What are we willing to accept?
Since reading Greg Sargent's bit on Rahm Emanuel's statement at a recent meeting with liberal groups where Rahm said "We are 13 and 0 going into healthcare", I have caught myself thinking about that from time to time ever since.
I find this to be a philosophical debate about HC and one where there is little if no room for compromise once you have made your decision on the best course. What kind of healthcare reform that is passed, or none at all, will probably have a profound effect on our lives. Obama said today in Portmouth that we pay an average of 6,000 dollars per year more than other countries ahead of us on the WHO ranking list of national health care systems. 6,000 dollars a year?? What could we do with that money, if slowly but surely our payments began to drop. Imagine just half that amount being available to each of us? What could we do with that to improve our lives? I'll stop there before I show too much more of my hand.
More and more I feel this debate is along the lines of a minor "civil" war and it's understandable that the HI private companies are going to throw everything they can at it to stop it or at least minimize the effects that would occur to the private industry. At times it seems like a game of chicken and I want my president to make a decision on what's right, just and best, then state it loud and clear and hammer it home until it sticks or it doesn't. This not an issue where meeting in the middle just to chalk another W up is at all acceptable. (And now I've shown my whole hand.)
So with so much at stake my poll question is what are we willing to live with?
Do you want Obama to go "all-in" on a strong public option and not sign any legislation without it?
Would you be willing to accept a weakened public option or co-ops as a way to make sure some legislation is passed, possibly with bi-partisan support?
I am not wise in the ways of gov't. so I'm sure there are other things to consider, but I just wanted to see if broken down to 2 choices where our community stands. I'd be interested to hear from readers more educated than me on what other possibilities there are and other points worth consideration.
Thanks for reading my first post.