"Public Option" = Frim-Fram Sauce

One day, a woman went to the doctor and was given a diagnosis. She had a condition that could be easily cured with a dose of penicillin.

Instead, the doctor prescribed "frim-fram sauce." The patient asked if she could please have penicillin instead, and the doctor shot back: "Forget it, no frim-fram sauce for you!"

Like everyone else, the patient had no idea what frim-fram sauce was. Worse, all evidence suggested that whatever it was, its formulation was being http://www.correntewire.com/public_option_advocacy_jonesing_placebo">diluted and adulterated by the day.

Nonetheless, the woman and many like her, began to beg the doctor for frim-fram sauce. Leading bloggers and activist groups rallied support for frim-fram sauce, holding the doctor's feet to the fire to make sure he prescribed it.

The doctor explained that frim-fram sauce was just a sliver of his treatment plan, which might include any of several other things (but not penicillin, which wasn't politically feasible — except insofar as it was popular with the public, proven to work in other leading countries, working famously for Americans over 65, and it was far more cost-effective than other options.)

The doctor made a rousing speech in which he said that frim-fram sauce was really good and that he just might prescribe it, if the circumstances were favorable.

Bloggers and activists were quite pleased, but some dared to worry that people who desperately needed penicillin might be denied frim-fram sauce, and they made no bones about telling the doctor that.

In the meantime, the woman's condition continued to worsen. But all is not lost — she remains hopeful that the doctor will make good on his one-time promise to prescribe that frim-fram sauce.

* * *

More about "Frim-Fram Sauce":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Frim-Fram_Sauce
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UtPJdrpjMU

Who the fuck unrecommended this? People that can't understand a great analogy?

ETA: OK, for people that might not get the OP - Single Payer is the penicillin. Public Option is the Frim-Fram Sauce.


And the trigger is the check for the water!

This ain't one. Sorry.

Shit, this thread's got me hungry now. Damn you.

To have have faith in "public option," despite its slippery definition and the palpable indications that any such plan coming out of Congress will be anything but "robust," "strong," etc.

Public option is the hip trend, and to admit that it's a pig in a poke is to dis A-list blogging heroes, MoveOn, Howard Dean, etc. -- everyone who's gone all-in on public option despite its obvious resemblance to Lucy's football.

itself could have a broad range of definitions, but the Public Option being sought has been clearly outlined if not yet clearly defined (which won't happen until a joiint resolution from both Houses is proposed).

I'll admit that the Public Option as outlined is not as "robust' as I would have liked, but it is still capable of acheiving the goals it is meant to acheive - if not as effectively as a stronger and more oopen Public Option.

The key is whether or not the final definition of the Public Option at least meets the minimum standards of the outline that has been presented. IMHO that is what we should be focusing on. Either that, or trying to make the final definition stronger than that outlined. That seems rather improbable - not because of anything Obama has done but because of the Republicans and the Blue Dogs.

So, we should be focusing our anger and energy not at Obama, but at the Republicans and the Blue Dogs. Again, IMHO.

That is available to ALL on a sliding
scale, or free to ALL Americans; and to
be created and administered by the
government, non-profit, with the buying
power that will enable the government to
negotiate more affordable rates for health
care.

Public Option supporters also support an
extension of the availability of Medicare
to ALL Americans, on a sliding fee scale.

A rose by any other name, as long as we
are guaranteed the ability to receive
necessary health care without BANKRUPTING
ourselves in the process.

Even though it's clear that the Dems have no intention of offering that. There's the rub.

Is there any credible possibility that Congress will pass a plan that lets all Americans choose a public plan? HR3200 offers nothing of the kind.

In fact, Obama is bragging that few Americans will get the public plan: "we believe that less than 5% of Americans would sign up," he said in his vaunted speech this past week. Would that be true if it were a good plan, and available to all? Among other restrictions, the plans kicking around the House won't let you choose the "public" plan, if any, if your employer offers insurance.

What else is a "Democratic Underground" for?

...unless we get a trigger that will never be pulled and then frim-fram sauce will just be a sweet memory.

k&r

Might I suggest you sit and think about who the real enemy is?

I can't agree with that .... he's not the enemy.

He's a hero!

Republican Assholes!