Health Care '09: Why We Can't Wait

These articles by our bloggers and progressive allies help make the case for why health care reform with a public plan option is critical. These articles will help you make the case to members of Congress and leaders in your community.

Other Progressive Voices
ROBERT B. REICH

Why the Critics of a Public Option for Health Care Are Wrong
robertreich.blogspot.com — Without a public option, the other parties that comprise America's non-system of health care — private insurers, doctors, hospitals, drug companies, and medical suppliers — have little or no incentive to supply high-quality care at a lower cost than they do now. Which is precisely why the public option has become such a lightning rod.
THEDA SKOCPOL

The Moment of Truth
tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com — We are at a moment of truth, a pivotal turning point — in the form of what happens in the next days and weeks with robust, universal health reform. A fork in the road socially, economically — and politically. It could go either way depending on Obama and the Democratic officeholders many of us worked so hard to elect. They have the power to act, but will they use it — or lose it?
BYARD DUNCAN

Americans Want a Public Option on Health Care -- Here's How We Can Make it Happen
alternet.org — The only thing standing between us and real health care for all Americans are some senators and their industry friends. Time for battle.
EZRA KLEIN

Should Democrats Fight for the Public Plan?
voices.washingtonpost.com — In the long term, the fortunes of Democrats will be decided by whether people like health reform after it passes. Which is to say that passing health reform is different from passing a successful health reform. And certain policies which may be controversial in the legislative period might be extremely important to the implementation period.
DARSHAK SANGHAVI

The Sobering Lessons of Health Reform in Massachussetts
slate.com — Without a smart plan to ration our resources well — that is, stick to a budget — and improve health, simply mandating that employers and individuals buy health insurance will only worsen the mess.
PAUL STARR

Perils of the Public Plan
prospect.org — A badly designed public plan could turn out to be the opposite of what progressives intend.
PAUL WALDMAN

Health Care Reform Villains
prospect.org — It's time for Obama to start naming the bad guys in the battle over health care reform.
NATE SILVER

Special Interest Money Means Longer Odds for Public Option
fivethirtyeight.com — Health care is one of those areas where both popular opinion and sound public policy seem to take a backseat to protecting those stakeholders who benefit from the status quo. But can we actually see — statistically — the impact of lobbying by the insurance industry on the prospects for health care reform? I believe that the answer is yes.
TREMAYNE

Parcel Delivery with a Public Option
openleft.com — During the president's back-and-forth with reporters about a public option in the health care reform bill, I immediately thought of the U.S. Postal Service. Here's a government-run service that can deliver a paper document to any remote location you choose for 42 cents, deliver packages quickly and at a very competitive rate. But even with this efficiency the "public option" for package delivery has a number of healthy private sector competitors.

From Our Bloggers
SARA ROBINSON

Broken Health Care: What It Really Costs Us
Sometimes, when you're up to your chin in alligators, it's hard to focus on the fact that there's a big, broad, alligator-free world waiting somewhere out there, beyond the edge of the swamp.
JASON ROSENBAUM

Health Care Affordability: Bad Now And Getting Worse
Health Care for America Now and the Institute for America's Future have teamed up for a report on affordability. The conclusion shouldn't be surprising to anyone who actually has to pay for health care every month (that would exclude members of Congress):
BILL SCHER

Can't ... Mention... Climate Bill ... Must ... Ask ... President ... If He Smokes
Last night came the surprising news that Speaker Pelosi is speeding the comprehensive clean energy and climate protection bill to the House floor this week despite uncertainty whether it will pass.
BRIAN DOCKSTADER

Mythbusting An Insurance Lobby Attack Ad
This morning my breakfast was ruined, ruined by an anti-health care reform ad on TV.
JONATHAN WALKER

Public Option Genie Will Soon Be Out of the Bottle
Very soon, the Congressional Budget Office will release a score for the House Democrats' draft health care legislation. Their bill contains a relatively strong self-financing public option. My research has led me to conclude that including a strong public option will result in the bill being scored several hundred billion dollars cheaper.
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