x

Please Login




Register Here!

On Politics, We Can Always See the Whites of Their Eyes.

 Search:  
Login / Register   About Us   Advertise   Contact Us  
RSS Feed

The Patriot Room

Susan Estrich makes conservatives case on health care

by: Robert McIntosh   posted: 2009-09-04 15:11:00
Viewed 682 times. 2 Comments.

In a piece for Rasmussen Reports, Susan Estrich, a democratic strategist, completely makes the conservatives case on the public option. I'm not quite sure what she was trying to get across here, but I think it backfires. Let us take a look.

Now, if this were a reality show -- "Who Wins Health Care?" -- it would all make sense. The conservatives turned the "public option" into the symbol of big, expensive government taking away your health care to give it to immigrants. I kid you not: This is exactly how I've heard it described in more than one television debate, which leaves you denying that you want to kill your mother (mine is already dead, but still).

Hmm, I haven't seen that particular debate that she is referring to. I think she misinterprets the conservatives view here. Not that the government will take away our health care and give it to immigrants, just that the public option will kill our health care. Illegal immigrants getting health care is a different subject.

It is not easy to beat back such an idea, particularly in a country that is full of people who are on edge to begin with about their economic security, and with reason.

So score this round for the conservatives. The country doesn't want (even) big(ger) government. The private sector does everything better. Deja vu all over again.

Bingo! She gets one right.

But is the private sector ready to run a free hot dog stand?

One of the best lines in recent political campaigns is the one where Democrats say that if the health insurance plan members of Congress get is good enough for them, it's good enough for everyone in America. Hooray. Sounds great.

Everyone in the country is not going to get the health care plan Congress gets.

Most members of Congress elect one of the "best" plans available to federal employees, which is to say, they choose to get their hot dogs by appointment from whatever stand they want. Like me, they go to the $5 stand or the $10 stand, the one with the doctor you know, same-day service, and new and expensive machines. For that, you make additional contributions and pay co-pays and deductibles. Even with really good insurance, you pay.

Like lunch, there is not such thing as a free hot dog stand. At least she admits that the whole idea of every American getting the same coverage as congress is a lie. I believe it was Hillary who first championed that notion was it not?

The last paragraph there is good. She is right, you want the best, you pay for the best. Pure and simple.

The 40-something million Americans who don't have health insurance are not going to be coming to my stand, whatever bill Congress passes. They can't afford it, and we certainly can't afford to pay for it for them. And, by the way, my insurance company isn't exactly looking for their business, especially if they're old (50 is old to them) or sick (gastritis counts as sick) or take prescription medicine regularly (above a certain age, who doesn't?).

I am so sick of hearing about the 40 million Americans bit. That has been disproven to many times it is sad to see them still spouting it. And they say conservatives are dealing in misinformation? The real number is 12-15 million according to many reports, including the Congressional Budget Office.

It's not that insurance companies are a bunch of meanies who want to see people suffer. That's a good caricature for the game of "Who Wins Health Care?" But it doesn't happen to be true. They're business people trying to make a living. In a field where costs are constantly spiraling and everyone wants the best, can you blame people for not wanting more lousy risks in their pool? Nothing personal.

Bingo again. A democrat that actually understands business. Now we get to the real meat of it in this next section. Here she completely, if unknowingly, makes the case against the public option.

I never bought the idea that the "public option" was going to be so good that it would keep HMOs honest. It's a great theory. In practice, you just have to compare the waiting rooms at Kaiser to those at a public hospital like County-USC or Harbor-UCLA to know that there is no one sitting at County with a Kaiser card in their pocket.

We have a public option now. A friend's husband was just diagnosed with prostate cancer. They are American citizens. They both work. But neither of their jobs provides health insurance. They make too much money for Medicaid and way too little to afford the $12,000 it would have cost them to insure the family with a private insurer. Now, of course, no one would take them.

He went to Harbor, the public hospital, the public option. He sat there for about 14 hours, which wasn't so bad, and finally saw a doctor, who is ordering more tests, hopefully soon, and then they will see. At my hot dog stand, he would have had the tests already, and would have been examined by a surgeon skilled in the latest robotic techniques. He's not asking for that. He just doesn't want to die of something they routinely cure a few miles away.

So the conservatives win a round. Until they can answer the question of who is going to take care of my friend's husband, who cares?

Go ahead and read that again. Does she realize what she is saying here? The two public hospitals have horrible service. Slow, take too long for tests, etc. And somehow she thinks that a government run version will make those two up to the standards of the non-public hospital? Is she that naive? More like at her hot dog stand, all hospitals end up like the two public ones. One only has to look overseas and north to Canada to see that is a reality. That is the norm, not the exception in those countries. If it were so good, why to those in the U.K. buy private insurance and then go down to Germany to care they "... routinely cure a few miles away", to use her words.

As for the cost, the $12,000 a year. Sounds like they didn't shop around. I've seen small business owners get insurance for two for way less than that. At a previous employer the total cost of my health care, including dental and vision, for my family was $800 a month. That wasn't my portion, that was the total cost for me and my family.

Now the nay sayers will say that is because that company got a group rate for all the employees, and they would be right and they would be making another point that conservatives want, better competition. LIke this small business owner in California told her congress woman. The current system limits competition. That raises costs.

Do we need health care reform? Yes.

Do we need a public option. No.

What we need is a better private system. One where more competition is allowed. One where small business owners, or even individuals, across the country can group together to buy the same plan. That will reduce the cost of insurance to the individual without reducing the quality that is already there.

Related Articles


Links to this post

Trackback url: http://patriotroom.com/article/susan-estrich-makes-conservatives-case-on-health-care/trackback

Comments 2

KansasGirl on 2009-09-04 16:15:57

It is GOVERNMENT regulations that are driving up the costs of medical coverage.


jacksmith on 2009-09-04 21:47:10

NO CO-OP'S! NO TRIGGERS! A Little History Lesson

No Triggers! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-rosenbaum/a-trigger-for-the-public_b_277910.html

Young People. America needs your help.

More than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% of republicans). Basically everyone.

According to a new AARP POLL: 86 percent of seniors want universal healthcare security for All, including 93% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans. And 79% of seniors support creating a new strong Government-run public option plan, available immediately. Including 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans, STUNNING!! Senator Max Baucus, You better come out of committee with a strong government-run public option available on day one.

The History:

Our last great economic catastrophe was called the Great Depression. Then as now it was caused by a reckless, and corrupt Republican administration and republican congress. FDR a Democrat, was then elected to save the nation and the American people from the unbridled GREED and profiteering, of the unregulated predatory self-interest of the banking industry and Wallstreet. Just like now.

FDR proposed a Government-run health insurance plan to go with Social Security. To assure all Americans high quality, easily accessible, affordable, National Healthcare security. Regardless of where you lived, worked, or your ability to pay. But the AMA riled against it. Using all manor of scare tactics, like Calling it SOCIALIZED MEDICINE!! :-0

So FDR established thousands of co-op's around the country in rural America. And all of them failed. The biggest of these co-op organizations would become the grandfather of the predatory monster that all of you know today as the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry. And the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry.

This former co-op would grow so powerful that it would corrupt every aspect of healthcare delivery in America. Even corrupting the Government of the United States.

This former co-op's name is BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD.

Do you see now why even the suggestion of co-op's is ridiculous. It makes me so ANGRY! Co-op's are not a substitute for a government-run public option.

They are trying to pull the wool over our eye's again. Senators, if you don't have the votes now, GET THEM! Or turn them over to us. WE WILL! DEAL WITH THEM. Why do you think we gave your party Control of the House, Control of the Senate, Control of the Whitehouse. The only option on the table that has any chance of fixing our healthcare crisis is a STRONG GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION.

An insurance mandate and subsidies without a strong government-run public option choice available on day one, would be worse than the healthcare catastrophe we have now. The insurance, and healthcare industry have been very successful at exploiting the good hearts of the American people. But Congress and the president must not let that happen this time. House Progressives and members of the Tri-caucus must continue to hold firm on their demand for a strong Government-run public option.

A healthcare reform bill with mandates and subsidies but without a STRONG government-run public option choice on day one, would be much worse than NO healthcare reform at all. So you must be strong and KILL IT! if you have too. And let the chips fall where they may. You can do insurance reform without mandates, subsidies, or taxpayer expense.

Actually, no tax payer funds should be use to subsidize any private for profit insurance plans. So, NO TAX PAYER SUBSIDIES TO PRIVATE FOR PROFIT PLANS. Tax payer funds should only be used to subsidize the public plans. Healthcare reform should be 100% for the American people. Not another taxpayer bailout of the private for profit insurance industry, disguised as healthcare reform for the people.

God Bless You

Jacksmith — Working Class

Twitter search #welovetheNHS #NHS Check it out

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/ )

Senator Bernie Sanders on healthcare http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)

American HEROES!! :-) Click replay to play http://bit.ly/j31oU

http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=IbWw23XwO5o) CYBER WARRIORS!! - TAKE THIS VIRAL


Have an opinion?

 Name (required)
 Email (required)
 Website

If you were a member you wouldn't have to input that stuff!


What is 2 + 3 ? (seriously... for moderates the answer is 4 and for liberals the answer is cat)

Note: Your comment may be held for moderation.

blog advertising is good for you

blog advertising is good for you

Publius' Newsstand

  • NYT: Why Don't you People Just Believe Everythi...

    The Times acknowledges, barely, that all is not sunny in global warming-alarmist land.
    But Dr. Pachauri and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are now under intense scrutiny, facing accusations of scientific sloppiness and potential financial conflicts of interest from climate skeptics, right-leaning politicians and even some mainstream scientists. Senator John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican, called for Dr. Pachauri’s resignation last week. Critics, writing in Britain’s Sunday Telegraph and elsewhere, have accused Dr. Pachauri of profiting from his work as an adviser to businesses, including Deutsche Bank and Pegasus Capital Advisors, a New York investment firm — a claim he denies. They have also unearthed and publicized problems with the intergovernmental panel’s landmark 2007 report on climate change, which concluded that the planet was warming and that humans were likely to blame.

      Views: 53 Comments: 0

  • Congressional Democrats point finger of blame a...

    Poor guy. One of the problems with yelling at people, berating people, and generally thuggish behavior towards people is that it doesn't exactly engender loyalty. Eventually they turn, even if it's not your fault.
    The share of the blame comes as cracks are beginning to show in Emanuel’s once-impregnable political armor... on Capitol Hill he’s under fire for poor execution of the president’s healthcare agenda in the Senate... Senate Democrats grilled White House advisers last week during a special Senate Democratic retreat, expressing frustration over the lack of a clear plan. While Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) ripped chief political strategist David Axelrod, Senate Democrats say Emanuel, who was more closely involved in managing negotiations in Congress, also deserves scrutiny.

      Views: 28 Comments: 0

  • Michelle O: Barry has done a "phenomenol job"

    A solid B-plus:
    Michelle Obama defended her husband against some of his most vocal critics, saying President Obama did a "phenomenal" job this year and that change is a long-term process. The first lady talks about her nationwide campaign called "Let's Move." "I think my husband has done a phenomenal job staying on course, looking his critics in the eye, coming up with clear solutions against staying the course," Michelle Obama told Robin Roberts in an exclusive morning television interview on "Good Morning America." "That's what leadership is. But people have the right to criticize the President of the United States."
    Let me finish that last thought for you, Michelle. I see you rubbing your hands together and thinking, "Yes, for now people have the right to criticize him, but we're working on changing that."

      Views: 39 Comments: 0

  • Sheriff Joe Arpaio Lends Fundraising Muscle to ...

    Following on the last story, this certainly will help.
    In his letter, being sent out to Arpaio supporters today as part of a 100,000-person national direct mail drop, the sheriff calls Hayworth's decision to challenge McCain "courageous." And he pledges to help Hayworth "every step of the way." "Senator McCain has served this country admirably but it's time to replace his moderate or even liberal positions on taxes, the border, social causes and big bank bailouts with a consistent conservative like J.D.," Arpaio continues. "After years of running over Republican principles his entire career no election year conversion to our way of thinking will save his campaign from voters that want conservatives to be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem," he says.

      Views: 56 Comments: 0

  • From Right of Radio Dial, a Challenge to McCain...

    Not buying it, Senator McCain.
    McCain now finds himself jammed, moving starkly — and often awkwardly — to the right, apparently in an effort to gain favor among the same voters whom Mr. Hayworth, a consistent voice for the far right, could pull toward him like taffy come summer. McCain now sharply criticizes the bailout bill he voted for, pivoted from his earlier position that the Guantánamo Bay detention facility should be closed, offered only a muted response to the Supreme Court’s decision undoing campaign finance laws and backed down from statements that gays in the military would be O.K. by him... “John is undergoing a campaign conversion,” Mr. Hayworth said. Hayworth’s radio-personality bluster and big emotions.. may now have a part in the greater populist narrative that threatens many of the nation’s more centrist Republicans.

      Views: 35 Comments: 0

  • Defiant Iran accelerates nuclear program

    I thought Obama was going to talk these things over with his boy Mahmoud and smooth everything out. Instead, Ahmadinejad remains "defiant." How's that hope-y change-y working out for us?
    Iran said Tuesday that it had begun producing higher-grade enriched uranium, marking a new and potentially dangerous turn in Tehran's confrontation with the West over its nuclear ambitions... U.S. National Intelligence Director Dennis C. Blair told the House intelligence committee last week that "Iran has the scientific, the technical, the industrial capacity to produce enough highly enriched uranium for a weapon in the next few years and eventually to produce a nuclear weapon. The central issue is a political decision by Iran to do so."

      Views: 36 Comments: 0

  • Reid's Jobs Bill will have "Republican Support"

    Looks like there's been some compromise here, as the GOP gets an extension of tax cuts that expired last year. I don't know if this is a good thing - I don't see much incentive for the GOP to do anything but obstruct the Dems at every possible point between now and November.
    I wouldn't want my fingerprints on anything this administration or congress proposes. Reid told reporters the bill would be introduced on Tuesday, and that it would include an extension of the tax breaks... Reid did not say how expensive the jobs bill would be. The Senate had been considering a package of roughly $80 billion. The House passed a larger jobs bill before Christmas, but now plans to unveil a different bill independent of that package, which did not garner Republican support.

      Views: 62 Comments: 0

  • Without Murtha, Dems now one vote short of pass...

    Didn't realize the implications of Murtha's passing today, which include the following...
    Back in November, the House passed its health care bill by a narrow 220 to 215 margin, with 39 Democrats voting against it. Since then, the one Republican who voted for it — Joseph Cao — has indicated that he would not support the bill a second time around given the weaker language on abortion in the Senate version. In addition, Florida Rep. Robert Wexler already retired prematurely. Factor in Murtha’s death today, and Pelosi is down to 217 votes — one short of passage. To pass the bill at some point in the next few months, she’ll need to flip a Democrat who is already on record voting against the bill.

      Views: 125 Comments: 1

  • Republicans and the Populist Temptation could T...

    A warning from my favorite economic analyst, Donald Luskin.
    Don't think that Republicans can't be sucked in when an anti-Wall Street lynch mob gets its blood up. Recall that Sarbanes-Oxley, the devastating antigrowth response in 2002 to the Enron and Worldcom scandals, was passed with virtually unanimous support by Republicans in Congress, and signed by a Republican president. Recall that last year 85 House Republicans voted for a 90% tax on bonuses for any employee of any bank that took more than $5 billion in TARP money. Investors got some good news last Friday. Stocks resisted following through on Thursday's sharp plunge after (Congress) reached an impasse on bank re-regulation. That's a nice down payment on what investors need a lot more of now: proof that the GOP won't join Democrats in a populist rush to seek revenge against Wall Street.

      Views: 79 Comments: 3

  • Message to Democrats: Wall St. Sends Cash to GO...

    Great news, but these guys were a little late in realizing that Obama wants to destroy all their corporations and confiscate their money. Not quite sure how they missed that.
    Just two years after Mr. Obama helped his party pull in record Wall Street contributions — $89 million from the securities and investment business, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics — some of his biggest supporters, like Mr. Dimon, have become the industry’s chief lobbyists against his regulatory agenda. Republicans are rushing to capitalize on what they call Wall Street’s “buyer’s remorse” with the Democrats. And industry executives and lobbyists are warning Democrats that if Mr. Obama keeps attacking Wall Street “fat cats,” they may fight back by withholding their cash.

      Views: 79 Comments: 2

Get Your PR Button!

More Articles By Robert McIntosh

Copyright © 2008-2009 Patriot Room Media, LLC
Privacy Policy  Terms Of Service