Of course Single Payer is the only thing that will work. But, the American people are ignorant beyond description, for two reasons: they watch corporate TeeVee and they are uninclined to read anything substantial or scientific. The medical literature is replete with studies comparing costs and outcomes with the US healthcare system and those of Western Europe. Corporate TeeVee doesn't report these studies, nor do Americans read or listen to alternative news sources that do report these studies. Hence, ignorance runs rampant, and the corporate controlled Congress can vote with satisfaction that the slaves on the plantation will approve of their corporate giveaways and subsidies.

Honestly, we need a socialist revolution to kick these scumbags out of office and restructure our economy so that it "works" for the vast majority of citizens. But, sadly, this country will have to hit the shit-hole, hit bottom before the masses rise up and get a clue. It's amazing that they haven't by now. They'll have to be kicked to curb, and then run over backwards and forwards by a Hummer before they realize what's happening.

Do you not understand what insurance is? Your question doesn't even make sense, putting someone in place between doctor and you? The government would NOT make health care decisions, unlike insurance companies do now, because it would be prohibited by law, ideally. The government would set reimbursement rates only. When I was in Canada, no one made my health care decisions but me and my doctor. And it was cheaper than here.

The public option would have lower administrative costs because it would not suck money to Wall Street scumbags, executives, or marketing/advertising. The insurance industry is scared to death, otherwise they wouldn't be trying to move heaven and earth to kill it.

We live in a fascist corporate shit-hole where corporations and executives are the kings. The Democrats are a capitalist party-therefore there will be no public option. You can check my letter thread as I predicted this a long time ago based on who pays the Democrats. They will bow to their corporate masters.

You are a corporate shill, sweetheart.

You can post all you want but you can't deny the WHO studies. Journals like JAMA, Lancet, and the New England Journal of Medicine are replete with studies comparing costs and outcomes of US delivery of healthcare with those of Western European countries like France (which has a superb healthcare system), Spain, and Austria.

Sweetheart, the problem is not that US doctors are not trained or skilled, the problem is ACCESS and COST. The scientific studies comparing the outcomes is not favorable to the US. This is not in dispute in the journals. At all. The problem is how to fix it.

I called a Republican congressman today. I asked his office "If government sponsored healthcare is so sucky, then why does Congressman Boehner receive his healthcare procedures at government run hospitals like the Naval Hospital in Bethesda?"

Stone silence at the other end of the line.

Each member of congress has access to the armed forces services. Mitch McConnell had a bypass at Walter Reed, I think.

@ Old Joe

Sweetheart,

The problem with Medicare is the funding. Period. It's not because of some inherent defect of government. If you elect sleazebags who cut funding, then your government is going to suck. The reason government sucks is because the American people elect criminals to the government.

Sweetheart,

Precisely...I'm not interested in Obama's plan, because he is a corporate shill. We need single payer, but the government, mandated by law, would not be allowed to deny or drop coverage. I do think it would be only slightly better than what we have now. You only need to look at who is salivating at the plan to know who is going to make money. I'm for cutting out all insurance companies out of the equation, period.

Giving that power to insurance companies, like what we have now, is detrimental. Just look around you.

By the way, have you experienced the French system? Have you lived in France or talked to the French about their system? They know far more about our than we do about theirs (as do the Canadians) and they surely do NOT want our system of payment. The US system is a NEGATIVE model for the rest of the world. They clearly do not want it.

Well, you are 100% correct on that front. This is about corporate profits, not a healthy society.

What I find amazing, and quite UN-SCIENTIFIC, is that no one is bothering to discuss single payer. Of course I'm not holding my breath, because I know it won't happen with Obama in the White House. We would need a revolution to smash the two party system and institute a new Constitution to base on a multi-party democracy, not a winner takes all by district (we need proportional representation).

The US is very good at treating very sick people, at least the technology is there, the medical personnel are trained, etc. The problem is access, and therefore follow-up. The profit motive and the financing fuck up the outcomes. This crisis is not due to doctors or nurses, they are the victims. The blame rests squarely on the shoulders of the financiers and those who make profit. Clearly, the market cannot provide a healthy society, and those who advocate single payer were ruthlessly silenced because Congress knew that they had no arguments against it that are plausible.

"It's not about politics!"

Well, everything is political!!! Politics is about our lives, the economy, everything there is. Every issue is political, as you can't get away from it.

So, Obama, quit pretending you are not political. Everyone is, everyone who has a point of view or perspective. Everyone.

I haven't seen any absolute proof that Blunt is NOT having sex with 8 year old boys. He hasn't denied this, either. I think I'll spread the rumor over the internet and call Fox News.