I am really trying to support President Obama in his bid to reform America's healthcare system. I've overlooked the broken promise on transparent negotiations for healthcare. I'm trying to get on board with the First Lady's argument that the Baucus bill is a "reasonable" bill, but I am having challenges making sense of why the Democrats are compromising where there seems to be no need to compromise.
For months now, I've been fighting for healthcare reform. I've been attending and speaking at ralllies, meeting with legislative aides, circulating petitions, participating in demonstrations and making presentations before small groups about the issue of healthcare reform.
I am a proponent of Single Payer. My values and my experience direct me to the conclusion that when our health and well-being are involved, there is no room for the interference of a for-profit entity. Our health and well-being are not commodities to be used to generate bonuses and profits for insurance company executives and their investors. Be that as it may, I have been willing to accept the public option as a compromise that will ensure that we have a choice other than relying only on insurance companies for access to healthcare. I bought into the argument that with a public option we can provide an alternative that will provide quality care for a reasonable rate, and serve as competition for the insurance industry. President Obama, you sold me on that argument. Why are you dropping it now?
Could it be that the Congressional Budget Office figures are correct - there is no way to enact the healthcare reforms you stood for without adding to our national deficit? Perhaps the public option would significantly add to that deficit? Could that be it?
Or perhaps you have heard from the American Medical Association that many physicians strenuously object to a public option on the grounds that this would likely reduce their reimbursement rate? Or is the lack of primary care physicians your concern? What is it?
Maybe you cannot garner enough Democratic votes to pass a bill with a public option. I understand that some Democrats were elected from conservative districts. You are thinking ahead to 2010 and 2012. We need to keep a Democratic congress. Is that it?
By jove, I think I have it! You are really serious about tamping down the rancor inside the beltway. You truly want some Republicans to sign on to the bill, so giving up the public option was a way to achieve your goal of bipartisanship.
So the upshot of all my questions is this: why are you dropping the same public option that you sold to so many of the American people? Why are you supporting a bill that will enslave us to the health insurance industry?
Just tell us why so that we can decide if your rationale is acceptable to us.