With Republican senators dogmatically opposed to a public health care system similar to the very efficient and morally justifiable Canadian and certain EU systems, and with conservative Democratic senators siding with the right wingers, the prospect of the US having a public health care system option as part of the legislation now before the Senate and the House was dim indeed.
But now there is life in the public option again, because some senators have found a new way to skin the cat and allow them to vote for a public option without losing votes in their states.
How did they do that?
"The approach would create a national health insurance program while permitting each state to ‘opt-out’ of the plan or come up with its own public plan to compete with private insurers. As a “fall-back” position, the White House is considering supporting Sen. Carper’s initial proposal of an ‘opt in’ program whereby states would be permitted to launch their own public option with some federal support."
How does this protect the conservative Democratic senators?
This way:
"Essentially, the ‘opt-in’ and ‘opt-out’ approach takes Democratic senators, like Evan Bayh, off the hook with their constituents back home. If their state doesn’t want to play, their senator will have reserved to their state’s voters the right to take a pass. If a state does wish to participate, their senator will have brought home the victory.
The Republicans, on the other hand, who will likely stand pat in opposition, will be left empty handed and remain the party of “no”, having voted to deny their home state the opportunity to make a decision as to whether or not they want in on the program."
Let's keep our thumbs crossed that the Americans will end up with a sensible system.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
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4 comments:
Cat,
I agree some Republicans and Democrats are taking the safe position or following party line.
Watching the last few days in QP watching the Bloc demand Cinar be revisited, of Jack and some Liberals rewrite the laws to fix the fallout from Nortel.
Those protesters and those MP's should be calling Dalton and the Liberals who have a majority and are directly responsible for the provincial file on Nortel.
In reviewing several posts on Lib blogs this is one of the few bright spots.
Thanks again for your discourse and differing perspectives.
Hi. Speaking as a Canadian I must say that I am happy with the single payer system we have. It is cheaper than the American one and all citizens are covered. Besides that I know what I'm paying for and what I'll get in return. So, I think that people should have a choice. On the other hand, I agree that the US politicins are taking safe positions now, but tomorrow everything can be different.
Take care,
Lorne
Dis Ins Can.
We should be able to have an adult conversation, but we can't on this topic up here.
The Unions and special interest groups represented in the opposition parties will decry the end to Universal Health Care etc..and paint the current gov't as destroyers of the country.
We should look at every country and take "best case" scenarios models and discuss those with Canadians.
A simple fact remains, people that are wealthy, connected political, famous may jump the queue in Canada every single time.
Canadian nonsense if you were not so rabidly anti liberal you might possibly get taken somewhat seriously. You post absolute anti Liberal garbage everywhere you go. Lets call a spade a spade first.
Single payer medicare is a backbone of our Country. I am currently in the US heartland and people here are very envious of our system and think republicans are crazed animals out to salvage riches for their supporters with no regard to the real health care issues. Canadian Tories are in the same boat.
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