As debates continue on Capitol Hill to get moderate Democrats to sign onto President Barack Obama's health care reform legislation, some reports indicate that the marquee "public option" could get dropped from the final draft of the bill.  Is it still health care "reform"? 

Without the public option- which would allow the government to offer low-premium health care insurance that can never be taken away- the bill would still prevent private health insurance companies from denying coverage to applicants, and from charging higher premiums based on preexisting conditions

Howard Dean gives an unequivocal "no."  The former chairman of the Democratic National Committee told a group in San Francisco that any reform that doesn't include a public option is, "fake reform."  "We don't have real reform unless there is a public option," said Dean, whose book Howard Dean's Prescription for Real Health Care Reform came out two weeks ago. 

What do you say?

Without the public option, insurance companies (which have been the problem all along) continue to dominate the health care market. Excising the public option does nothing to alleviate the outrageous cost of care, nor does it ensure that working class Americans can afford health care coverage. It simply gives health care companies a green light to continue operating as they have been, albeit with a few new guidelines...and who's to say whether or not the language would be strong enough to be sure that they observe them?

And say that anything short of single payer isn't "real reform."

But with no public option, there is no incentive for health companies to keep costs low. You also still have the issue of providers being incentivized to provide more services and charge more for them.

Plus, it doesn't keep insurance companies from poring through your medical history to find any minutae of an indication that you might not have disclosed something on your intake form (like the woman in Sicko who got dumped from Humana in the midst of a cancer diagnosis because she'd had an undisclosed yeast infection years earlier).

LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY. (Thomas Paine)

We have the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed world. Conservative estimates are that over 120,000 of you dies each year in America from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don't die from. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Insured and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. This is what being 37th in quality of healthcare means.

I know that many of you are angry and frustrated that REPUBLICANS! In congress are dragging their feet and trying to block TRUE healthcare reform. What republicans want is just a taxpayer bailout of the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry, and the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry. A trillion dollar taxpayer funded private health insurance bailout is all you really get without a robust government-run public option available on day one. Co-OP's ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION. They are a fraud being pushed by the GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry that is KILLING YOU!

YOU CANT HAVE AN INSURANCE MANDATE WITHOUT A ROBUST PUBLIC OPTION. MANDATING PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTH INSURANCE AS YOUR ONLY CHOICE WOULD BE UNETHICAL, CORRUPT, AND MORALLY REPUGNANT. AND PROBABLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS WELL.

These industries have been slaughtering you and your loved ones like cattle for decades for profit. Including members of congress and their families. These REPUBLICANS are FOOLS!

Republicans and their traitorous allies have been trying to make it look like it's President Obama's fault for the delays, and foot dragging. But I think you all know better than that. President Obama inherited one of the worst government catastrophes in American history from these REPUBLICANS! And President Obama has done a brilliant job of turning things around, and working his heart out for all of us.

But Republicans think you are just a bunch of stupid, idiot, cash cows with short memories. Just like they did under the Bush administration when they helped Bush and Cheney rape America and the rest of the World.

But you don't have to put up with that. And this is what you can do. The Republicans below will be up for reelection on November 2, 2010. Just a little over 13 months from now. And many of you will be able to vote early. So pick some names and tell their voters that their representatives (by name) are obstructing TRUE healthcare reform. And are sellouts to the insurance and medical lobbyist.

Ask them to contact their representatives and tell them that they are going to work to throw them out of office on November 2, 2010, if not before by impeachment, or recall elections. Doing this will give you something more to do to make things better in America. And it will help you feel better too.

There are many resources on the internet that can help you find people to call and contact. For example, many social networking sites can be searched by state, city, or University. Be inventive and creative. I can think of many ways to do this. But be nice. These are your neighbors. And most will want to help.

I know there are a few democrats that have been trying to obstruct TRUE healthcare reform too. But the main problem is the Bush Republicans. Removing them is the best thing tactically to do. On the other hand. If you can easily replace a democrat obstructionist with a supportive democrat, DO IT!

You have been AMAZING!!! my people. Don't loose heart. You knew it wasn't going to be easy saving the World. :-)

God Bless You

jacksmith — Working Class

I REST MY CASE (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)

Republican Senators up for re-election in 2010.

* Richard Shelby of Alabama
* Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
* John McCain of Arizona
* Mel Martinez of Florida
* Johnny Isakson of Georgia
* Mike Crapo of Idaho
* Chuck Grassley of Iowa
* Sam Brownback of Kansas
* Jim Bunning of Kentucky
* David Vitter of Louisiana
* Kit Bond of Missouri
* Judd Gregg of New Hampshire
* Richard Burr of North Carolina
* George Voinovich of Ohio
* Tom Coburn of Oklahoma
* Jim DeMint of South Carolina
* John Thune of South Dakota
* Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas
* Bob Bennett of Utah

Single payer is the best solution, but unfortunately that got dropped early on for some reason. A public option is the least that I can swallow.

no public option means our goverment sold us out. Both Democrates and republicans are bought and paid for by big business and the rich. our goverment is dead its time for a revolution.

Reform is merely a word..One single change, negative or positive is reform..A public option is what we were promised, it is what I voted for, and it is what I expect!!! Nancy Pelosi says house democrats won't accept anything less than a public option. Lets hope she means it.