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	<title>Comments on: Howard Dean To Announce Major New Campaign On Health Care Reform</title>
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		<title>By: DAN RUPLI</title>
		<link>http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/howard-dean-to-announce-major-campaign-on-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-13683</link>
		<dc:creator>DAN RUPLI</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2009 22:27:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/?p=3716#comment-13683</guid>
		<description>For me there is no option to SINGLE PAYER. And we will not have another chance in my lifetime to get it. Lets join the human race this year and make healthcare a human right.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For me there is no option to SINGLE PAYER. And we will not have another chance in my lifetime to get it. Lets join the human race this year and make healthcare a human right.</p>
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		<title>By: jacksmith</title>
		<link>http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/howard-dean-to-announce-major-campaign-on-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-7601</link>
		<dc:creator>jacksmith</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2009 02:31:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/?p=3716#comment-7601</guid>
		<description>Finally, the time has arrived to fix Americas Healthcare crisis, and Americas healthcare nightmare. Hundreds of thousands of you are killed needlessly every year by your healthcare delivery system in a rush to profit. And because of a rush to profit Hundreds of thousands more of you are needlessly dying from treatable illness that people in other developed and civilized countries don&#039;t DIE! from. Rich, middle class, and poor alike. Insured, and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. 

Additionally, thousands more of  you are driven into financial ruin, and bankruptcy just because you, or one of your loved ones got sick or injured. And all of this is happening at a time when America spends twice as much of it&#039;s GDP (Gross Domestic Productivity) on health care than any other country in the developed world. Individual Americans spend about ten times as much on health care as any other people in the developed world. This is a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY. AND IT MUST END!

But before we can truly fix this healthcare crisis and disgrace, everyone needs to clearly understand what the problem is. And everyone needs to clearly understand the real enormity of the problem. The problem is that HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL DELIVERY IN AMERICA IS SEVERELY CORRUPTED AND COMPROMISED BY GREED! AND THE PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MOTIVE. And it is corrupted, and compromised IN EVERY ASPECT, AND EVERY PLACE OF HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL DELIVERY. Unfortunately for all Americans, compromised healthcare ALWAYS results in needless suffering, injury, disability, and or death. Which is exactly what is happening now in America in shocking numbers.

Health care is NOT! a private for profit business. Healthcare is an essential public service. Like police, and fire. And healthcare is also a human right! PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTHCARE IS AN OXYMORON, AND AN IMMORAL AND UNETHICAL PERVERSION OF HEALTHCARE AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
									
So how do we fix this healthcare disgrace? I believe the fix for Americas healthcare disaster is essentially the same thing that every other developed country in the World has essentially done.  &quot;NOT FOR PROFIT, TAX PAYER SUPPORTED, SINGLE PAYER, AUTOMATIC, FREE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE FOR ALL&quot;. Essentially HR676 (enhanced, and improved medicare for all). Just like every other CIVILIZED! country in the developed World has. There is no other way to truly fix and reform our current disastrous healthcare delivery system.

All Universal health care systems work best when everyone participates. But I know that the healthcare lobby, and some politicians will try and undermine &quot;Not For Profit, Tax payer supported, Single payer, Automatic, Free Universal Healthcare for all&quot; by falsely claiming that it will limit your choice, and require you to participate.

So, I propose that everyone be included in the national plan unless they choose to opt out. If you opt out and need medical care the national plan will insure your provider that they will be reimbursed under the rules for members in the national plan. But those who opted out, and their insurer will be responsible for the FULL! cost to the national plan for providing your care if you or your private insurer fails to reimburse the provider or the national plan in a timely manor to at least the standards of the national plan.

Including reporting you to credit agencies, withholding of taxes, leans, and garnishment of wages for unpaid medical bills. Just like you have now under private for profit healthcare, and private for profit health insurance.

Further, people who opted out will be required to provide proof of financial responsibility for future illness or be required to participate in the national plan. And everyone with children will be required to participate in the national plan. Or provide proof of insurance coverage on each child to the standards of the national plan. It will be against the law to report anyone in the national plan to a credit agency for unpaid medical bills.

Frankly, only a dope would want to opt out of the national plan and opt to keep our current disastrous private for profit medical, and insurance plans. But they will be free to choose. The most important thing is that the vast majority of Americans that want the protection, benefits, and higher quality of a universal national plan have that choice.

You see, one of the most important aspects of a universal healthcare system is easy access, and patient protection. This is accomplished by having a single payer without a conflict of interest in patient care. And by having a payer who has the power to enforce minimum standards of excellence in healthcare delivery for everyone in the plan. This is much of what Medicare does now for senors. &quot;Aeger Primo&quot; (The patient comes first). Unfortunately in our healthcare system the patient comes last. We are just a peace of meat to them. Cash cows to be slaughtered for profit.		

So this is IT! my fellow Americans, My fellow human beings, My fellow World Citizens. And my fellow Cyber Warriors. :-) The time has come. D day. H hour. HEALTHCARE REFORM THIS YEAR! Let no one stand in our way. Contact your representative and tell them you want &quot;Not For Profit, Tax Payer Supported, Single Payer, Automatic, Free Universal healthcare for all. And tell them you want that choice now. Tell them you want President Obama&#039;s budget passed without delay. President Obama&#039;s budget is brilliant. And exactly what is needed now.

President Obama, and his allies will need all the support you can give them. The healthcare lobby will try to take out his people if they can, like they did with Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer. And they will try to neutralize President Obama&#039;s popularity, and political power. Or they will try to take him down someway. Don&#039;t stand for it. If they attack him. Go after them ten times harder and remove them from office. We had an election. And you the people chose President Obama&#039;s leadership, and change agenda. Let no one in government disrespect the will of the American people and remain in office.

SPREAD THE WORD! And talk it up with your families, friends, and coworkers. Keep ratcheting up the pressure until there is a ROAR! across America for &quot;NOT FOR PROFIT, TAX PAYER SUPPORTED, SINGLE PAYER, AUTOMATIC, FREE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE FOR ALL&quot;.

Let&#039;s get this healthcare reform done now my fellow Americans. This year. Take no prisoners.

God Bless All Of You


Jack Smith — Working Class :-)

http://jacksmithworkingclass.blogspot.com/
(http://jacksmithworkingclass.blogspot.com/)</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Finally, the time has arrived to fix Americas Healthcare crisis, and Americas healthcare nightmare. Hundreds of thousands of you are killed needlessly every year by your healthcare delivery system in a rush to profit. And because of a rush to profit Hundreds of thousands more of you are needlessly dying from treatable illness that people in other developed and civilized countries don&#8217;t DIE! from. Rich, middle class, and poor alike. Insured, and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. </p>
<p>Additionally, thousands more of  you are driven into financial ruin, and bankruptcy just because you, or one of your loved ones got sick or injured. And all of this is happening at a time when America spends twice as much of it&#8217;s GDP (Gross Domestic Productivity) on health care than any other country in the developed world. Individual Americans spend about ten times as much on health care as any other people in the developed world. This is a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY. AND IT MUST END!</p>
<p>But before we can truly fix this healthcare crisis and disgrace, everyone needs to clearly understand what the problem is. And everyone needs to clearly understand the real enormity of the problem. The problem is that HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL DELIVERY IN AMERICA IS SEVERELY CORRUPTED AND COMPROMISED BY GREED! AND THE PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MOTIVE. And it is corrupted, and compromised IN EVERY ASPECT, AND EVERY PLACE OF HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL DELIVERY. Unfortunately for all Americans, compromised healthcare ALWAYS results in needless suffering, injury, disability, and or death. Which is exactly what is happening now in America in shocking numbers.</p>
<p>Health care is NOT! a private for profit business. Healthcare is an essential public service. Like police, and fire. And healthcare is also a human right! PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTHCARE IS AN OXYMORON, AND AN IMMORAL AND UNETHICAL PERVERSION OF HEALTHCARE AND HUMAN RIGHTS.</p>
<p>So how do we fix this healthcare disgrace? I believe the fix for Americas healthcare disaster is essentially the same thing that every other developed country in the World has essentially done.  &#8220;NOT FOR PROFIT, TAX PAYER SUPPORTED, SINGLE PAYER, AUTOMATIC, FREE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE FOR ALL&#8221;. Essentially HR676 (enhanced, and improved medicare for all). Just like every other CIVILIZED! country in the developed World has. There is no other way to truly fix and reform our current disastrous healthcare delivery system.</p>
<p>All Universal health care systems work best when everyone participates. But I know that the healthcare lobby, and some politicians will try and undermine &#8220;Not For Profit, Tax payer supported, Single payer, Automatic, Free Universal Healthcare for all&#8221; by falsely claiming that it will limit your choice, and require you to participate.</p>
<p>So, I propose that everyone be included in the national plan unless they choose to opt out. If you opt out and need medical care the national plan will insure your provider that they will be reimbursed under the rules for members in the national plan. But those who opted out, and their insurer will be responsible for the FULL! cost to the national plan for providing your care if you or your private insurer fails to reimburse the provider or the national plan in a timely manor to at least the standards of the national plan.</p>
<p>Including reporting you to credit agencies, withholding of taxes, leans, and garnishment of wages for unpaid medical bills. Just like you have now under private for profit healthcare, and private for profit health insurance.</p>
<p>Further, people who opted out will be required to provide proof of financial responsibility for future illness or be required to participate in the national plan. And everyone with children will be required to participate in the national plan. Or provide proof of insurance coverage on each child to the standards of the national plan. It will be against the law to report anyone in the national plan to a credit agency for unpaid medical bills.</p>
<p>Frankly, only a dope would want to opt out of the national plan and opt to keep our current disastrous private for profit medical, and insurance plans. But they will be free to choose. The most important thing is that the vast majority of Americans that want the protection, benefits, and higher quality of a universal national plan have that choice.</p>
<p>You see, one of the most important aspects of a universal healthcare system is easy access, and patient protection. This is accomplished by having a single payer without a conflict of interest in patient care. And by having a payer who has the power to enforce minimum standards of excellence in healthcare delivery for everyone in the plan. This is much of what Medicare does now for senors. &#8220;Aeger Primo&#8221; (The patient comes first). Unfortunately in our healthcare system the patient comes last. We are just a peace of meat to them. Cash cows to be slaughtered for profit.		</p>
<p>So this is IT! my fellow Americans, My fellow human beings, My fellow World Citizens. And my fellow Cyber Warriors. <img src='http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' />  The time has come. D day. H hour. HEALTHCARE REFORM THIS YEAR! Let no one stand in our way. Contact your representative and tell them you want &#8220;Not For Profit, Tax Payer Supported, Single Payer, Automatic, Free Universal healthcare for all. And tell them you want that choice now. Tell them you want President Obama&#8217;s budget passed without delay. President Obama&#8217;s budget is brilliant. And exactly what is needed now.</p>
<p>President Obama, and his allies will need all the support you can give them. The healthcare lobby will try to take out his people if they can, like they did with Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer. And they will try to neutralize President Obama&#8217;s popularity, and political power. Or they will try to take him down someway. Don&#8217;t stand for it. If they attack him. Go after them ten times harder and remove them from office. We had an election. And you the people chose President Obama&#8217;s leadership, and change agenda. Let no one in government disrespect the will of the American people and remain in office.</p>
<p>SPREAD THE WORD! And talk it up with your families, friends, and coworkers. Keep ratcheting up the pressure until there is a ROAR! across America for &#8220;NOT FOR PROFIT, TAX PAYER SUPPORTED, SINGLE PAYER, AUTOMATIC, FREE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE FOR ALL&#8221;.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s get this healthcare reform done now my fellow Americans. This year. Take no prisoners.</p>
<p>God Bless All Of You</p>
<p>Jack Smith — Working Class <img src='http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p><a href="http://jacksmithworkingclass.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">http://jacksmithworkingclass.blogspot.com/</a><br />
(<a href="http://jacksmithworkingclass.blogspot.com/)" rel="nofollow">http://jacksmithworkingclass.blogspot.com/)</a></p>
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		<title>By: AllButCertain</title>
		<link>http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/howard-dean-to-announce-major-campaign-on-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-7298</link>
		<dc:creator>AllButCertain</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:40:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/?p=3716#comment-7298</guid>
		<description>Urban Legend--That sounds like a smart idea, dividing the catastrophic and routine.  There&#039;s maybe one other thing that needs to be addressed.  There should be some sort of incentive toward preventive care to ward off some of the catastrophic events.  Any ideas on that?</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Urban Legend&#8211;That sounds like a smart idea, dividing the catastrophic and routine.  There&#8217;s maybe one other thing that needs to be addressed.  There should be some sort of incentive toward preventive care to ward off some of the catastrophic events.  Any ideas on that?</p>
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		<title>By: Eli Rabett</title>
		<link>http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/howard-dean-to-announce-major-campaign-on-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-7215</link>
		<dc:creator>Eli Rabett</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:17:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/?p=3716#comment-7215</guid>
		<description>In Germany there is a public and a private system with mandatory enrollment in either one or the other.  The private system is less expensive for the young, more for the old.  However, anyone enrolled in the private system cannot change to the public one.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In Germany there is a public and a private system with mandatory enrollment in either one or the other.  The private system is less expensive for the young, more for the old.  However, anyone enrolled in the private system cannot change to the public one.</p>
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		<title>By: urban legend</title>
		<link>http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/howard-dean-to-announce-major-campaign-on-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-7194</link>
		<dc:creator>urban legend</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:22:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/?p=3716#comment-7194</guid>
		<description>I would add that if we get some dividing line now when universal Federal catastrophic coverage kicks in -- let&#039;s say for starters $2500 individual annual cost, $5000 family, or worst case $5000 individual and $10,000 family -- we can spend the next decade arguing about and deciding whether we can or should make that better (i.e. lower). But the essential structure will be in place.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I would add that if we get some dividing line now when universal Federal catastrophic coverage kicks in &#8212; let&#8217;s say for starters $2500 individual annual cost, $5000 family, or worst case $5000 individual and $10,000 family &#8212; we can spend the next decade arguing about and deciding whether we can or should make that better (i.e. lower). But the essential structure will be in place.</p>
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		<title>By: urban legend</title>
		<link>http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/howard-dean-to-announce-major-campaign-on-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-7193</link>
		<dc:creator>urban legend</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:16:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/?p=3716#comment-7193</guid>
		<description>If we separate conceptually catastrophic coverage from pre-catastrophic -- wherever we decide to draw the line between the two -- and the whole puzzle falls into place. It&#039;s catastrophic which is true insurance -- against a devastating financial loss that anyone could face at any time. If this part of the problem is universal and Federally-insured, we can solve 90% of the societal problem with just that. Private insurance can compete underneath the catastrophic layer -- as it does now in Medicare system -- but public option in that space should be allowed if it is funded only from premiums, with no cheating from general revenues, as a matter of fair competition. Medicaid and SCHIP funds can be re-directed to subsidize low-income purchase of pre-catastrophic policy. Of course, with exposure subject to a hard cap by the Federal catastrophic coverage, it should be far, far less expensive. Rationalization of coverage that assures providers will be compensated for anyone who shows up at the door will accomplish enormous savings.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If we separate conceptually catastrophic coverage from pre-catastrophic &#8212; wherever we decide to draw the line between the two &#8212; and the whole puzzle falls into place. It&#8217;s catastrophic which is true insurance &#8212; against a devastating financial loss that anyone could face at any time. If this part of the problem is universal and Federally-insured, we can solve 90% of the societal problem with just that. Private insurance can compete underneath the catastrophic layer &#8212; as it does now in Medicare system &#8212; but public option in that space should be allowed if it is funded only from premiums, with no cheating from general revenues, as a matter of fair competition. Medicaid and SCHIP funds can be re-directed to subsidize low-income purchase of pre-catastrophic policy. Of course, with exposure subject to a hard cap by the Federal catastrophic coverage, it should be far, far less expensive. Rationalization of coverage that assures providers will be compensated for anyone who shows up at the door will accomplish enormous savings.</p>
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		<title>By: David Chisholm</title>
		<link>http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/howard-dean-to-announce-major-campaign-on-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-7188</link>
		<dc:creator>David Chisholm</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:17:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/?p=3716#comment-7188</guid>
		<description>Please explain or label better what you mean by: &quot;mail&quot; and &quot;website&quot;. Common Dreams has a very well planned system of linking. Please add a &quot;share this with_________ type of Email link. I know of many people who agree with what you doing and who would like to support your work. 
David Chisholm</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Please explain or label better what you mean by: &#8220;mail&#8221; and &#8220;website&#8221;. Common Dreams has a very well planned system of linking. Please add a &#8220;share this with_________ type of Email link. I know of many people who agree with what you doing and who would like to support your work.<br />
David Chisholm</p>
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		<title>By: Petra Machar</title>
		<link>http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/howard-dean-to-announce-major-campaign-on-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-7185</link>
		<dc:creator>Petra Machar</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:56:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/?p=3716#comment-7185</guid>
		<description>HOW DO WE SIGN?  We found the petition; however, the instructions were not there.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>HOW DO WE SIGN?  We found the petition; however, the instructions were not there.</p>
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		<title>By: mcc</title>
		<link>http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/howard-dean-to-announce-major-campaign-on-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-7180</link>
		<dc:creator>mcc</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:31:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/?p=3716#comment-7180</guid>
		<description>Very cool.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Very cool.</p>
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		<title>By: Charles Chamberlain</title>
		<link>http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/howard-dean-to-announce-major-campaign-on-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-7176</link>
		<dc:creator>Charles Chamberlain</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:33:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/?p=3716#comment-7176</guid>
		<description>You can sign the petition at www.StandwithDrDean.com

Thanks for asking!</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You can sign the petition at <a href="http://www.StandwithDrDean.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.StandwithDrDean.com</a></p>
<p>Thanks for asking!</p>
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		<title>By: AllButCertain</title>
		<link>http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/howard-dean-to-announce-major-campaign-on-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-7174</link>
		<dc:creator>AllButCertain</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:03:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/?p=3716#comment-7174</guid>
		<description>Didi--A cancer diagnosis, for instance, leaves a survivor with a certain unease about opting out of any insurance, even if there&#039;s an opt-back-in provision.  But your concern suggests one possibility: allow insurance to be opt-in, but only initially for an existing condition so survivors would have a back up motivation to continue with it, paying their share of premiums.  That&#039;s fairer than the no insurance option at all and less open ended cost-wise.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Didi&#8211;A cancer diagnosis, for instance, leaves a survivor with a certain unease about opting out of any insurance, even if there&#8217;s an opt-back-in provision.  But your concern suggests one possibility: allow insurance to be opt-in, but only initially for an existing condition so survivors would have a back up motivation to continue with it, paying their share of premiums.  That&#8217;s fairer than the no insurance option at all and less open ended cost-wise.</p>
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		<title>By: jharp</title>
		<link>http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/howard-dean-to-announce-major-campaign-on-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-7171</link>
		<dc:creator>jharp</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:49:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/?p=3716#comment-7171</guid>
		<description>So where do we sign up? I&#039;m in.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>So where do we sign up? I&#8217;m in.</p>
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		<title>By: Redshift</title>
		<link>http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/howard-dean-to-announce-major-campaign-on-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-7164</link>
		<dc:creator>Redshift</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:20:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/?p=3716#comment-7164</guid>
		<description>&lt;em&gt;It’s a worst case scenario for abuse, but I think it’s one that will be pushed by the Republican, just like the like to champion welfare slackers in order to condemn the whole system.&lt;/em&gt;

I hate to break it to you, but designing policy to attempt to avoid blatantly false Republican attacks has never had much success. The lack of concern for truth in attacks is because they don&#039;t care whether you believe your policy avoids the problem they&#039;re complaining about, only whether they can make it resonate. Answering BS with a logical argument is always a losing battle; we&#039;re better off doing what we think is best and selling it to the public on its merits than trying to fight on their small-ball turf.
.
Any system will have some abuse. The question is not whether Republicans will grandstand about it, but whether it&#039;s significant, and how to minimize it. If we have a public option, then mandates are not unreasonable (though beware -- Republicans will attack them as taking away &quot;freedom&quot;!), but default enrollment with opt-out may be as effective with less up-front effort. But the point is, let&#039;s do what works. Mandates without a public option are not a good idea because they will just create a captive market for insurers who have failed to provide good outcomes or control costs in the current system.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>It’s a worst case scenario for abuse, but I think it’s one that will be pushed by the Republican, just like the like to champion welfare slackers in order to condemn the whole system.</em></p>
<p>I hate to break it to you, but designing policy to attempt to avoid blatantly false Republican attacks has never had much success. The lack of concern for truth in attacks is because they don&#8217;t care whether you believe your policy avoids the problem they&#8217;re complaining about, only whether they can make it resonate. Answering BS with a logical argument is always a losing battle; we&#8217;re better off doing what we think is best and selling it to the public on its merits than trying to fight on their small-ball turf.<br />
.<br />
Any system will have some abuse. The question is not whether Republicans will grandstand about it, but whether it&#8217;s significant, and how to minimize it. If we have a public option, then mandates are not unreasonable (though beware &#8212; Republicans will attack them as taking away &#8220;freedom&#8221;!), but default enrollment with opt-out may be as effective with less up-front effort. But the point is, let&#8217;s do what works. Mandates without a public option are not a good idea because they will just create a captive market for insurers who have failed to provide good outcomes or control costs in the current system.</p>
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		<title>By: msmolly</title>
		<link>http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/howard-dean-to-announce-major-campaign-on-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-7154</link>
		<dc:creator>msmolly</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:21:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/?p=3716#comment-7154</guid>
		<description>Where&#039;s the petition. I want to sign. I want to stuff the ballot box!</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Where&#8217;s the petition. I want to sign. I want to stuff the ballot box!</p>
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		<title>By: AP</title>
		<link>http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/howard-dean-to-announce-major-campaign-on-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-7146</link>
		<dc:creator>AP</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:59:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/?p=3716#comment-7146</guid>
		<description>&quot;I think disgruntled Dean supporters are kind of silly.&quot;  That, naturally, is your opinion.  He was very well suited to the job.  Team Obama cut off its nose to spite its face by not bringing Dean on.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;I think disgruntled Dean supporters are kind of silly.&#8221;  That, naturally, is your opinion.  He was very well suited to the job.  Team Obama cut off its nose to spite its face by not bringing Dean on.</p>
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