White House Wimp Out

President Obama has already given up on his campaign promise to reverse Bush administration policy and allow the government to negotiate prices with drug companies. Now it's being reported that they're ready to give up the inclusion of a government insurance option as well. Which leads me to wonder: What exactly is this "health care reform" going to reform?

In a Politico story, Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) was quoted as saying:

“Look, the fact of the matter is there are not the votes in the United States Senate for the public option. There never have been. So to continue to chase that rabbit, I think, is just a wasted effort.”

My question is: why aren't there? Aren't the Republicans all about competition? Aren't the Democrats all about using government to help people? So why wouldn't the reform include an option to allow people to buy into government-run health care? It would increase competition and demonstrate whether or not the government can fuck up your health care less than the insurance companies already do. Seems like a win-win to me.

No one is talking about FORCING people to be on a government plan. It would just provide it as an option...thereby increasing choice. So what's the problem? The only problem I can see is that private health insurance companies would worry that a well-run public system would eat into their profits. Wouldn't THAT be a shame?

Once again, the Republicratic party is showing that - when it comes to the interests of business vs. the interests of the people - we really do have only one party in this country. Thanks to all the corporate-owned Ds and Rs, this "reform" isn't going to reform anything... except maybe how quickly taxpayer money ends up in drug and health insurance company coffers.