When I saw the news that Blue Cross Blue Shield in California was raising it's premiums 39%, my first thought wasn't "What can the gov't do about it?", but "Why the hell is anyone still their customer?"
If Allstate told me my car insurance was going up 39%, 5 minutes later I'd be calling State Farm, American Family, Geico. They're a private company, and I can withdraw my business. Allstate knows this, which is why my car insurance DOESN'T go up 39%.
That is what the government should be doing. Enabling every BCBS customer in California the access to the free market that American capitalism is all about. And make the GOP choke on it.
Repeal the anti-trust exemptions. Take every other impediment preventing customers from moving their business to a lower cost competitor, put them in a single bill, put Freedom in the name and put it to a vote. Now. Not next month, not next year after months of worthless debate and teabag infested townhalls. Now.
Put it on the floor and put it to a vote. Either the GOP believes in the free market or they don't. Call out the corrupt and bribed members of Congress to go on the record of voting against free market competition. Make them vote to support monopolies and collusion. BCBS would not be jacking premiums 39% if they knew they'd lose all their customers. Make that a reality.
This is the foundation of the reform effort. If you can't get this to a vote, then you can't lead.
If you get a sob story that competion won't work, remind the GOP that an unregulated monopoly is a grave threat to capitalism. If the monopoly must remain, then it must be regulated. Make them choke on that. At this point you have a straight shot to the public option to provide the competition the free market failed to, with public opinion at your back. Dare the teabaggers to oppose free market capitalism.
By everything the GOP claims to hold dear, there should be massive bipartisan agreement on this. Every single Bluedog, Lieberman included, should vote Yes if America means a damn to them. If you still can't get reform, then at least you know who's on your side, and who's bought and paid for.
P.S. Since I'm not writing an astronomy diary as well, if it's a clear night and you're not drowning in light pollution, look up at the glory that is the Orion group, with Mars joining in. The most beautiful patch of sky there is all year.