It's OVER: Dems agree to drop gov't-run insurance option

[cynatnite]

WASHINGTON – Democratic senators say they have a tentative deal to drop a government-run insurance option from health care legislation. No further details were immediately available.

But liberals and moderates have been discussing an alternative, including a private insurance arrangement to be supervised by the federal agency that oversees the system through which lawmakers purchase coverage. Additionally, talks centered on opening up Medicare to uninsured Americans beginning at age 55, a significant expansion of the large government health care program that currently serves the over-65 population.

Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa told reporters he didn't like the agreement but would support it to the hilt in an attempt to pass health care legislation.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091209/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul

[muntrv]

1. I say go forward with Medicare for All.

[cynatnite]

4. If the medicare expansion is true, then it's a good first step...

although, this still leaves a huge segment of our population without coverage.

[tsuki]

6. I have read that the surrendercrats have caved on expanding

medicaid and medicare buy-in. http://firedoglake.com/

[endless october]

15. agree.

+1

[sendero]

2. Without that..

... or a good substitute, this bill is why bother.

[tsuki]

8. Why bother? Because it is a big payday for the insurance companies,

and Congress really does not miss 122 Americans a day. Hey, they got theirs, socialized medicine.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. I think lowering hte Medicare age is a good start

toward that dreaded "single payer" thing that the Republicans hate so much. This may be a cloud with a silver lining.

[Bleacher Creature]

10. I'm hearing that it will be meaningless.

Basically, it will lower the Medicare age for people who are uninsured, and the way that you prove lack of insurance will be so restrictive that it will cover just about nobody. This came from Daily Kos.

This sucks.

[mdmc]

5. k/r

for the horror of it all..

[debbierlus]

7. They dropped that a LONG time ago, my friend.

[HughMoran]

11. Growl!

Snarl!

[bluestateguy]

9. I have always supported Medicare for all

This, like the public option, could be the basis for gradually rolling back the age limit for Medicare (55, then 50, then 45, creep, creep, drip, drip) to eventually nothing.

Wasn't the appeal of public option always that it could be the basis for an eventual single payer plan, albeit gradually? This approach could gradually achieve that goal too, AND it's fairer to people who might be 55 years old but living in a Red state that is otherwise "opted out" by Harry Reid's bill.

[sandnsea]

13. People are mandated to have coverage

But they've eliminated the medicaid expansion, eliminated the public option, the senate subsidies are awful, and now this? It's not going to be $100 a month like it is for those over 65. This is just a means to make empty nesters pay a fortune to subsidize the rising cost of Medicare. It's bullshit is what it is.

If these blue dogs will agree to expanding Medicare to those over 55, then why the hell not to everybody. It makes no sense. There's a snake in the grass somewhere.

[cynatnite]

21. I think those that are under 55 and without coverage will be sent to the insurance companies...

probably a co-op of sorts. That's my guess.

[sandnsea]

12. Why right wingers say to leave govt out of it

This is getting pretty close to worse than no change at all. They need to remove the mandate if they're going to remove the safety nets.

[msongs]

14. smashing victory for republicans as majority party collapses into nothingness? nt

[asdjrocky]

16. The Senate is completely and totally broken.

It does not at all reflect the needs or desires or the vast majority of the American people. They are fully owned and operated by their corporate sponsors.

People talk about change, people talk about revolution, this is where it would have to begin.

[jm9487]

22. Agreed

It is the time we true owners of our republic make a stand. Our system of governing has clearly demonstrated its inability to serve those it swears to protect. It's not about parties, its not about red or blue. Since when has America become a country that treats even the tiniest of a fraction of its own people as second class citizens? As history tells, when the power governing a people steers them wrong, eventually justice prevails. Eventually a revolution occurs, in which the people are liberated, and only the people can provoke such an event.

[asdjrocky]

25. See that's the thing.

They swear, for whatever that is worth for people of little true conviction to anything other than the dollar, not to protect us, but they swear to protect the Constitution, that's the key.

Don't protect me. Let me have my rights. Let me have a fair share of the nations wealth and health. Stay out of women's wombs, stay out of people's bedrooms and get off my back if I want to smoke a joint.

See it's the protection thing that gets me all screwed up. The people have more to fear from the police than they do of any "terrorist" any where in the world.

[jm9487]

28. Taken

Yes I completely agree with you that we Americans are more threatened by our own government than any exterior threat. The police force is meant to SERVE the citizens, not put fear into them. And in my previous statement, I mean to say protection of our rights as human beings and as citizens.
Drug laws are an insult to the foundation of our country, a man or woman is allowed to participate in any action they choose as long as it does not infringe upon another citizens rights. Now some laws do cover this premise, such as the illegal act of driving drunk because in that case, you do infringe on other rights to safety. But under no circumstance should putting any chemical into your body that does not effect another human be illegal, it violates the very rights promised to us by our constitution. That also suits the gay marriage conflict in our country, people have the right to be intimate with whomever they choose as long as its mutual. How does this choice by a person effect another person? That's the question that needs to be asked. And the answer is it simply does not. Religion has deemed homosexuality and bi-sexuality immoral, evil, and unacceptable. If we humans lived by logic and nature we would know that homosexuality is a natural occurrence in a species.
The abortion conflict is another matter, I am pro-choice because who am I to make that decision for someone? But I do see the oppositions argument as well to an extent that it is a still a human although a human in early development, but a human in early development is still allowed its rights as a human. There has to be a line drawn in which a human's life is considered too far progressed to be aborted and which their rights are sustained. On the contrary, if you kick a man in the balls and prevent him from having children you are in a sense killing a human that has yet to be conceived. Although it is only part of the particles needed to create a human, it is still an elementary particle of the process as is a growing child (although a more progressed particle) in a womb who has both male sperm and female eggs. Sigh... I could go on for hours.

[SandWalker1984]

17. Doesn't matter if the blue team or red team screws you, you're still screwed!

With the drop of public options and MANDATES to buy insurance -- only the private insurance corporations will benefit.

Fines if you cannot afford the insurance.

Even prison terms are possible.


The Democrats are getting ready to pass the

Corporate Health Insurance Profits Protection Act,

not health care reform.


We're about to be screwed!

[Dinger]

19. Nader Was Right After All (nt)

[jm9487]

18. Tyranny

Do these representatives think nothing of the people they serve? People are suffering, people are losing the right of equal opportunity to one of the major foundations of the free world, the right to life. They seem to hold no regard for well being of the citizens in which they represent, only in their own interests and thoughts. Much like the rulers of the world prior to America founding equal freedom and liberty for ALL. How do people with such low integrity become the leaders of our country? Man cannot be trusted with power.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

20. Water is wet. Democrats cave.

[cynatnite]

23. Stupid me is still hopeful. n/t

[flvegan]

24. Can someone fix my memory? Didn't we WIN congress, too?

Sure as fuck doesn't feel like it.

[branders seine]

26. I'm pretty old. Depending on its cost, the Medicare expansion

probably benefits me.

Nevertheless, I detest this monstrosity they are pretending is "reform."

[blues90]

27. It was over before it began .

It was a one year long sick joke and did nothing but help the corporations who own the reps. The money spent debating this crap could have paid for one years Ins.

[LeftHander]

29. Obama needs to veto....

Public Healthcare or nothing.

Point the finger square at the REPUBLICANS.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

30. Allegedly, the Dems have a "secret plan."

lol