So . . . maybe we *should* open up the debate on health care

[Stinky The Clown]

According to a WaPo poll the other day, the opposition to the idea is about 30%. That number coincides with the high water mark of Tea Baggers and hard core repubicans. another 25% favor keeping it sort of as it is right now, while nearly 45% favor expanding it and doing some form of single payer or "public option" (whatever the fuck the voodoo words "public option" are supposed to mean).

Of course, just because the people want something is no reason to think the our elected representation, mostly in the pockets and the thrall of the opposition on health care reform, will provide that to us.

But it sure would be nice to hear the debate start anew and in the face of recent calls for civility.

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

[HopeHoops]

1. Fuck it. Why should I pay for anyone ELSE to get health care? Let them die in the streets.

:sarcasm:

I know, I know. You've heard it before.

[Davis_X_Machina]

4. The first half of that statment...

...is the nub of the anti-mandate argument, which you can hear not just at RedState or Free Republic, but here, repeated ad infinitum. The only place the Kill the Bill/Shit Sandwich crowd on he left and the tea-baggers on the right differ is on the second half. Glad you added the sarcasm tag.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. You're hitting a lot of very diffeernt people with your overly broad brush.

The right dislikes the bill for VERY different reasons than "the left" as you so disdainfully call them.

[Davis_X_Machina]

12. They differ only in the reason why..

...and would both be content if ACA went away tomorrow.

[Ozymanithrax]

2. The only debate in the House will be...

whether to revoke the job killing health care act, or whether to revoke obamacare because it will kill jobs.

That is both sides.

[philly_bob]

3. Hmm. What was that other idea -- pringle saver?

Oh yes, single payer. It's cheaper and does away with the compulsory aspect of current law. If the Republicans want to go back to the drawing board, single payer and public option should be on the table.

The American public may be a little less prone to panic and manipulation this time, Stinky.

[kctim]

5. Single-payer is compulsory

especially if it is going to work.

[supernova]

6. Except single payer is still compulsory

Everybody buys into it, though the cost:reward ratio is a whole lot better than to a private insurance firm.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. We can only hope

Hence my ever hopeful OP.

[philly_bob]

15. I have betrayed my ignorance of how single payer works.

Yes, single-payer is compulsory. Thanks for correction.

However I suspect the difference in my sense of how "compulsory" the plans are is this: current plan requires individual consumer to separately buy a policy from a private insurance company, while single-payer does it through taxation.

It's like being forced to buy a borrowing card from a book company compared to being taxed to pay for a public library.

However, I can't really say too much on this. Sadly, in the last go-round, single-payer was squelched so early that I never heard it debated on its merits.

[sabrina 1]

7. If we could use the Teabaggers to get what the majority of

Americans wanted in the first place, a National Health Care system, or failing that, at least a Public Option, why not use them?

But what is that THEY want? I haven't really seen anything from them on the subject.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. And you won't.

They just want the black guy gone. They're useful idiots to the right wing ideologues and institutional racists.

[sabrina 1]

11. I am aware of what and who they are.

I'm just wondering if there is a way to use them the way liberals are used when it's necessary.

[onethatcares]

13. well, since they won't listen to us citizens directly we would

need to have a strong voice in the Congress, someone like max bachus (nah,not him, he's on the payroll), to stand in front of the cameras and say,

"we will gut the existing bill of the ability for parents to keep their children on their healthcare until they are 26 as long as those children are

able to obtain coverage under a national healthcare service administration"

But that will never ever happen, but at least we got a foot in the door or at least a toenail. I think we need someone with a loud voice to shout out

the fact that republicans are trying to turn back time and take away something everyone needs in front of the CAMERAS. It does no good if the muttering

goes on behind closed doors or is only available in the newspapers. It has to be broadcast as an informercial during "hoarders" or "american pickers" or

the nfl playoffs..

Trust me, I was pissed off that we didn't get a larger part of healthcare made available to every American, but now I see we finally got something which

will gradually increase. Now if we can just save Social Security and Medicare.

[spanone]

14. don't be fooled. republicans want to kill it. not debate & reform.