Respect Americans' Choice on Health Care Options -- Howard Dean

Probably the top priorities at "America's Future Now" conference (formerly Take Back America) is getting universal health care adopted this year.

Progressive groups announced plans to spend $82 million to press for adoption of Obama's health care plan. The coalition, made up of MoveOn.org, Americans United for Change, USAction, Campaign for Community Change, Rock the Vote, AFL-CIO, SEIU, the Children's Defense Fund, and others, together represent 30 million Americans.

Making sure the "public option" is contained in health care legislation is a top priority of the coalition. Likewise for the congressional Progressive Caucus and the Black, Hispanic, and Asia Pacific American caucuses, which recently sent joint letters to President Obama and House and Senate leadership emphasizing that they would only support health care reform if it contains the public option.

The public option allows Americans to choose between private insurance and a public plan. (I wrote about the public option here.)

The momentum is strong -- in June, there will be petitions, lobby days in Congress, and the beginnings of a grassroots and eventually an advertising campaign.

The public option is not enough to satisfy single-payer advocates. But if Congress can withstand intense pressure from the private health care industry -- which doesn't want to have to compete with a more efficient public plan -- and if Congress can refrain from watering it down, it does represent an enormous step toward universal, quality health coverage.

This approach may be a good way to go. But that is no reason for Senator Baucus, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and President Barack Obama to exclude single-payer health care advocates from the summits, forums, and hearings on health care reform. Even the "America's Future Now" conference had no speakers advocating for single-payer health care.

At a press conference today, I got a chance to ask Howard Dean why single-payer advocates are not at the table. Here's his responses, followed by what I think (but did not say):

Dr. Dean: We really weren't anticipating that question...

Me: Really? Everywhere there is a public forum on health care, people are shouting from the audience about single-payer since they are almost never included on the official panels.

Dr. Dean: They should be at the table.
The Right has managed to turn "single-payer" into a bad word, like "liberal."

Me: All the more reason to insist on considering the policy on its merits, not based on a foregone conclusion about what is politically plausible. After all, if you have the insurance and medical-industrial complex pushing for no public plan, wouldn't you want the single-payer movement pushing from the other side? Then the Obama plan can take its place as a centrist policy, which is what it is.

Dr. Dean: Opponents have used confusion to sow doubt. People may not like the health care system, but they like their doctor or hospital.

Me: In other words, we need to keep everyone on message. Not sure I buy that when public opinion polls show a majority of Americans favoring single-payer health care -- even if they have to pay higher taxes. That's extraordinary support for a proposal with few public figures advocating it and a virtual media blackout on the topic.

In his opening remarks, Robert Borosage of Campaign for America's Future, said: "We need to build independent movements, organizing outside of Washington, demanding real change." Let's start by including members of the movement for single-payer health care in the dialogue.

Dr. Dean: President Obama's plan is realistic. Even in Britain, where medicine really is socialized [doctors offices and hospitals are publicly owned] 15% of health care dollars go to private insurance. Private insurance isn't going away. Americans should be the ones to choose. If they like their current, private insurance, they can keep it. If they aren't satisfied, they should be able to choose a public plan. Respect Americans' ability to decide.

Me: Respect for Americans' ability to decide. Just what the doctor ordered.

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Comments

[pontesisto]

If you support single payer health care please consider joining our voting bloc to let your elected officials know where you stand and how they can EARN your vote.

http://www.votingbloc.org/nationalblocs.php

[zackxaq]

The Obama plan doesn't go far enough. If he wanted a public option he could easily get congress to move. All he has to do is provide the public forum for the debate. He controls what the newspapers write about. Make Public Health center stage. Then allow the grassroots activists to speak within that forum. He could direct district specific petitions to present to those representatives to show them what their constituents thought.

He COULD. But he won't. Either because of the corporate dollars that got him where he is, because he doesn't really want a public option, or because he lacks the political will to give US a central voice (even though that's what the last election was supposed to represent).

He turned his back on those who voted for him and this is only one example.

[kelly payne]

Is there anyone else that feels this way. That profits should not be made on peoples illness's? Where are our morals. We are such morality freaks well how do you take advantage of the sick & elderly?

Or I have a friend a lady who has no family getting 600 on SS she is living in a box on Delancey street because where and how is she going to support herself on 600 in NYC?

My thoughts on the healthcare in this country SCAM the biggest one going bigger than Madoff and right under all our noses.

Kelly

[kelly payne]

Now my in-laws who have a few million new about the law and gave their money to their family to hold and low and behold they are in even a better nursing facility and paying nothing. Government is taking care of that. Doesn't matter that 10 years before they had 10 million in the bank. More than enough to pay for their care.Why they had the money all their lives to have lawyers and financial advisors inform them get rid of all the money with at least 5 years before having to go into a nursing home? WHAT? Honestly the laws are so backwards.


Something is seriously wrong here.

Honestly I was sick a few weeks ago and I have no health care I was actually looking up hospitals in the UK it cost 1/10 of the cost for non citizens there than it does in my country the great US where I was born and where I can not afford even the cheapest healthcare I am eligible for or the DRs prices. One serious health problem and I am finished. I roll the dice every year hoping I will not get sick.

The money goes for my daughters college which the prices have gone up and financial aid down. Even with the financial aid I have to pay a lot every semester. in France you pass a test free college.

[kelly payne]

Is it just me, none of the posts or comments have anything to do with the healthcare article?

All I have to say is it is wishful thinking everyone will have quality healthcare in this country.

The healthcare now with everyone paying is far from quality.

Lets not forget about the elderly. My grandfather may have to go into a nursing home they charge between 11,000-18,000 a month.
Have you seen some of these nursing homes? It is insulting charging this much money. Basically the 200,000 my 90 year old grand parents who grew up during the depression will not be able to leave any money to their children or grandchildren or the family home we all grew up in this will all be going to a nursing home. Why? Because my grandparents did not get rid of the money 5 years before they became disabled and needed care?
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