Single Payer

A killer that has stalked the U.S. public, claiming, by recent estimates, 45,000 lives annually. This killer is the lack of adequate health care in the U.S.

It's not single payer. It's not perfect. And it may not feel like a "win." But it's not supposed to; that wasn't the point. In a principled negotiation no one wins, but no one loses, either.

The progressive left had hoped single payer would be a second New Deal. Instead, we got a Congress that is kidding itself and a president that refuses to lead.

We may end up with single-payer health care after all: since insurance companies aren't subject to anti-trust provisions, one or two large insurers could easily dominate a market.

Welcome once again to our year-end wrap-up and awards ceremony. Honesty dictates that I immediately genuflect to The McLaughlin Group, from whom I have stolen all these award categories.

Instead of sending more "Kill the Bill" emails, we need to turn our attention now to leaders in the House, insisting they stick to their guns and improve on what the Senate has passed.

From the moment he was elected, Obama has governed not as a progressive liberal but as a corporatist liberal. Progressive liberals hoped Obama would be like FDR. Instead, he's been like Bill Clinton on steroids.

Progressives who oppose this bill are not being obstructionist. Rather, they are taking the position that when real opportunities to reform health care arise, it is essential to get it right.

Recognize this melody? If you're a Blue Shield of California member, you hear it pretty much every time you call and end up holding till an actual person answers. A few days ago I heard it for half an hour.

Want to know how to get this president's attention? Disagree with him or oppose him, and he's putty in your hands.

Because he cannot provide peace and prosperity, Obama needs to pass some meaningful legislation to demonstrate that he is doing something positive. Just getting a health care bill passed will mean nothing to many Americans.

New York, NY. December 10, 2009 -- On Thursday morning, a group of friends and colleagues, mostly middle-aged, sat and chatted over coffee at a midtow...

While Democratic leaders abandoned the public option on Thursday, one senator reignited his push for an amendment that would allow states to test-pilo...

A contradiction problem has been a feature of Bush Republicanism for a while now, but it's only during the past year that the gap between contradictory statements has narrowed down to just 24 hours.

In my view, the real solution to the problem of how to reform health care in this country is a Medicare-for-all, single-payer system.

Obama is trapped in the same kind of thinking that initially demoralized his hero Abraham Lincoln, who ultimately rejected that kind of thinking, regained his morale, and fought against what was morally wrong.

Progressive leaders are calling the neutered public option in the House bill a "once in a lifetime reform," despite the fact that it has eliminated the very provision they promised was essential.

When it comes to guaranteeing quality health care for all, the gist of the policy is: "Let's not, and say we did." In Washington, "health care reform" has degenerated into a sick joke.

Despite favorable national poll numbers, the public option faces a potentially fatal counter-attack during the weeks ahead because of lack of follow-up by its proponents.

In a Medicare-for-All system, health care is available as a matter of right. No one is denied treatment because they can't pay. No one is mandated to buy coverage.

If you break your pledge and vote for a health reform bill without this minimally robust version of the public option, you've ensured that even with a Democratic majority, all "reform" will be limited by your Blue Dog colleagues.

The conservative indictment against a public option is deeply ironic, and when closely examined, consists of two entirely contradictory cases about the nature of government.

Those fighting for a "robust" public option need to finally accept the hard truth that Barack Obama is not an ally. He's an obstacle.