Reply #29: I want to hear that from Obama himself before getting concerned [View All]

Even Emanuel has said things that the White House retracted.

A single payer plan where the government collects fees and pays costs is the best IMO. The government does fine with education, social security, Medicare, police/fire, etc. Problems only arise when people, especially the rich, refuse to pay a little more in hard times to keep up funding. Under single payer, administrative costs are cut out. And the focus is on need - not ability to pay. There would be free choice of doctors and hospitals. Doctors' incomes would change little; they would be well compensated. And the government could let doctors help define need to reduce political interference.

A strong public option, though, is acceptable to me as a first step. Co-ops have not been so successful, and I don't see them competing. They are too beholden to private insurance.