November seems so long ago. Back then, Senator Obama could get away with making promises about a myriad of topics including the hot button issue of the summer: healthcare. President Obama has a very very very full agenda comprised of two wars, a failing economy, diplomatic horror, and a healthcare system that's been broken for decades.
The Plans
The Democrats control both houses of Congress and the White House so it's only natural that their proposals have taken center-stage. The main focus of the Democratic plan is the much talked about Public Option with most, if not all, Left Wing commentators saying it's the way to go (Ed Schultz from The Ed Show on MSNBC and Arianna Huffington of the Huffington Post being two of the most vocal supporters). This plan would create a government run set of plans much like Medicare and Medicaid available to anyone who wishes to purchase the plan. The thinking behind creating a Public Option is that it will force the private companies to lower premiums that they charge which benefits all people not just those that buy the government plan. The idea is to create a more responsible competitor and one that anyone can get access to.
Republicans have often been labeled by The Left as not having any ideas or as being "the party of no" which I 100% disagree with on THIS issue. There is no Republican Congressperson who supports the Public Option which isn't surprising to anyone who is familiar with Republican beliefs of capitalism and markets free of government intervention. Some plans include a tax rebate to put money in the hands of the people so they can buy the coverage they need (a plan that Senator McCain endorses) and the bi-partisan Cooperative idea. The New York Times has a story on the Cooperative plan and describes it as offering "a system of health providers or contract out for members' medical services."
The Criticisms
The Democrat's plan has been labeled Socialism by way of a Government takeover of healthcare. The Republicans argue that the Public Option is backed by unlimited resources which will make it more appealing than Private Plans so the Private Plans will starve out leaving only the Public Option. The Republicans also dispute the notion Americans will not be forced out of their current plan. The Republican Plan has been attacked as offering very little reform and much of the same.
My Verdict
I agree with both sides, especially Republican Governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal who believes that we should move away from employer and union-based administration. I say let individuals and families choose their own care because it is true that you can be forced out of your current plan if your employer does decide to go with the Government Option. This way, people who are against the Public Option can keep Private Insurance and those who want the Public Option can keep it without any forcing into anything. But here's the question: do we want our lives in the hands of companies whose bottom line is profits?
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