According to the Rude Pundit, the AHIP report contains this gem:
Premiums in the large group market for family coverage will increase from average of about $13,900 in 2010 to approximately $23,500 in 2019 in the absence of reform and $26,200 if these reforms become law
Excuse me? This is their argument against reform? In the absence of reform, premiums will go up ten thousand dollars? Did they not just give the reform movement a free gift of all the ammunition it needs?
I know about the $13,900. I'm paying something like that. That's why my standing position on single payer is
Tax increase? Single payer will increase my taxes? Go ahead and double my g*d d**n income tax, and give me free health care. I win. Let's go home.
But doesn't the AHIP message make it clear even to everybody who has missed Sicko, who missed the whole debate, who missed everything up to now, that we the insured are totally out of luck, they the insurers are totally out of control, and nothing short of a massive government intervention is going to allow anybody to have any kind of health coverage?
Doesn't this make it clear to every teabagger and every fearer of bureaucrats? The insurance companies don't want your contributions. They don't want a fair slice of your budget. They are going all in. They will raise every bet you place. They want your chip stack.
They want everything.
They want your house and your car and your stereo too.
Geebus.
Oh, George Carlin too.
Might as well throw in a moment of "Wake Up America" while I'm at it. Although I suppose this audience has already memorized it.
They want more! They want more! They want more!