senators.One is up for reelection so she might be in the mood to listen.

A way forward on health care reform

1] Abandon the omnibus bill
2] Create a bill that would end pre-existng exclusions
3] Create a bill that would eliminate caps on benefits
4] Create a bill that would end anti-trust exemptions for insurers
5] Create a bill that would close the donut hole for seniors
6] Reintroduce the Dorgan amendment as a stand-alone bill
7] Reintroduce the Sanders amendment as a stand-alone bill
8] Package all the demonstration projects as a stand-alone bill
9] Create a bill to lower the medicare age to 55

Each of these, taken alone, serves a clear, easily understood public purpose. Each of these, taken alone, can be spelled out in relatively simple terms that would make them harder for the special interests and their congressional enablers to game. The Republicons have been protesting that they want reform, just not a "government takeover" they say the omnibus HCR package represents. Give them a chance to prove it. Dare them to stall, deny and filibuster genuine reform that even teabaggers can understand on the merits..

[rgbecker]

7. You left out the part about paying for it, which seems to be a sticking point.

[pscot]

10. I'm sorry. I left out

the bill that would tax bonus payment of $500,000 or more at 90%. Oh, and the $50,000 tariff on every job shipped overseas by a corporation. And if that isn't enough I have other possible ways of raising lots of money.

[cali]

9. look, you think killing it is the way to go, I respect that

and I waver between that position and thinking that reconciliation is the way to go, but don't be delusional; if it dies, that's it for HCR for years to come.

[ellie]

11. Yes let's blow it up!

Health care for no one! Unless you have some magic trick to get the repukes to sign on to the public option. In that case I want to hear what this big plan is.

[invictus]

13. K&R

[whoneedstickets]

14. Yeah, I have great healthcare. The rest of you can fend....

I'm perfectly happy with the status quo. I imagine this result in MA will scare a bunch of on-the-fence Blue Dog dems and even a few GOP senators into supporting a new public option bill -NOT.

[eridani]

18. I have shitty health care, and this bill will make me worse off

I'm a member of the disposable human garbage category--those of us aged 50-64.

[LostInAnomie]

15. Pie in the sky.

Where are the 60 votes for the public option going to come from?

[Faryn Balyncd]

16. K&R - Medicare-for-All