We can win this with 51 votes and a public option ...... 77% of the people ...

.... want health care reform and w/ a public option too. Let the republicans filibuster because sooner or
later we are going to have to fight this fight w/ the republicans. We had an election and "they" lost and we
won w/ a mandate for change. Elections have consequences.

It will not be easy because some people are making major money with the system being status quo. Right now
my best estimate is that the U.S. Spends 2,522 Trillion per year on health care. Thanx DUer Sinking Feeling for
the stat of 17.6% of the GDP* is spent on health care. Of that 2.5 Trillion Dollars 1.1 is spent through the Federal
Government (VA, Medicare, & Medicaid) so that leaves about 1.4 trillion dollars being spent in 2009 w/ an average
"overhead cost" of about 32 cents on the dollar ...... and if my math is right that is 448 Billion dollars ..... I have looked
around and I can't figure how much of that 448 billion is profit for the insurance companies and what not but it has to
be a hunk and of that hunk of money they are willing to spend tons to keep things the way they are now.


* CIA estimate of the US GDP is 14,330,00 (in millions of U.S. Dollars) and 17.6% is $2,522,000,000,000




So if the republicans want to filibuster to protect the insurance companies let 'em .... and if the blue dogs fight real
reform many of them will be beaten in the next election(s).

Rep. Anthony Weiner said it best .... "Why do you want to protect insurance companies' profits?"

o'rielly (?) was it?? said that 77% of people polled support a public option. but if you call it a government healthcare or something like that then the support goes way down.... so he is going to refer to it as government healthcare. that says it all. they want to word it in a way that does not appeal to people... even though support for a public option MEANS that people want to have the choice. it's easy for someone like myself to get disheartened seeing all these people out there yelling and shouting that somehow there are more people against reform than there really are.

... than they deserve. A call to the White House, your Senators, and Congress-critter demanding that a public option
bill in any bill is very effective.