How important is the public option of health care reform?
Vitally important. This would give people an extra choice. It’s not taking choice away, and it’s not a government takeover of the health care industry, which is what the insurance industry would like us to believe. It’s what their shills are trying to tell us, but it’s not true. It will help bring premiums down, it will be an affordable way for people to get insurance coverage, and it will be a counter to the Wall Street-run health care that we currently have. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden hasn’t come out in favor of a public option. That’s right, he hasn’t. He’s got his own legislation he’s been advocating for. I guess I can understand his point of view that he’d prefer his own legislation. When it gets to the point where it’s clear his version of reform might not make it, maybe he’ll come around to saying the best option, really, is for there to be a public insurance option. So you’re not concerned that he still hasn’t come out and said, “We need this public option?” You know, there are m
