tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9075997610297502555.post852951176490646469..comments2023-08-07T04:32:37.135-07:00Comments on Ellen Shaffer's blog: 3 Poles in the Health Reform DebateEllen Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13668557644146280423noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9075997610297502555.post-19268596256565721382010-01-18T09:19:28.469-08:002010-01-18T09:19:28.469-08:001. Providers will fight with any negotiator that t...1. Providers will fight with any negotiator that tries to limit their income, whether public or private. See the doctors' strikes in Canada, the history of MediCal contracting in California in the 1980s, and the fights with private insurance co.s today.<br /><br />2. I agree we'd be a lot better off with a public option. See our petition, <br /><br />3. The bill is better for us than Ellen Shafferhttp://ellenshaffer.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9075997610297502555.post-18221784531064098182010-01-18T08:11:57.920-08:002010-01-18T08:11:57.920-08:00I finished my comment above then checked my e-mail...I finished my comment above then checked my e-mail. Don McCanne of Physicians for a national Helath Program has sent out the following quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. So very much on-topic. <br /><br />Washington, D.C.<br />February 6, 1968<br />A Proper Sense of Priorities<br />A speech by Martin Luther King, Jr.<br /><br />Closing remarks:<br /><br />As we were marching today, some 5,000 HM Seilerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14761639822431091849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9075997610297502555.post-9493876715450299222010-01-18T07:58:37.412-08:002010-01-18T07:58:37.412-08:00"Yes, passing this bill leaves the insurance ..."Yes, passing this bill leaves the insurance industry in place. So does <br />failing to pass a bill."<br /><br />How I wish there had been a real public debate on the merits of single payer early on. Instead, many reform advocates bought into that "uniquely American" framing brought to us by a group of Madison Avenue/Mad Men "researchers." Why didn't the Dems HM Seilerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14761639822431091849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9075997610297502555.post-76157197141892388512010-01-18T00:56:18.344-08:002010-01-18T00:56:18.344-08:00I wish it were true. Obama was consistently equivo...I wish it were true. Obama was consistently equivocal on the public option, including in his Sept. 9 speech, at the same time Joe Lieberman was still supporting lowering the age for enrollment in Medicare. Agree we need to elect better members to Congress, and to fix and pass the bill. The President needs to help, and I hope that pointing out the glaringly obvious is not considered an attack!Ellen Shaffer.http://ellenshaffer.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9075997610297502555.post-60451707139688641192010-01-17T19:58:48.194-08:002010-01-17T19:58:48.194-08:00Obama's support for a public option was clear,...Obama's support for a public option was clear, until he saw that he didn't have enough votes in Congress (in the Senate, particularly)to pass it! Progressives need to sustain their outrage long enough to challenge(and defeat)conservative Democrats and GOP right-wingers who support the status quo, use reproductive rights as leverage, and propose funding options to impose costly, taxed Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9075997610297502555.post-49938072977984293142010-01-17T10:21:46.730-08:002010-01-17T10:21:46.730-08:00Great article, Ellen. Thank you for your -- as alw...Great article, Ellen. Thank you for your -- as always -- clear thinking and guidance.raybeckermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11063235302436280455noreply@blogger.com