Krugman takes on the myths and concludes:
So what's the reality of the proposed reform? Compared with the Platonic ideal of reform, Obamacare comes up short. If the votes were there, I would much prefer to see Medicare for all. For a real piece of passable legislation, however, it looks very good. It wouldn't transform our health care system; in fact, Americans whose jobs come with health coverage would see little effect. But it would make a huge difference to the less fortunate among us, even as it would do more to control costs than anything we've done before. This is a reasonable, responsible plan. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
For a real piece of passable legislation, however, it looks very good. It wouldn't transform our health care system; in fact, Americans whose jobs come with health coverage would see little effect. But it would make a huge difference to the less fortunate among us, even as it would do more to control costs than anything we've done before.
This is a reasonable, responsible plan. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
I'd imagine we can do even better than that now that we have 50 votes for reconciliation (not 50 for a public option yet, though). Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
It will come down to the question: do we want to allow the insurance companies to swallow the economy or can we rein them in once they have become even more powerful and rich. They will certainly have natural allies on Wall Street, and we see how well goes the struggle to rein in excessive executive compensation there. As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
BEFORE
and AFTER
Now, go! Spread the nutello. Nutello for eveeeryone! Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
