When Big Insurance Rejoices, Something's Wrong

There will be no real health care reform until and unless we gain the support of organizations which will benefit from major reform. Many local and state agencies, companies, and unions are facing major financial crises because of health care obligations, while hospitals are closing because of unsustainable emergency care they are required to provide yet do not get paid for. Medicare for All (Single Payer) insurance would completely relieve them of those burdens freeing public bodies to address other public needs while making companies that had been providing the most generous insurance for present and retired employees more competitive with far more stingy companies. The potential combined clout of these entities could, and should, play a pivotal role in combating the misleading propaganda of insurance companies and other forces opposing the public good.
It is critical for the public to become aware that not only would Medicare For All provide better health care for all and at lower cost, but there is a way it can be done with no new taxes! At present all 'unearned income' (income from rents, profits, interest, etc.) is 100% exempt from both Social Security and Medicare taxation. Closing this one loophole would, combined with existing Medicare revenue, provide sufficient income to not only fully fund a Single Payer national health care system for all Americans, but probably dental and optical care as well! And as a fringe benefit the purported Social Security shortfall would be eliminated as well - especially if the $105,800 cap on taxable Social Security income was eliminated at the same time!
Although how much sense Single Payer makes is obvious to the open-minded, until and unless these two factors are included in the discussion there is little likelihood of more than reluctant, token progress - especially given the degree to which Obama has reversed his earlier pro Single Payer position!

Vampire Wealthcare unmasks itself. As usual, Wendell was exactly right -- the "charm offensive" followed by brutal attacks.

The Wealthcare Corporations know that with a national public option, we would leave their high-deductible, no-or-low-care junk insurance for a sturdy, honest public plan with 4% overhead instead of 20%-30% overhead aka bloated pig-profits for their Wall Street Overlords.

"How many times can a nation turn its head, Pretending it just doesn't see?"

Prez O could say, as did LBJ of Medicare, "I will FIGHT for Public Option as long as I have breath in my body."

National Public Option, no triggers, no opt-in or out. Fix this appalling, greed-ridden system for people not profits.

Let the Hate-triots rant and rail. LET them filibuster. I really do hope that they don't get leprosy and have *all* their appendages fall off.

If Government is so determined to get into all businesses, why don't they reform the insurance companies instead of starting a government run healthcare? The politicians don't have a clue as to how insurance companies have control over our health.They should sit in a doctor or dentist office wnd see how hard it is to get paid for services rendered and or sevices approved for the patient. I have worked in a dental office for nine years and it is getting worse. I also pay for all my healthcare and it raises every year from 25%-35%for less coverage.Please someone let people that know what they are talking about,not politicians that have never seen a claim form,bill, or eob from an insurance company,make the decisions to clean up this mess.