Reply #12: I voted yes. I would prefer a public option, but as I have mentioned

[beachmom]

in other threads, Holland has no public insurance, yet there is universal health care and a system that works well. And I think that the public option was being used as the be all end all of the reform bill, which it never was. Now without that "fallback" they will have to deal with the difficult issues of re-existing conditions and cost barriers to those who do not have health insurance head on, instead of pretending a "public option" would have solved all of those problems.

But I suppose health care reform may collapse because I think there are progressives in the House who said they would not vote for the bill without a public option. I always agreed with Sen. Kerry not to make such a pledge.