Robert Reich on the Public Option

In this 2-minute clip, leading political thinker Robert Reich explains (in clear terms) what the public option is and why it's central to healthcare reform.

Robert B. Reich is an American politician, academic, writer, and political commentator who has served in three national administrations, most recently as the 22nd Secretary of Labor. He also served on President-Elect Obama's transition advisory board. He has written twelve books and is co-founding editor of The American Prospect magazine. He is currently a professor of public policy at the Goldman School for Public Policy at the University of California - Berkeley.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Robert
• Reich
• robertreich
• public
• option
• publicoption
• health
• care
• healthcare
• reform
• insurance
• 2009

[hopenbama66]

Thank you for making it clear and easy to understand.

[davidrabb]

I agree with Richard. If you don't want the Public Option, you do not have to take it. However I'll bet a lot of people take it.

[NantucketVicar]

Thank you, Robert Reich! It's about time ordinary Americans have access to decent and affordable health care. The public option, and this video, get a "thumbs up" from me.

[Frumibandersnatch]

everyone!! go to the search box and type in "Robert Reich we'll let you die and watch that video. He tell's a very different story to Berkeley students. Conservatives don't need to scare you!! Reich can do it for them.

[wwj745]

They {politicans} made the situation by passing laws so insurance companies cannot sell insurance across state lines. Now they are saying there is not competition we need the gubment to save us. What a joke. Once again it is a crisis {so called} that they themselves have created.

[jdavis57]

If any of you believe that Government run healthcare is meant to compete, you are sadly mis-informed. No business in their right mind would continue to offer insurance to their employees if they can be "dumped" on to the "government" option. It makes perfect "business sense."

Thus, what choice will you have then? NONE!

Wake up people! Government run anything has been outright failures. Why do you trust them with your health?

You are not guaranteed healthcare by the constitution.

[dEdGrimley]

Within the past couple of days, there have apparently been a number of right-wing sources citing a speech Reich gave in 2007 about how old people would need to die for health care reform to work. This was obviously before the Public Option was pitched, and I never had the impression that what Reich was saying was his traditional opinion. If anyone knows of a NON-biased source with more information, please reply.

[SaintEntreri]

What this guy is saying is simply not a fact. No government funding? Who would pay for it then genius? Actually the term "government funding" is fallacious in itself, as there is no such thing as "government" funding, only funds stolen by the government from the people. This fails to address any of the real issues with implementing a multibillion dollar system, run as efficiently as any other government program.

[genobahamut1337]

I and many others who can't afford private medical care need the public option. All these conservatives speak of the public option as something that removes choice. What about my choice as well as the choice of others like me who need a plan like this? It's time for people to stop being greedy and allow the public option to be an option.

[dotheresearchurself]

Canada and the UK have universal health care. I'm from Germany and we don't have universal health care, we have "public option" health care. I have never heard of any one ever disagree with it.

People against universal health care always talk about how you can get doctors in the UK so you need to go to other countries. Germany is one of those countries.

So based on your sides own logic, "public option" is best.

[honeybunchz]

i live under medicare and except for unprincipled people who would like to bilk it, it is a good system. there will always be those who take advantage. it is the greed machine that ruins anything that is borne out of good intentions . it is wealthy entities and people who wish we still had a feudal system that spit out this junk that people like "boss" believe. they wish us to be a nation of sheep; following without questioning their motives.