FINALLY--somebody gets it. Below is today's e-mail from Jim Dean and Democracy for America, the grassroots group founded by his brother Howard in 2004. Candidate Obama said he didn't support a mandate, and Pres. Obama ought to veto any bill with a mandate that doesn't get serious about controlling costs. I keep coming to the same conclusion: get a bill that works, not a hollow (and short-lived) political victory. It's nice to see someone on my side. Here's my favorite part:
Without the choice of a public option, forcing Americans to buy health insurance isn't just bad policy, it's political disaster for Democrats -- a ticking time-bomb for years to come.
Way to go Jim. Now talk to your brother!
______
from DFA:
Loren -
I'll get straight to the point. If Democrats remove the choice of a public option, they can't force Americans to buy health insurance.
Here's the deal, Senate leaders are all over Washington claiming they finally have a healthcare reform bill they can pass, as long as they remove the public option. After all, they say, even without a public option, the bill still "covers 30 million more Americans." The problem is that's not really true.
What they are actually talking about is something called the "individual mandate." That's a section of the law that requires every single American buy health insurance or break the law and face penalties and fines. So, the bill doesn't actually "cover" 30 million more Americans -- instead it makes them criminals if they don't buy insurance from the same companies that got us into this mess.
A public option would have provided the competition needed to drive down costs and improve coverage. It would have kept insurance companies honest by providing an affordable alternative Americans can trust. That's why, without a public option, this bill is almost a trillion dollar taxpayer giveaway to insurance companies.
We must act fast. Both Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid and Democratic Senators need to hear from you. Please stop whatever else you are doing and make the calls right now.
Senator Harry Reid
DC: (202) 224-3542
Carson City: (775) 882-7343
Las Vegas: (702) 388-5020
Reno: (775) 686-5750
Call your Democratic Senator too -- Senate Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
REPORT YOUR CALL AND TELL US HOW IT WENT
Without the choice of a public option, forcing Americans to buy health insurance isn't just bad policy, it's political disaster for Democrats -- a ticking time-bomb for years to come.
Does anyone think Republicans won't use this against Democrats in 2010?
What about in 2014 after the mandate goes into effect and the press reports all the horror stories of Americans forced to choose between paying their monthly health insurance bill to Aetna or paying rent?
The mandate is toxic and Democrats will own it. By the 2016 presidential election, is there any wonder how this will play out for Democrats?
CALL SENATOR HARRY REID NOW AT (202) 224-3542 THEN REPORT YOUR CALL HERE
The message is simple: No public option? No Mandate!
Thank you for everything you do,
-Jim
Jim Dean, Chair
Democracy for America
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2 comments:
In his NYT column for Dec. 18, 2009, Paul Krugman concludes that Dems should just pass the bill. Even though it's the equivalent of paying a ransom, it's better to get something now in the hope that it will get better in the future. (He also says that America would be better off if Bill Clinton had compromised in 1994 with moderate Republicans (when there were some) or if Dems had cut a deal with Richard Nixon (and it's hard to argue with this last point).
David Brooks takes a different approach and says it's a close call--but he comes down to a no as of today. Any opinions out there about what to do now?
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