Loganotron

Man, this guy makes a lot of sense. The Dems are idiots for losing the public option.

Via Boing Boing:

Four graphs created by the International Federation of Health Plans that compare how much US residents and people in other countries pay for health care. As Jay Livingston of the Montclair SocioBlog says, “Our Lipitor must be four to ten times a good as the Lipitor that Canadians take.”

“I think most people believe that if the government goes into the insurance business that the private insurers will fold because nobody can compete with the government. Politicians will write these policies very generous. They’ll never raise premiums, and eventually people in the private sector will give way to the government plan. Which is their goal, by the way.” -Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on FOX.

Um, so the government can do something better than the private sector and therefore they shouldn’t do it? That is freaking hilarious. What Senator Graham is suggesting is that Americans should settle for less; settle for a mediocre health care system because that’s the best that the private sector can provide. And, if we as a people can create a more effective and efficient system, we shouldn’t do it because what we create would be too good. Wow. Graham’s line of reasoning is just absurd. But maybe he’s right: Americans should settle for corporate mediocrity because that’s free market capitalism at its best. Hm. Fascinating.

A very succinct explanation of the types of healthcare systems and just how conservative the public option is. Thanks Rachel!

Here is the one thing you should do this week to help the public option pass: Call Diane Feinstein’s office.

If you live here in SF, tell Feinstein’s aide who answers the phone: “I am a constituent in the city where Senator Feinstein got her start, San Francisco. My city has health coverage for all residents. I want for all Americans what we San Franciscans have: a public option that helps to ensure the health of all citizens. Senator Feinstein has a long history of supporting health care bills. Please tell her to support the public option on my behalf. Thank you.”

Phone: (415) 393-0707 or email the Senator here.

Feinstein and health care:
Feinstein skeptical on cost of public option

Feinstein’s solid record on health care

Feinstein’s stated position on health care issues

I make this pledge today: If Reid does not stand up for the public option in the Senate, I will not financially support him in his reelection next year. If he takes a bold stand and gets a public option into the Senate bill, I will donate money to Mr. Reid’s reelection campaign. Simple enough.

Bob Dole recently gave a speech in which he supported healthcare reform: “This is one of the most important measures members of Congress will vote on in their lifetimes,” Dole said, according to the Kansas City Star. “I want this to pass… I don’t agree with everything Obama is presenting, but we’ve got to do something.”

Other Republicans who’ve endorsed healthcare reform are:
Bill Frist (former Republican Senate leader)
Tommy Thompson (former Gov of Wisconsin and Bush’s HHS Secretary)
Mike Bloomberg (Republican turned Independent Mayor of NYC)

Salon.com has a good analysis of why and how these endorsements might matter:

“None of that is likely to make any difference in terms of attracting votes from Republicans in Congress now, of course. The current GOP caucus in both the House and Senate has made it clear that’s not in the cards. But the more support from prominent Republicans the legislation draws, the likelier it is that independent voters watching from home will feel comfortable with the reform proposals. And the more comfortable voters are with the reform proposals, the more comfortable moderate Democrats will be. So expect to hear quite a bit about all these various endorsements as the legislation moves along.”

Hrm, knowing this, I can’t imagine why he’d be opposed to the public option.

Oh, and Bing Perrine is hot.

The Kaiser Family Foundation has a fascinating report on the costs of healthcare. Their report, released on September 15, 2000, is based on their research and analysis of the industry over the last ten years. Here’s the press release. And, here’s the report. Check out this little tidbit:

Since 1999, premiums have gone up a total of 131 percent, far more rapidly than workers’ wages (up 38 percent since 1999) or inflation (up 28 percent since 1999).