Part II, Public Option, War between the Democrats and the Republicans

[MyImago]

We have to do somthing!

National health spending is expected to reach $2.5 trillion in 2009, accounting for 17.6 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). By 2018, national health care expenditures are expected to reach $4.4 trillion—more than double 2007 spending.1

1. Siska, A, et al, Health Spending Projections Through 2018: Recession Effects Add Uncertainty to The Outlook Health Affairs, March/April 2009; 28(2): w346-w357.

[Americanology]

I agree with you, and I respect that you take the time to be informed. You are a rare citizen, being proactive rather than merely reactive. As you know, there are NO countries in Europe where 50% of the people do not pay taxes. Universal health care has to be supported by taxes from everyone. By putting the public option in the VHA we can be sure it works, then if it does work as you project, we can gradually and generally ease it in as we replace "high" insurance premiums with "moderate" taxes

[MyImago]

Public Option Save a Trillion per year

According to the Economist the total US spending on health care is 17.6% of GDP or 2.2 Trillion dollars. With that we get 2.6 doctors & 3.3 hospital beds per 1,000 people, and we live to an avg. age of 78.2 As a whole Europe spends 9.6% of GDP on health care, has 3.9 doctors & 6.6 hospital beds per 1,000 people and live until they are 81.15 old. If we would just model the European health plan we would save 1 Trillion Dollars a year. Thats 1 Trillion!!!

[Americanology]

Many European countries do not include infants who die at birth in their numbers hence the life span appears higher. Also almost all European countries have caps on malpractice awards, they disallow contingency cases, and many make the plaintiff pay the court costs of the defendents if they lose their suit. Obama has stated there will be no tort reform. What do we do about that? Why not prove your point with a trial run in the VHA? You might be right, but then again you might be wrong.

[radmaniac2001]

If democrats resort to the nuclear option to pass their socialized health care, they should plan on losing many of their congressional seats during the next election! Hopefully those who go against the majority of Americans will end up with no position of authority or influence whatsoever - either public, or private!

[Americanology]

So basically what you are saying is that you are willing to gamble with the entire private health care system that the Dems will not go nuclear. Do not underestimate this administration. If a logical alternative is proffered for where the public option might be instituted, then it becomes far less likely that marginal Democrats would vote for a bill that has the potential to socialize the private health care system. We could live with it in the VHA. It can be controlled there.