Which, of course, does not mean that they are right. No cost controls (from Big Pharma) and no public option — so where exactly does the health care reform begin? Yes, insurance regulation is a good thing, but far from the reform this country desperately needs.

There have been so many mistakes made in handling the reform by this administration so far that it makes the Clintons look like geniuses. The mistakes are attributable to a lack of imagination and political will at the very top. Obama does not seem to know himself what he wants and, more importantly, what the country needs. (Though he did know it as an IL senator, curiously: a single-payer, government-run health care for all. Quickly forgot about it when running for preznit, though.) And, oh, let’s not forget, there are six lobbyists per one lawmaker “working” on the reform.

No wonder it’s been so easy to put Obama and his supporters on the defensive. Let’s hope they can dig themselves and us out of this mess. Without public option, there is no meaningful health care reform to talk about.

And, btw, it’s not just my say-so, but opinions of people who’ve spent their lives devoted to this issue (like Kip Sullivan, for example, Marcia Angell, or Wendell Potter, to name a few).

We will get some insurance regulation, I’m fairly confident of that. But health care reform? Not quite, especially if the public option is removed.

On a personal note, I was raised under the socialistic health care “regime” And let me tell you, it was awesome compared to what passes for health “care” here. No one died from treatable diseases because they could not afford to pay their doctors or pharmacists, no one went bankrupt from paying obscene medical bills, and there was no unreasonable waiting (which I have encountered here, in the US, btw) and no rationing (which we do see here). Wish all Americans could at least get a taste of it — they’d be more easily persuaded, I’m sure.

BTW, the public support for the public option has been and remains strong, at about 2/3 of the population, according to various polls. We don’t always hear this from the media, however, as the wingnut stories dominate prime time news.

Everything and everyone involved in our Health Care system is overpaid and overpriced. We never see the bill so most people have no idea. The Big Evil Insurance Companies pay monsterous bills over and above any cost because of the uninsured and Medicare patients.

You just have no idea Jack, but I’m glad for that, because of dolts like you we are winning the fight against Socialized Canada-Style lack of care …

Want to save money in Health Care? Try passing Tort Reform .. but NO, the Democrats are so beholden to the dirt ambulance chasing Lawyers so we can’t do this. How about eliminating health care for Illegals? That would save billions .. Oh no, that would be immoral plus Democrats are beholden to Immigrunt groups who not only enther the USA illegally, they vote illegally too … for Democrats .. How about allowing Health Ins. Companies to sell a policy Nationwide rather than within a State Only .. that would save money huh?

Big time money grubbing Lawyers like your former VP nominee John Edwards sucked hundreds of millions out of our Health Care system for a scam. Edwards exemplifies the problem, a dirt Lawyer who lives in the largest house in South Carolina. How many doctors and patients were hurt while Edwards drew millions out of the system?? doctors have to practice “defensive medicine” and pay high insurance fees thanks to your favorites like John Edwards. The Dems would never have the courage to put a cap on their biggest donors (re: Lawyers).

I agree Pharma execs are overpaid. But thier draw has virtually zero impact within the billions spent on Pharma … I suppose you could argue that everyone involved in Health Care is overpaid. Some doctors are making well over 400k, many nurses make over $40/hr+ bene’s for a 2yr degree, Tech’s earn $30 – $50/hr+bene’s for their 2yr degree as well.