Reply #9: I've started working on my list of Senators and Congresscritters.... [View All]

Starting with Conrad and Baucus. I told both of their offices that without a robust public option there will be no true reform.

Even if they prohibit pre-existing condition rules, cancellation of policy for any reason other than non-payment and eliminate lifetime caps, this will not achieve our end. Why?

Because the insurance companies, in order to continue to pay their top executives lavish salaries, bonuses and perks, and to return maximum investment to the shareholders will simply raise premiums and further squeeze what they will pay to providers. So premiums will continue to skyrocket.

The only way to bring down the cost is to dampen the feeding at the trough. What a despicable thought that people actually profit because of another's illness. I think there is a place for private insurance at least for now. But a public option will make the insurance companies truly compete on quality and service.

The public option will offer coverage at a lower premium because the profit motive is gone.

Next on my list is my Congresscritter here in Georgia (thank God I live inside the Perimeter) to tell John Lewis to vote no on any reform that does not include a public option.

I would rather see no reform than to take some watered down solution that will only preserve the status quo - i.e. the exploitation of health care for profit.

And if there is no reform with public option it is clear the Democrats have no business in the majority because they squander it. The party of "no" and their buddies will sabotage every other priority initiative from climate change to energy. The Democrats will have shown themselves to be the party of "can't".