10 September 2009

Public option, RIP?

President Obama's speech on health care was pretty good last night. But I had one major problem with it. While he did recommend a public option, he said that he was "open to other ideas".

Of course, he may have no choice, because it looks unlikely that the Senate would pass a public option.

That's because Congressional votes are bought and sold by the corporate elite, including the so-called health insurance industry, no matter what We The People might want and need.

And the public option is too much of a threat to the insurance CEOs who have made their fortunes by ripping off (and, in way too many cases, denying coverage for) sick and dying Americans.

So, even though it appears that the House might be able to pass a public option, it still would need to clear the Senate, which doesn't look possible at this point.

It appears that, once again, big business wins and the not-rich rest of us lose.

Unless, of course, enough Senators reconsider and decide to support a public option. I won't hold my breath.

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