Howard Dean: Washington Is More Resistant To Change Than Anything "Except A Few Religious Cults"

In an interview with Esquire magazine, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean (author of a new book, "Howard Dean's Prescription for Real Health Care Reform," explained why there was so much resistance to a public health care option.

ESQ: Speaking of the Obama plan, you're even stronger than he has been lately in support of the public plan. You say that without it, it's not reform.

HD: It's not. It's a waste of time. Don't pretend you're going to do health-insurance reform unless you're really going to change the system. The discussions in the Senate have not been about changing the system.

ESQ: They seem to be worried about preserving the status quo.

HD: Washington is the most conservative town in America. Its culture is the most resistant to change except a few religious cults.

Yesterday, Dean responded to reports that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel was pushing for a public option that would be triggered by future conditions. "I think that a public plan with triggers is not a real public plan and it is going to be a trillion dollar failure," Dean said. "Anyone who thinks a trigger is going to lead us to a good place five years from now is wrong... It is not a sensible policy compromise."

Read the full interview here.

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Comments

[ljmck]

How about a Take-Your-­Sickbed-to­-Washingto­n rally? We could all takes cots to DC and make a general nuisance of ourselves. I live on the left coast, but I'd dig up the fare to buy a cot and go.

[plaidsportcoat]

wonder why no big groups are organizing huge "public health care now!" marches on Washington? There are LOTS more homeless people nowadays - just get them some buses and gas money and get on the road. Organize THAT - moveon.org!

[OldGreenBeret]

It all boils down to .....Witho­ut a PUBLIC OPTION there is no reform!!!!

[ljmck]

What part of 70% want the public option don't they understand?

Oh, it's the money. Once again, getting re-elected trumps issue.

Think about it, a politician's status and continuation in office (which will lead to riches down the road, one way or another), trumps your health concerns. Always.

You want to play? Put a nickle in the meter. A very big nickle.

[biabouman41]

I see that the Insurance companies are dangling loads of cash in front of our Senators so they can throw a monkey wrench into the health care debate. But who got to Rahm Emmanuel? I thought that he was out out the campaign fund raising business. So what gives?

[1088]

How many times The President said that he wants a Public Option? Every time he speak! We the people have to press, push and demand what we want.

[plaidsportcoat]

um.....we ARE? Big O's not listening to us good enough.

[davidwparker]

DEAN !!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!

[research]

Dean/Kucinich 2012!

[DamaskinosWasRight]

That would be a great ticket.

I think Dean/Webb 2016 would also be good.
.

[plaidsportcoat]

That would be 50% less good!

[bowthai]

I'd vote for that.

[orianna]

Campaign reform is vital to the restoration of democracy to America. Reform should include:

1.) No media outside of free media coverage, equally proportioned between candidates.
2.) No opinions on candidates falsely listed as 'news'. Clear disclaimers if opinions.
3.) Limited funds available same to all candidates from their party's collected funds.
4.) All funding sources must be listed (on party web page) anytime their lobbying interests are voted on from the legislatures which were voted into office. i.e, If in favor of a financial bill, you must list all financial institutes which contributed to your party.
5.) Advertise as candidate by C-SPAN public programming only... omits requirement for billions on dollars corporate $$ ads or you're out of the game!
6.) No election ads allowed by outside parties.

Lobby Reform should include:

1.) Designated locations to peddle interests, open to public scrutiny..­.. press allowed.
2.) Defined categories of lobbyists, i.e. corporate, health, social services, VA, elderly, sick, etc, and each category equal access to congress..­.. among all the interest levels in US.
3.) Legislatures must list what they do for each group (on party web page).

4.) And, naturally, no money except limited amounts into general party fund.... which must be declared and added to the list of each legislature when they vote benefiting any of the groups.

Add to this list and circulate.­.. let's dialogue on fair and honest political action in government action.

[MikeDarooky]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS4FGStiMB0&feature=related

[WinterParkMom]

Dr. Dean is right, right, right.

Look at hard numbers:
47 million uninsured, 20 million underinsured. Subtract 10 million uninsured who are poor, leaves 37 million who can pay, divide that in half: 18.5millio­n can only afford $50, 18.5 mill can afford $100, the under insured can afford $100 and get rid of their private carrier.

18.5 mill @ $50 = $925,000,000.
18.5 mill @ $100 = $1,850,000,000
20 mill @100 = $2,000,000,000.
Grand total = $4,775,000,000

That is FOUR BILLION, SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS PER MONTH in just affordable premium payments. That is OVER FIVE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY, just from uninsured and under insured. That does not count the countless millions who will drop their rapists to come to a public option. Then factor in that the majority of folks will be getting preventive care, not sickness treatments (less payout to a doctor for a checkup than say dialysis)

We should also introduce a 1 penney sin tax on fast food, food/drinks with high fructose corn syrup and every bottle/glass of alohol. These are just as bad for the health as cigarettes and paying a dollar for a burger instead of 99cents isn't going to put anyone into the poorhouse.

Pass these numbers on to everyone, people need to see hard numbers and stop being scared off by rationing and long lines and it'll hurt insurance companies. Heck yeah why not? We've been the ones hurting for far too long!

[kacy234]

These figures are from WTO for the US. From them you can get the idea that a single payer system would generate a fair amont of money to pay for the system.

Number employed 2009 projected 141, 655, 000
Median income per year 2007 $47000
A 1% pay roll tax = $470
470 x 141655000= $66,577,850,000 That is $66.5 billion dollars.
I used a 1% tax because it was simple. The tax could be graduated with some paying nothing and those making more >1,000,000 say 5%. Remember we are all already paying for Medicare. Look at your paycheck.
This can be paid for but the system must have the waste removed. The administrative costs must be reduced and some planning must be put into the system. The free market does no planning. There are other changes that need to be made but they would be more easily done if there were a single payer system in place.
Go to sanders.senate.gov to sign the petition for single payer, Medicare for All

[Fez]

As if we needed any more proof that our "elected" representatives do not actually represent us, the debate over health care reform proves once and for all that the entire Congress is corrupt beyond redemption (except for Bernie Sanders and Dennis Kucinich). We desperately need a third, fourth, and fifth political party so we can get rid of the current no-party system (or one party with two heads). The losers in Congress will continue to vote to support entire industries over the interests of their constituents until the voters remove them from office. We need more people like Howard Dean, who was right about the Iraq War, had the winning strategy as head of the DNC, and is right about a single-payer health system.

[WinterParkMom]

No, what we need is 2 term limits. Why do we have some of these guys like mccain in the senate for 26 years? What has he done besides get money for his home state, just like all the others.

If they had term limits, they could actually do what they were voted in to do without looking toward the next election as soon as the current one is over. It's an incentive and reward program.

You're my house rep? You did good? Ok now I'll let you into the senate. You did goo? Now I'll let you be my Governor, etc. If we keep re-electing fools, they will have made fools of us. We have to stop voting party line and vote on accomplishments, McCain, McConnel, Grassley, Nelson, Baucus, all should not be in the senate now but we have to change the mindset of the voters and we have to get term limits as a constitutional amendment.

[enoughalready13]

AMEN

[bowthai]

I know it sounds good and would probably get some Congressmen and women into shape, but I don't want to term limit someone like Kuncinch. Yeah, he could move to the Senate, governorship, and other positions, but not everyone is suitable for every job. Some simply make better legislators than executives or vice versa.

[nogimmicks]

By snubbing Dean, choosing Rahm to hire and run his cabinet with people like Geithner and Summers Obama killed any hope for change.

[somsoc]

A presidential ticket comprised of Senator Bernie Sanders and Gov. Howard Dean would be fantastic, and honest, that beats the current farce.

[StChasDem]

Yes, yes, yes!!!!

[gorgol]

A little off topic, but Howard Dean is one cutie pie....and keeps getting better...

[paulfree17]

As an employer we have been hit with double digit increases in health care costs every year as far back as I can remember. A worker making $15.00 per hour or 30K per year would, between the employer and employee, cost over $12,000 per year for insurance to cover his or her family. This is 40% for just health care. When you add the cost of pensions, unemployment insurance, fica and workers compensation this cost is over 50% of payroll.

I do not know why so many of my fellow business owners do not understand this simple math. I would love a public option that my employees could elect. In a global economy it is hard to compete against businesses in countries that do not force the employer to absorb 100 percent of the cost of health care.

Under the current system we have slowly been forced to outsource several positions overseas where we are not burdened by the exorbitant costs of health care. If we want to retain jobs in this country and regain a competitive position in the global market we must look at single payer and public options as part of any health care reform package.

[BCLance]

I have wondered this same thing myself. It surprises me that more businesses aren't behind a public option.