worth quoting

[scarfman]

From Roger Ebert's blogpost about the behavior of the opposition to President Obama's health care bill.

"Do you know what the 'public option' is? It would be the establishment of a federal fund to provide health insurance for those who cannot afford it or qualify for it. I have the feeling that if Jay Leno went Jaywalking among the protesters at a town hall meeting, even among those holding signs opposing the public option, he would find few able to define the term.

"If you lack insurance coverage, are you opposed to the public option? If your premiums have increased so much that you can't afford them, do you oppose it? If you have a 'preexisting condition' that disqualifies you from insurance, do you oppose it? If it would provide you with equivalent insurance at a lower cost, do you oppose it? Most Americans, even those angry people at town hall meetings, now approve of MediCare. The public option would essentially make a system like MediCare available to the general population.

"Would it replace private health insurance? Not at all. It would provide an option. Who opposes it? Do the math. The insurance companies do. It would provide price competition for their extremely profitable businesses. Price competition. It's the capitalist way. Besides insurance companies, who else opposes it? The unwavering opponents of all things Obama.

"Having arrived at a qualifying age thanks to the love and care of my wife and doctors, I am writing this as the beneficiary of the excellent heath care my insurance plan covered (until my illness exhausted its provisions). I am now covered under MediCare. I continue to get the same treatment as before--and as, for that matter, all members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives do, no matter what their age or political party. You should try it sometime."

Comments

[fisher-queen.livejournal.com]

I'm covered under Medicaid right now for various disabilities, but I know that if I wasn't...I don't know how I'd ever be able to see a doctor. I can't find a job that's willing to give me insurance or that has enough hours for me to qualify for it, so it's a matter of being relieved that I can hold out until now. I definitely support the public option.

[trinalin.livejournal.com]

I've already e-mailed my Rep (the Reprehensible John Boner, (spelling deliberate)) and told him to support the health care reform with the public plan option. And e-mailed the White House to show my support and ask that they not remove that from the bill. Here's hoping for change!

[kaffy_r]

Ebert continues to impress me more and more on all fronts.

[alienfish.livejournal.com]

I am on the Japanese National Health Insurance. Thank goodness.

[stoplookingup.livejournal.com]

Or as Bob Cesca calls them, they're the "Keep your goddamn government hands off my Medicare!" nuts.