The battle is on. Two Democrats are going at it head to head. Ted Kennedy wants "a robust public health care plan, a government-sponsored entity that would compete with private insurers". Max Baucus is working with Chuck Grassley (Republican) on a compromise that pushes that public option aside. They state, rightfully so, that we can't afford the public options we have already; that being Medicare and Medicaid. The latter group is exploring the "the public plan" as a threat or as a way to extort the private insurance companies to make "meaningful, affordable coverage available to all Americans within several years". Let's see, they have been raising their rates by double digits almost every year and now they are going to start cutting their prices? Yeah, right. Here is my favorite part of this NY Times article:
The split reflects not only political differences between the two men but also differences between their committees, racing to write the most ambitious health care legislation in the nation’s history.
Is this more about ego than about real change? Did I mention Ted Kennedy was involved?
I am not smart enough to know which proposal will work. I do believe, however, that no matter what comes down the pike, we ALL have to contribute something to it. No matter what a person's income is, he should have to pay - even a little bit. Only then will that person value this service. Just my thoughts.....for now.
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