A cynical observation on Senators now supporting the Public Option

[grantcart]

Obviously nothing would be better or smarter for the Democrats to add the Public Option back into the HC bill. It will take out the sting that the individual mandate will inflict and it will keep a knife in the back of the insurance providers.

But I wonder if this isn't just a tactical move to try and seperate the health care industry from the Republicans.

I put health care companies in the same boat as cigarette companies, people whose business plans improve not with improving health but denying care that results in higher morbidity.

However, they are not stupid.

The Health Care Industry is heading for a collapse, as the 39% increase in premiums of Blue Anthem in California showed.

Passing a compromised second rate bill is a much better solution than passing a bill that has a PO that will lead to single payer.

All of the movement to PO seems like a gun to the heads of the HC industry to start supporting this reform or either face reform failure and an even greater reform in the future.

It would be ironic if they called the bluff and the PO was passed.

[Abq_Sarah]

1. It won't take the sting out of an individual mandate

An individual mandate is extremely problematic and would be subject to constitutional challenges.

A public option with a mandate is just another tax.

I don't know how they're going to sell it but they'd better be consulting with some savvy PR people.

[subterranean]

2. It would take some of the sting out for me.

I would object less if I knew my mandatory premiums were paying for health care instead of an insurance CEO's 7- or 8-figure salary and the insurance company's 9-figure profits. I know plenty of others feel the same way. Polls consistently show a majority of Americans support reform with a public option, but not without it.

[backscatter712]

3. My bet is that this is actually a threat to the GOP to try to make them play ball.

The threat is "Sign on to a health care bill without the public option, or we'll use reconciliation and shove through a bill with a public option."

I wish Obama would realize that we didn't vote for bipartisanship. We voted for drinking the Republicans' milkshakes. Too bad we're not getting it.

[tritsofme]

4. All this Public Option talk is an empty play to the base.

Very transparent. I don't know anyone who really believes this will be in a final bill, or that it is any way seriously "back on the table"

I really don't understand the utility in getting everyone all excited again, only to be let down when this zombie public option dies...again.

[Grey]

5. What tritsofme said.....

Don't get your hopes up.

[Lilith Velkor]

6. Taxpayer largesse is the same as a knife in the back?

Christ on a cracker.