Reply #3: I said this in another thread at DU: G

[TayTay]

The original thread asked if Dems why Dems were "losing" the debate on health care:

My two cents worth were:

Because it has turned into a policy debate and it is really a debate about people.

Where are the stories about the people who have been affected by lousy insurance coverage? Where are the people that, during the '08 campaign, told stories about how being cutting off from insurance wrecked havoc with their families and finances? Where are the stories from people who went into bankruptcy because of medical bills? Where are the stories about the Malkins of the world who attacked children during the last S-CHIP debate and staked out their houses because they dared speak of needing health care? (That goes to the question of free speech: those who the Malkins and Beck's despise, they seek to shut down, including children.)

We are the Party of the People. We should be letting those people speak. We should be showing families on TV who need this reform to go through or they stand to lose everything they have worked for in life. We need to show the refuseniks of the health care industry; those people who can't buy coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

We need to trust the people and trust that we are on the right side of morality and history here. This is not a policy debate for wonks where what matters is who can link to the wonkiest source. This is a fight to save the lives and financial security of millions of ordinary Americans who "play by the rules" and are getting burned in return. We are their champions and their voice. We need to speak up and tell their stories, not let demagogues like Palin take over the conversation with lies.

My answer to my own poll would be OTHER. I feel that the chances for a public option, despite what we read on the blogs, was always about 50/50. I thought that last year and I think the chances have fallen slightly since then. However, I also think that this is the best chance we might have for another 40 years to put restrictions on the health care industry and how they allocate coverage and I do NOT want to see that chance slip away. So, I could support the plan without a public option, but it HAS to have other reforms in it.

And I really wish the debate on our side was about the people, not the wonk. Wonk doesn't get us allies, personal stories do.