I know what I am about to say might get me tarred and feathered but try to keep it civil. Whether or not we get a public option the healthcare bill the bill could still be meaning full and we should not immediately call for the bill to be struck down.
These are some random healthcare thoughts that have been in my head for the past few days.
Just to be clear I am in favor of a public option and I am a PROUD LIBERAL
On the public option debate Conservatives are opposed it because they are afraid that it will WORK. A government program working better then a private company would we a shock to there system they would not be able to handle it.
Liberals won't support a bill with out it because we are afraid (even though no one will admit it) that the bill could work with out it.
On the final bill. There can still be meaningful change with out the public option. If you were told in 2000 that a Democratic President and a Democratic Congress can get a bill that banned excluding people because of pre existing conditions and can't cancel coverage if someone gets sick we all would have JUMPED at that idea.
Millions of Americans can't get healthcare because of pre-existing conditions. Getting rid of this practice from insurance companies will be meaningful change for many people. I do not think that in this debate liberals should minimize this kind of change that it will mean for those who have pre existing conditions. My mother had cancer a few years back and lost her job last fall. The insurance runs out this May and my mother might not be able to get heath insurance after May because they might consider it a pre-excising condition.
We should CONSIDER the trigger the Senator Snowe is purposing. CONSIDER it do not immediate condemn it with out hearing the facts.
In all the honors and praise we gave the late Ted Kennedy the reason he was successful was because he was willing to compromise. Compromise has been a tradition in America since the dawn of are nation. Some have been good others not so much.
So all I am saying is lets in the honor of Ted Kennedy COOL OUR JETS and see what a bill without a public option looks like it STILL CAN WORK.
To be a pure liberal who is unwilling to comprise will not get us anywhere.