Because they KNOW they cannot compete with the efficiency and scale of the new competitor on the block. It's really hard to compete with a non-profit government solution when you have to pay your CEO hundreds of millions, all the VP's and consultants need some blood money too, and the shareholders need their dividends or their stock portfolio's might suffer.
Grandma is sick. They will gladly throw you and her under the bus. They NEED their profits to live in Mansions burning plastic for heat with their big smokestacks producing propaganda like "Death Panels" or "Communism" or "Obama = Hitler" much like the Native Americans used to send smoke signals.
I smell smoke. Where there is smoke, there is fire!
Hey, how about co-op's? A weak un-organized approach that might work after 20 years of refining the model. Heck, they would need to create them, come up with a plan, find employees with experience (NOT). Provide less than great service and fail in the marketplace thus leaving Private health care all the money.
Hello! The government already has the infrastructure to implement the public option! It's called Medicare and it has very high approval ratings. Medicare scares the entrepreneurs! Its a Socalist Communist Fascist Death Panel approach for eliminating old people that does not involve ovens. HELLO!!!!!
IS THERE ANYBODY IN THERE? The right is using WWII propaganda tactics.
This is all about MONEY! It's about Murder by Spreadsheet! Dividends and bonuses vs. Grandma!
Without a public option we will have no change.
I understand that Obama might well be floating a trial balloon hoping for us to cover his back with support but the Barack Obama I donated cash to, the Barack Obama I volunteered for would have never considered anything short of REAL HEALTH CARE REFORM!
If, at the end of this process, we do not have Change, I think I will forever be jaded about grass roots and people power. Perhaps I'll have to start a business. I'll call it Soylent Green Inc. I'll feed the world with it and I'll be rich.