Alan Grayson introduces Public Option Act
Alan Grayson came to the House Floor today to introduce the Public Option Act, which would allow all Americans to buy into Medicare at cost. The bill is 4 pages long, and calls for an unsubsidized option for any American to choose Medicare over private insurers.
The bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish enrollment periods, coverage guidelines, and premiums for the program. Because premiums would be equal to cost, the program would pay for itself.
“The government spent billions of dollars creating a Medicare network of providers that is only open to one-eighth of the population. That’s like saying, ‘Only people 65 and over can use federal highways.’ It is a waste of a very valuable resource and it is not fair. This idea is simple, it makes sense, and it deserves an up-or-down vote,” Congressman Grayson said.
I have doubts that this bill will get to a vote anytime soon, but it gives me hope that we'll move in the direction of a Medicare expansion, and it certainly offers a solid goal for progressives to embrace going forward. I have always believed this is the right public option, rather than creating a brand new bureaucracy. However, the Medicare infrastructure needs some work before the doors can be thrown open to everyone. Those remodels are already in the Senate bill, in the form of innovation, streamlining, electronic health records and outcomes-based medicine. The Medicare reforms are robust, meaningful, and will make Medicare the most viable public option of all.
More significantly, Grayson's introduction of this bill right now invites Dennis Kucinich to stand down on his opposition to the Senate bill. Grayson isn't introducing this bill as a symbolic gesture. There's no question that the public option, as debated over the past year, has traction and is popular, especially when framed as a Medicare buy-in. By making it a separate initiative, Grayson unbundles it from the Senate bill and gives both an opportunity to pass.
Whether it passes this year or not, it's a magnificent and savvy political move on Grayson's part. Let's hope Kucinich picks up the cue, moves the ball down the field instead of picking up the goalposts and heading home.
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4 pages long
public option
none of the bs
too bad it wont pass
that demotion
Has Harry Reid stuck his head out of the lavatory to state where he stands on this?
What about the Gang of 35? Or is it 36? Or 37?
Is the chambermaid in on this, or has she taken it off the table so she can dust?
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/413utLV...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
pulled his out of his.....
Ah, why bother...?
The republicans and blue dogs will insist it needs to be at least 5,000 pages before they even consider it.
all the corrupt politicians in the room on both sides of the isle.
Goodnight, Frau Blücher
!!
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
WE ALL NED TO MAKE THE CALL, RIGHT NOW, TODAY, SUPPORT THIS PLAN!
DO IT NOW.
It's too bad we can't simply go to "PublicOptionAct.gov", scroll down to our age and see how much the monthly premium would be.
What if you happen to be one of those 45,000,000 who don't have insurance now, mostly because you can't afford to pay the premium AND the rent AND food AND the car payment so you can get to work?
What then?
I'm five years short of using Medicare. I feel I've already worked for 30 years and have contributed plenty to it already!
How about we cut the military budget and use the savings to pay for healthcare in this country? I dare Grayson to introduce THAT four pager!
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
and use the savings to pay for healthcare in this country? I dare Grayson to introduce THAT four pager!
I'll vote for that!
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
Has my vote too!!!
. In fact just cutting out the nuclear bomber fleet, now redundant, would pay for a good chunk of universal health care coverage.
the man is presidential material
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
!!
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
doesn't seem to toady to corporations and power.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
Does that mean it won't pass?
..
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
It won't even get a vote. But if I were in Alan's position I would propose the same thing - just to show what should be done.
Perhaps if we still exist as a nation 100 years from now, people like Grayson and Kucinich will at least get an honorable mention in some civics books. And some ballsy instructor will include an "extra-extra credit" question with their names as the answer.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
the state of Texas gets to decide the content of school textbooks.
wins again and takes his stupid state and secedes. Then we can call Texas a foreign country and not allow their textbooks into the US of A.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
As long as we don't have to give them foreign aid.
I wonder...
it is not the President's job or place to introduce bills into the Senate.
It's not his place to lead.
is part of the Executive Branch. It is the Legislative Branch that makes law.
Overstepping the boundaries of the Constitution is not leadership.
Didn't the White House just release a version of the bill they want to push through?
They could have done something like this, but simply didn't want too.
That last 'too' in your post is actually a 'to'. And he's trying to avoid looking like a tyrant to the republicans. They've claimed that every effective president since Wilson was a tyrant.
Yeah, the White House released a version of the bill that they want passed, now that the Legislature is at loggerheads, yeah. But not before.
you"r kding me write?
Even I might like this.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
Grayson is what you get when a politician doesn’t care about getting re-elected or lobbyists’ money. Take the campaign away from the mix, and you usually get what is right.
he is a millionaire in his own right. Unfortunately, principled politicians can only do that these days if they have their own money--that's why Campaign Finance Reform and a restrictive constitutional amendment (thank you, SCOTUS) are now essential if we ever want to "take our country back" from the corporations.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
I thought most, if not all, senators are millionaires. Even multimillionaires.
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/...
but it wasn't always like that. And if we ever get a decent campaign finance reform law and put amendments in the Constitution to curb that stupid thing SCOTUS passed, we can get principled but poor people to run for office again. Nowadays, when Congresscritters have to raise $200,000 a day from day 1 just to get reelected....well, when would they ever have time to govern?
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
they become millionaires very quickly.
talk about getting shit done!
It is way past time that someone did something for America not just Americas rich!
republicanism/conservatism is a mental illness it has killed the economy, almost the country and ruined millions of lives!
j/k.
WTF is the Democratic party doing? Why are they trotting this stuff out now after a year of demolishing a bill that had things like this in it to begin with? Same thing with Kucinich, who is great btw, but they have the HR-676 for single payer and NOW these things are getting attention? NOW after Congress and the White House has pretty-much decided to push through the Insurance Company Welfare Act (HCR)?? Sounds like some politicians just trying cover their butts when they go back to their constituents and say "See? I tried!"
WTF is the Democratic party doing?
Playing politics. They'll let this bill hang around through the elections, then it will quietly fade away.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
of demolishing a bill that had things like this in it to begin with?
Grayson & Kucinich are mavericks (hate that word, but it applies here) who do what they think is right for the country and the American people without regard for "politics" and campaign contributions to their war chests. Anthony Weiner of NY is another who does not let petty politics get in his way. Unfortunately, there are so few of them in the Congress. Most are greedy, grasping corporatists who are only concerned with keeping their seats and getting lots of money--not what is good for the country or the American people. Too bad.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
Primary Grayson.
Barack Obama: Change we can only imagine
Unlike Kucinich, Grayson is actually trying to do something productive.
The only man who tried to begin the impeachment process against Bush.
He's fighting for the people tooth and nail. I wish there were more Dennises and Alan in Congress.
NOBODY 2012
Kucinich introduced single payer in 2007.
Edit: and again in 2009.
DK--RIP.
huh?
Markos understands what Grayson is trying to do. Markos is not a Democratic corporatist like Rahm Emanuel and most of the people involved in the healthcare boondoggle. Unfortunately, Obama is ill-served by his aides....I think if it were up to him, we would have already had a single payer system--or at least a public option. Sad days for idealists.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
"Unfortunately, Obama is ill-served by his aides....I think if it were up to him, we would have already had a single payer system--or at least a public option."
I mean, this is the same argument used to absolve Bush for Rumsfeld's screw-ups. Obama obviously knows what's going on, and the idea that the world would change if not for Rahm Emanual ignores the obvious.
Bush...and, no, I don't think the world would change if Rahm went back to ballet, but it might be easier for Obama to relate to his own idealism and try to fulfill the promises he made for HOPE and CHANGE, instead of giving us HYPE and CHAGRIN.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
Idealism, eh?
I think I lost a bit of respect for him when he said that single payer wasn't any sort of option (with zero reasoning behind it, since it cuts costs and fulfills the dream of health coverage for all). More respect lost when he bargained away collective bargaining for pharmaceuticals.
Seriously, we could have elected any corporate shill, why couldn't this guy have at least made the effort to appear different after the election?
these days of instant media and the internet, NOBODY can get elected without taking big bucks from corporations, and when they do that, they're beholden, no matter what their principles. The halcyon days of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington are long gone....if they ever were. The perfect solution only exists in the movies.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
Blogs, public funding, and term limits will chill things out for a while. Too bad the latter two will never happen. We can all just move to other countries and leave them to it.
if you have a solid public option that is in full-force in the immediate future, the insurance industry will collapse, taking the economy with it. I think that Grayson's plan is the ideal transistional bridge between having private insurance and getting rid of the monkey on our back that is for-profit insurance.
Look at Germany and Switzerland; the for-profit insurance companies could easily transition into supplemental policies. Besides, even if a public option were available tomorrow, many people wouldn't be quick to jump out of their employer-provided health insurance, which is the bulk of the market.
Finally, even if the for-profit health insurance companies collapsed, they wouldn't take the economy with it. Right now 15% of our GDP goes to healthcare, and that number is rising. If all of the sudden we turn that into 10%, a lot more opportunity will exist for small business. And international businesses will suddenly be a lot more competitive.
Seamless change would be great, but change is essential.
wasn't it markos who originally said after the dem senators voted for their bill that it wasn't woth voting for? or maybe it was before the vote he wanted none of them to vote for it without the PO. his call for a primary challenge against kucinich is wrong, at least he sticks to his word
Markos is a mess. Walking down the center is fine...IF he fancies himself a journalist.
The problem is he has no feel for politics and most time just spews the latest talking points. His problems start when he tries applying his twisted logic and naivete to decipher those points.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
But maybe they should get on the same page. Conyers bill (HR676 submitted with Kucinich and 29 others) has been out there since late January. If they really want to derail the president's crappy HCR "Deal", then there needs to be some cohesion. I just don't see the need for a public option if there is single payer. I could be wrong.
And if you feel the opposite, like public option is more important (or better chance of success) than single payer, then OK, Conyers and Kucinich and the others should get on board with Grayson. Whatever. Diversity of ideas is what makes the Democratic Party better than the goose-stepping twits on the other side, but at some point, they need to agree on a plan and stick to it.
I don't know. I would like to hear a debate on HR 676 vs HR 4789. This is what should be debated, tossed about - rather than silly talking points like "death panels" or "socialism".
for all those silly talking points, and fault the American people for being so guillible that they accept them. Luntz is the most dangerous man in America because his sole purpose is to screw around with political language and scare the hell out of the American public for the benefit of the greedy, grasping Rethuglicans and their ilk. Words DO matter.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
Give Us Healthcare or
Give Us Weed
(Then we won't care...)
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
we'll still care
Sorry YSB, but Rep. Alan Grayson's "Public Option Act" has just about the same chance of passing as does a re-legalization of marijuana (or repeal of ALL drugs prohibitions) -- it would hurt the bottom line of private for-profit corporations with a vested interest in either maintaining the status quo, or being even more repressive.
In fact, some of the very same Crony Capitalism beneficiaries of one is adversely affected by the other -- Big Pharma. Marijuana is listed as a Schedule 1 drug: a dangerous, hazardous (and illicit) drug with no medical value, highly addictive, and whose (legal) use would pose a high degree of abuse. Making any sense ?? How about, none at all ?? Big Pharma cannot abide any plant that could be grown in anyone's herb garden, be it marijuana or poppies or magical mushroom, that might wean the American people off of their toxic stew of deadly dangerous pharmaceuticals. Even the US government has a patent on the medical use of marijuana -- US Patent # 6630507 --, so Prohibition II is based upon something other than scientific reality -- repression. Repression of minorities and their intoxicants of choice, repression of an effective anti-war movement, and a steady chipping away at the Bill of Rights and individual freedom -- that is what it's all about.
President "Tricky Dick" Nixon established the Shafer Commission as a means of striking back at those "dirty hippies" that opposed the Vietnam War, but instead of confirming Nixon's new "war", the Shafer Report recommended legalizing marijuana. This scientific study was shelved, and the "War on Drugs" commenced. "Tricky Dick" Nixon also kicked off the war against proper medical care in the USA, establishing the legality of the Health Maintenance Organization (an oxymoron). When he was told that companies could make big money from denying healthcare to patients, he stated "That sounds like a good idea." Thus began Kaiser Permanente.
Now the USA has militarized police (SWAT teams), warrant-less wiretapping, draconian asset seizure laws, and victimless drug users serving 20 year (or even life) prison sentences -- all thanks to the GOP, who started it all. Fascism -- the "gift" that keeps on giving, regardless of party affiliation these days.
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-- John F. Kennedy
Go back a little further. The Harrison Act of 1914 criminalized it. The 1937 Marijuana Tax Act started a big mess (and bad precedent). After that the Boggs Act and the Narcotics Control Act of the 1950's contributed to the fear (REEFER!).
It's been going on for a while.
but it was Richard M. Nixon who, in spite of new studies to the contrary (Shafer Commission Report), pushed for a "War On Drugs", and who pushed for more stringent penalties. It took the Republicans 3 more administrations to bring us to that level of fascism that exists today in support of that war: Reagan, Clinton, and Bush-43. Now even private property (RE) can be seized through civil charges (administrative forfeiture) that could never withstand the challenge of criminal court and a jury of peers. Fascism reigns supreme.
Check out [http://www.fear.org] for more info -- fascism isn't coming; it's already here.
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-- John F. Kennedy
What???
Yeah I said it, they don't know it yet, but as soon as a real PO with teeth passes the insurance companies will be dropping customers like crazy, thats their goal anyway, only big customers, no more individual or small plans, no more thousands of claims to deny, no more huge office buildings with thousands of actuaries, no more bad press for huge price increases, no more politics, no more overhead, no more grief.
Wouldn't it make sense to give them what they want?
That is exactly what Obama and the majority of the Democrats in Congress are working on -- giving Big Pharma and the Healthcare Insurance industry exactly what they want.
Subscription to for-profit healthcare insurance will be mandatory, with the full force of the USA government as enforcer and collection agent of last resort. The Federal government will financially responsible for all those with preexisting conditions, older Americans, or have exceeded their (arbitrary) annual or lifetime award cap. The Healthcare Insurance industry will be left with only the highest profit margin sector of the population -- those with few predictable health issues (until DNA screening becomes legal and mandatory).
That, in a nut-shell, is the current state of HCR in the Congress.
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-- John F. Kennedy
and well written, David762.
I had compressed the time-line intentionally for brevity's sake, but I wanted the readers to understand the connection between President RM Nixon and both the War on Drugs and the HMO issue which has turned into a debacle. I have been accused of not being brief enough from time to time, here at C&L.
;-)
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-- John F. Kennedy
was around a long time before Nixon. Most of the times Kaiser is a fairly decent organization.
for that uniquely American Crony Capitalist invention of non-profit HMO's that chew up as much as 35% of their gross proceeds as overhead. The connection between Nixon and Kaiser Permanente is real, and KP was the trail-blazer for the entire industry.
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-- John F. Kennedy
were now making the decisions regarding patient care. It has not gotten better.
IMHO, far worse actually. Now we have medical doctors serving on these HC insurance industry "death panels', who make far more money in commissions and bonuses from denying patients medical procedures than they would make as practicing physicians.
Compliance with the Hippocratic Oath is no longer in fashion. One glaring example is the American Psychiatric Association membership, who have been in bed with the CIA/DIA/NSA regarding torture since the 1950's, from MK Ultra to water-boarding and other "harsh interrogation techniques" at Abu Ghraib and CIA "black sites".
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-- John F. Kennedy
Give me limberger or give me death!
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
Give me Librium or give me Meth!
If we had more like Grayson in the Democratic Party, maybe we'd actually get some social justice out of DC.
Alas, a crowd of cowards is often stronger than a single hero.
The Senate is the real source of our problems. Highly dysfunctional - nearly worthless.
*
The Senate is ONE of our problems. I cannot even begin to count the dysfunctional traits of our government, although my favorite to rage about is lifetime appointment for the Supreme Court. WHo the hello wants a 70-something year old making decisions on new technologies and the rights they bump up against?
How's that working out? It should be a limited term, like 10 years.
need to go the way of the Dodo.
NOBODY 2012
some members of SCOTUS loath the sweaty masses.Thomas hates the common man IMO.
!!
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
You said Social Justice!
That's our Pee-Wee Beck's Playhouse word of the day.
*whistles and bells go off*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NTc4OyPHuY
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
if he wants to mount a primary challenge in 2012. I'll vote for him again if he wins it. Won't vote for Obama again.
How great would it be if someone has the balls to challenge in the primaries? I'll hope for that change! Unfortunately, the Congress is the real problem.
THE CORPORATIONS and the piles of cash they shovel into the pockets of the Congresscritters. We will never have real representation of the people until we get the wads of cash out of their mouths. That's why they can't speak for the people. And we should be working to have Supreme Court Justices VOTED FOR, not appointed. That is what is screwing up the country now....SCOTUS is now ruled by corporately owned judges and they are all in their 50s and early 60s, so we are stuck with them until they die. Not a pretty picture.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
Actually, in their 70's, 80's and 90's. The 60 somethings are the kids.
Those two fascist turds W. put on the court are in their 50's, and they will be screwing the people's will for another 30-40 years.
Now there's a happy thought.
Rush Limbaugh is what a smart person thinks a stupid bigot sounds like.
on the court....they're the ones that are the young'ns. Scalia and Thomas are in their early 60s and, of course, the Bush toadies are in their 50s. The swing guy is in his early 70s. All the libs are the old ones....if any of them kick the bucket during Obama's term, well, maybe we'll get some more libs, but that still doesn't make any difference as long as that swing guy is voting with the Cons. We are screwed.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
If you want a job done, get a real lawmaker in there.
We love us some Alan Grayson.
Contribute if you can - he's fund raising - the GOP wants him gone.
*
I'm straight, but I'd let him pick me up at a gay bar and DUI me away into the night for this.
"Gay for Grayson"? hhmmmmm - the bumper sticker might pick up a few votes in some parts of Orlando?
You might've missed the "D" after his name. So his personal life is probably exactly as he's described it.
I was just being silly. I just wish I could vote for him in 2012.
n/t
he totally lost his propriety filter and he went on Beck, for god's sake. However, did you notice that once he was on there, he did a complete 180 and told Beck it was his own fault for getting in trouble like he did? Beck was blindsided because he thought he was going to get Massa to condemn the Dems and dish the dirt on Emanuel.....I never watch Beck because my stomach isn't strong enough, but I watched an extended clip on Olbermann and the look on Beck's face during the whole thing and at the end......now, THAT was entertainment!
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
is put his hand over his mouth and STFU. Amazingly, Massa was able to make him do this and you could see the gears coming apart in little becky's head.
Great theatre.
watching Becky, so all I do is see the clips that Olbermann, Maddow & Stewart & Colbert have on.....but when he put his hand over his mouth...I expected to see his whole head come apart--you know, in that pixilated fashion like you see on a DVD when it's bad? That was one for the ages.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
He's only introducing this bill to try and get Kucinich and other progressives to support the Senate bill.
There are so many rats in the Democratic Party and the progressive movement it isn't funny. Barack Obama, Alan Grayson, Bernie Sanders, Markos Moulitsas, the list goes on and on.
Grayson already voted for the Senate bill, and the article above states that he introduced his plan to try and get progressives to support the Senate bill.
This is how rats like Grayson and operate:
- They go on TV acting like they support single payer or a public option or some other progressive idea
- They introduce a bill on the floor
- A bill written by corporations then comes to the floor
- They vote for the corporate bill and withdraw their own bill
Anyone with half a brain can see alleged progressives like Grayson and Sanders are merely trying to diffuse the anger on the left.
talking points (or whatever you guys call them) for you and your fellow Fuxbots. Glad to hear he's brought the trolls out; he must be doing something correctly.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Your statement is a good example of how the Democratic Party operates. Democrats think you either support their policies - even though their policies are written by corporations for the benefit of corporations - or else you are a Republican. It's a false dichotomy, of course, but they think all they have to do is keep repeating it over and over, and people will believe it.
Perhaps, but don't you wonder what people with a WHOLE brain see?
I do think there is something to the notion that this comes off as a sort of "I tried to get something REAL done; so dont blame me!" for his constituents. It seems all but decided that the insurance company tax-break HCR is going to be pushed through. Maybe its a genuine last-ditch effort, but if nobody jumps on board, its just a nugget for later campaign speeches. The level of cynicism is high, and rising, on the Left.
Grayson has written this in such a way that it snaps into a reconciliation bill as a perfect fit. What were you looking for, exactly? You really want to create some new shiny thing instead of opening an existing structure? As this is structured, it can go to the Senate without a filibuster. It's really quite well-executed.
Yeah, that fucking phony Grayson, speaking out for the suffering and dispossessed.
[Deleted. I'll add that the above is snark, since I am removing the contextual part of the comment as 'abusive'-Sitemonitor]
....he wouldn't be supporting a healthcare bill written by corporations.
!!
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
! Such a snarky guy.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
and I would hardly categorize him as a rat. My, my, my, and I thought I was cynical!
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
Then he withdrew his single payer plan and voted for the Senate bill, which everyone knows was written by the health insurance industry. No one who is truly a socialist would ever vote for a law that forces people to buy health insurance from private companies.
with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Don't you know that we don't have any completely principled politicians any more---nor did we ever. If we wait for perfect politicians...well, let's just say, nobody is ever gonna live that long. Sometimes we just have to take as much as we can get, and work on making the rest tolerable. Now, THAT's cynical, isn't it?
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
It forces people to buy insurance from for-profit, private companies and offers nothing in the way of price controls. It also bans the importation of cheaper drugs from Canada. Clearly the only real beneficiaries of this plan are wealthy doctors and corporations. Since when is not supporting an awful plan the same as demanding perfection?
and a Democratic Socialist,
anyway, my recollection is that he knew he wasn't going to get his single payer bill/amendment to pass but worked in a deal to add public clinics as part of the bill, i don't remember the details but the compromise was well worth it.
...If *progressives* like Sanders and Grayson were around in the 1860s. I can envision them voting for a bill that extended slavery permanently, and then claiming it was a victory for reform since it gave slaves Sundays off.
The deal was getting funding for FQHCs.
They're important, and the funding is important, but it was a bad decision in the name of political expedience.
And he withdrew his bill after the Republicans insisted that every word of every amendment had to be read aloud. It was clear they were pulling out all the stops in their obstructionism. Sanders knows the score, and he is always there for the common man.
that is not single payer, nor is it Medicare for All.
me-oww!
that would be HR 676, submitted in January.
To make it politically acceptable. It can be sold as:
1) Revenue Neutral (Does not add to the deficit)
2) Not an entitlement program
3) Cost effective
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
this is like public education. You don't get to opt out of paying taxes that support schools because you send yours to private school or don't have any. The way to keep Medicare costs down is for everyone to pay to support it, not just the ones who use it.
I doubt it will be revenue neutral or cost effective. And why doesn't war have to be revenue neutral and cost effective? shit that junk gets passed no prob bob.
nope not a good idea. I refuse to join in on the chorus of praises. It's not at all a good idea. It's based on the bullshit the insurance companies dreamed up.
me-oww!
If you pay in at cost, it's revenue neutral.
Is your objection to the "paying" part. You pay now...for public education for example...with taxes.
I see this as a far better starting point for a "public program" discussion, as it defuses the "handout" argument.
But, being the flaming liberal that I am, I would also like to see the mandate eliminated and instead have a very simple and honest "means" test to ensure that the poor have access to this program. I don't mind subsidizing those people, via a tax of some sort, as it is the right thing to do.
I'm such a horrible socialist, dontcha know.
Besides, we're doing that already.
At least under Medicare, we know that costs can be controlled somewhat.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
and I have never had kids. And yes, the paying part. I am saying everyone should pay in, not just those who use the system. I am talking about single payer, where one receives access to medical care, merely by being in the country. A system that is funded by everyone, through taxes like, as I said earlier, public education.
Not some 'pay extra' crap. Then people are cut off from access.
me-oww!
its the "public option" vs "single payer" debate. some people are happy with getting a government health insurance plan, others would rather have full universal health care. others still see the former as inevitably leading to the latter. I say lets stop playing around and jump to the universal system. it just makes the most sense.
as a way to stop the march to full access to medical care for all in the country, by creating complacency, based on getting a bone with some meaty bits to nibble on.
I won't change my mind and think that just because an outspoken guy like Grayson intro'd a piece of legislation that is automatically the bomb. Because this is not. It's a hambone with a bit of meat and marrow, and if it were to pass, that would be it for 'reform.'
me-oww!
...to a universal system because the individual provinces did on their own. I believe that's what it will take here. Step by step. You will never get single payer through the U.S. Congress in one step in a million years. Grayson's idea is the perfect compliment to the senate bill if it doesn't include a public option.
but I don't. And since it's just conjecture on the part of us both, pax! :)
me-oww!
What am I missing here?
This is a MEDICARE buyin. That's essentially a public option.
As for Universal Care, this allows everyone to buy in. As I said, I would adjust that further via a means test to allow low income and the unemployed access to the system at no cost to them.
That second part sets off the bells and whistles on the right. They'll scream socialism. That's when they should be slapped over the head with their religious and family values.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
Conservatives just aren't very religious, or are horrible hypocrites. Must have missed that part of the gospels where Jesus said "fuck off, I'm not helping you."
Unless they're preaching the Gospel of Supply Side Jesus.
http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/03/09/1...
with their religious and family values.
Unfortunately, that won't help. These people are such hypocrites, none of them have the slightest inkling of shame....their motto is "all for me, and none for thee." Selfish bastards all.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
The fact that 'they' get to determine what is a baaaaaad word and and baaaaad concept totally fries my ass. Fuck them. It's time to push back, and I don't mean by playing 'their' fucked up little games. It's enabling a shite process, and it's time it stopped.
No one should have to BUY IN, I guess is what I'm saying that you are missing, to answer your question. If people want an 'Option,' fine. Let that be that they opt to buy private insurance. The Private Option. It makes more sense, since they would be in the minority. But they're still on the hook for taxes that support access to medical for all. Just like when they opt to send the kiddies to private school. They still fund public education.
me-oww!
I hear what you are saying. My point is...this gives EVERYONE access to Medicare.
You can BUILD on that later.
Over the long haul...as happens with public programs...the "pay" piece will be eliminated.
This is a first step.
Of course we all want it all and we want it now, but that's not how it's going to work. It NEVER works that way. THIS gives EVERYONE access to Medicare. THAT is the road to the elimination of the profit motive from healthcare, and the elimination of private based insurance. The insurance companies KNOW that, and they are going to come at this bill HARD.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
I would take that over the current bill/turd mix they're trying to sell right now. In a heartbeat.
a goddamned crumb is not good enough. I think the people in this country deserve much better than this.
It gives people ACCESS to Medicare-FOR out-of-an-individual's-pocket PAY. Also I'd like to point out that Medicare is NOT single payer. There is a deductible and copays, because of the 'Parts,' including the odious Part D(ubya).
me-oww!
taxes is the price we pay for a civilized society. If anyone says they don't want to support public education because they don't have kids, don't they realize that they are supporting the education of future Americans who build the country, do R&D, govern? I am a pacifist and don't want my taxes to go to support war, but as a citizen, I realize I can't pick and choose. If anyone wants to do that, I suggest they move with Rush to his mythical perfect country where he doesn't have to support socialism....I suggest Somalia.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
And it is something that can be built on.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
again.
me-oww!
Giving it away to whom? Medicare competes with private insurance.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
Of course it would, and it would be done as a tax, which leaves the door swinging wide open for campaigns about Democrats being 'tax and spend liberals'. Grayson isn't stupid. He framed this exactly the way those supporting a public option have framed their arguments.
IMO, you can die waiting for pure single payer or find a back door. Grayson's is swinging wide open.
Really, I'm not a stupe.
I expect for it to be paid for by society as a whole. like France, Norway, Germany and the rest of those socialist nazi fascist bastard countries do. By taxes. I don't accept that healthcare is a less important expenditure that roads, firefighters, police, education or war. It is of AT LEAST equal value to the first four I listed, and of infinate value over the last.
Again, fuck the wicked right and their inaccurate demonising memes. I don't want to play "Shhh! or you'll wake the WATBs" anymore.
BTW, I've had Medicaid/Medicare since I was 48. This isn't for me.
On Edit: I will say, had I access to medical care 2-3 years earlier, instead of needing treatment and monetary support that no doubt has run close to a million dollars at this point, my problem could have been handled at the onset for probably less than 20k and I'd still be a tax-paying wage slave.
me-oww!
How on earth will the congress ever survive with men like this in their ranks. Simple,Straight forward and intelligent common sence. He sets the right example that will surely make his coworkers run him out of town on a rail.
Oh Harry and Nancy, are you seeing this the same way we are?
Ram this bill down America's throat.
Bravo Mr Grayson, now we need a bill to legalize cloning because we need many more just like this one.
The GOP is trying to destroy him.
In Florida, where Grayson is running for senate, he has higher polling numbers than all 13 Rethugs running for the GOP ticket, combined!
Most people who think for themselves recognize a true people's rep. Look at his background if you think he's just another millionaire. He was born and raised in the projects in NYC
"The believers don't like that kinda talk... don'tcha know? ;)
Study the symptoms not the virus...
is going to explode. This is so simple and should have been done a yr ago with O's encouragement.
Pass it.
It was going to be passed a year ago, albeit better, but it got clusterfucked into oblivion.
Of so-called "progressive" blogs badmouthing Kucinich all the time. He's a real liberal while all these kiss-ass corporate dems and the blue-dogs which the progressive blogs treated like rock-stars have sold liberals down the river time after time over the past year, On health care, financial regulation, the whole Obama is Mr. Change lie, they let the Dems blow away a whole year with the "super majority" and look what was accomplished: absolutely nothing, except what the Republicans wanted.
Sure, you can expect that kind of crap from the traditional left-backstabbers at Kos and Huffington BS, but I had thought after the constant stabbing in the back of Hillary and Bill, that most people would finally be over it. Guess not.
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