Joe Gregorio
Health Bill Clears Hurdle and Hints at Consensus:
Democrats also agree that Congress should create some type of government insurance plan or nonprofit cooperative, which would compete with private insurers. Mr. Obama says the public plan would keep insurers honest, but Republicans say it could eventually drive private insurers from the market, leaving consumers with fewer choices.
First, there's this thing where insurance companies are under the mistaken assumption that they are owed a business model. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the Republican position relies on the absurd assumption the consumers actually have a choice today in health insurance. Seriously? For almost all of us the choice is to pick the provider our employer uses or go without health insurance. How is that a choice?