A health care reform bill with no public option will have been gutted of any chance at actually reforming the system. The best that can possibly remain would be temporary concessions by industries that have a vested interest in the status quo.
If, as it seems, I and the progressives have been sold out on the public option, I will have lost a great deal of respect for this President.
I just sent this to the White House, and am hoping that, if you feel the same, you will follow up with one also:
Mr. President,
I read this morning, with outrage, the potential shift in position at the White House towards giving up the public option in favor of health insurance cooperatives.
Why this surrender now? During the August recess? No one is at the negotiating table right now, and you were just beginning to make headway with the American people after the discrediting of the town hall crowd. To cave on this issue will give Republicans something for nothing. What have they indicated they are willing to compromise on? Where is their attempt at bipartisanship?
You have a 60 seat majority in the Senate, and a 78 seat majority in the House. You have 60% approval ratings with the American public. For the love of God, when are we going to be Democrats?
Health insurance co-ops aren't cooperatives - they are designed to be co-opted by the insurance and pharmaceutical industries and reform opponents as soon as possible, and certainly when you are no longer in office. They are vehicles for manipulation of the system. What evidence or examples do you have that co-ops will work? As opposed to public, government programs such as Medicare that have proven track records?
Passing health care reform legislation that has little chance at reforming the system is an empty cause. There are simply some principles which you will have to take a stand on, or else be remembered as the mediocre President with great potential who did not achieve what he was capable of. This is one of those issues.
I am hoping this is just a negotiating tactic. I am hoping I did not just get sold out by the man I campaigned for, donated more than I could afford to, and witnessed the inauguration of. Because if I did, then I can't convey in words the depth of my disappointment. I would rather have no health reform at all than abandon the public option.
I am requesting that, as my President, you veto any reform legislation that does not include a strong public option as a central part of it.
Sincerely,
Brett Dillahunt
Here's the link to the White House contact page.