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Open town meetings were supposed to be a forum for open, civil
discussion between citizens and their elected representatives. The
'deathers', who insist a government run health insurance system could,
as IA Senator Charles Grassley says, decide "when to pull the plug on
grandma", have forever changed that.
Many of the town hall protesters are justly concerned about their
health care coverage; happy with what they have, concerned about costs
and fearful of single payer universal health insurance.
Others just wanted Obama to fail.
The most vocal element may, as Paul Krugman of the New York Times
alleges, have racist motives. Cynthia Tucker of the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution estimates that "45-65%" of the protesters are
motivated by racism.
If racism is the protesters real problem, then health insurance reform is not our only problem.
Democrats accuse Republicans of staging the town hall protests. Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Dick Polman quotes
Republican National Campaign Committee Chairman, Pete Sessions as
saying "the days of civil town halls are now over".
If Sessions is serious, we've taken a step backwards in the democratic process.
Misguided, obstructionist or greedy, the protesters, the Republicans
and the insurance companies have won. The White House appears to have
given up on a public insurance option.
In June Obama told Senate Democrats "I strongly believe that Americans
should have the choice of a public health insurance option operating
alongside private plans. This will give them a better range of choices,
make the health care market more competitive, and keep insurance
companies honest."
On August 15, at a Colorado town hall meeting Obama downplayed the public option saying it was "just one sliver of the debate".
How quickly things change, how quickly Obama folded.
With the Administration apparently ready to scrap the public option,
health insurance cooperatives are touted as an alternative, a weak
option at best. As the non-profit alternative to private insurance,
Wisconsin's Farmers Health Cooperative offered me a $10,000 deductible
policy with only slightly higher premiums than I now pay for the same
level of private coverage. Some alternative.
With no competition from a public option, private health insurance
companies will continue to raise premiums and pad their profit margins.
USA Today
reports that employers could see insurance costs rise 9% in 2010; when
their costs go up 9% employees can expect to see their costs increase
by double digits.
Premiums could go even higher (11% to 16%) in some areas served by a limited number of private health insurance providers.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Dept. of Health and Human Services) expects per capita medical costs to increase 71% over the next decade. Todays average family premium of $13,000 is expected to rise to $22,000 by 2019.
The town hall protesters see the elimination of any public option as a victory. They better keep their check books handy.
Now that the President has caved in to the health care officials that have frequented the White House since his election, one wonders what's next, privatization of Medicare?
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Open town meetings were supposed to be a forum for open, civil
discussion between citizens and their elected representatives. The
'deathers', who insist a government run health insurance system could,
as IA Senator Charles Grassley says, decide "when to pull the plug on
grandma", have forever changed that.
Many of the town hall protesters are justly concerned about their
health care coverage; happy with what they have, concerned about costs
and fearful of single payer universal health insurance.
Others just wanted Obama to fail.
The most vocal element may, as Paul Krugman of the New York Times
alleges, have racist motives. Cynthia Tucker of the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution estimates that "45-65%" of the protesters are
motivated by racism.
If racism is the protesters real problem, then health insurance reform is not our only problem.
Democrats accuse Republicans of staging the town hall protests. Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Dick Polman quotes
Republican National Campaign Committee Chairman, Pete Sessions as
saying "the days of civil town halls are now over".
If Sessions is serious, we've taken a step backwards in the democratic process.
Misguided, obstructionist or greedy, the protesters, the Republicans
and the insurance companies have won. The White House appears to have
given up on a public insurance option.
In June Obama told Senate Democrats "I strongly believe that Americans
should have the choice of a public health insurance option operating
alongside private plans. This will give them a better range of choices,
make the health care market more competitive, and keep insurance
companies honest."
On August 15, at a Colorado town hall meeting Obama downplayed the public option saying it was "just one sliver of the debate".
How quickly things change, how quickly Obama folded.
With the Administration apparently ready to scrap the public option,
health insurance cooperatives are touted as an alternative, a weak
option at best. As the non-profit alternative to private insurance,
Wisconsin's Farmers Health Cooperative offered me a $10,000 deductible
policy with only slightly higher premiums than I now pay for the same
level of private coverage. Some alternative.
With no competition from a public option, private health insurance
companies will continue to raise premiums and pad their profit margins.
USA Today
reports that employers could see insurance costs rise 9% in 2010; when
their costs go up 9% employees can expect to see their costs increase
by double digits.
Premiums could go even higher (11% to 16%) in some areas served by a limited number of private health insurance providers.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Dept. of Health and Human Services) expects per capita medical costs to increase 71% over the next decade. Todays average family premium of $13,000 is expected to rise to $22,000 by 2019.
The town hall protesters see the elimination of any public option as a victory. They better keep their check books handy.
Now that the President has caved in to the health care officials that have frequented the White House since his election, one wonders what's next, privatization of Medicare?
Open town meetings were supposed to be a forum for open, civil
discussion between citizens and their elected representatives. The
'deathers', who insist a government run health insurance system could,
as IA Senator Charles Grassley says, decide "when to pull the plug on
grandma", have forever changed that.
Many of the town hall protesters are justly concerned about their
health care coverage; happy with what they have, concerned about costs
and fearful of single payer universal health insurance.
Others just wanted Obama to fail.
The most vocal element may, as Paul Krugman of the New York Times
alleges, have racist motives. Cynthia Tucker of the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution estimates that "45-65%" of the protesters are
motivated by racism.
If racism is the protesters real problem, then health insurance reform is not our only problem.
Democrats accuse Republicans of staging the town hall protests. Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Dick Polman quotes
Republican National Campaign Committee Chairman, Pete Sessions as
saying "the days of civil town halls are now over".
If Sessions is serious, we've taken a step backwards in the democratic process.
Misguided, obstructionist or greedy, the protesters, the Republicans
and the insurance companies have won. The White House appears to have
given up on a public insurance option.
In June Obama told Senate Democrats "I strongly believe that Americans
should have the choice of a public health insurance option operating
alongside private plans. This will give them a better range of choices,
make the health care market more competitive, and keep insurance
companies honest."
On August 15, at a Colorado town hall meeting Obama downplayed the public option saying it was "just one sliver of the debate".
How quickly things change, how quickly Obama folded.
With the Administration apparently ready to scrap the public option,
health insurance cooperatives are touted as an alternative, a weak
option at best. As the non-profit alternative to private insurance,
Wisconsin's Farmers Health Cooperative offered me a $10,000 deductible
policy with only slightly higher premiums than I now pay for the same
level of private coverage. Some alternative.
With no competition from a public option, private health insurance
companies will continue to raise premiums and pad their profit margins.
USA Today
reports that employers could see insurance costs rise 9% in 2010; when
their costs go up 9% employees can expect to see their costs increase
by double digits.
Premiums could go even higher (11% to 16%) in some areas served by a limited number of private health insurance providers.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Dept. of Health and Human Services) expects per capita medical costs to increase 71% over the next decade. Todays average family premium of $13,000 is expected to rise to $22,000 by 2019.
The town hall protesters see the elimination of any public option as a victory. They better keep their check books handy.
Now that the President has caved in to the health care officials that have frequented the White House since his election, one wonders what's next, privatization of Medicare?