Is Medicare the right model for a public health insurance option, or is the Veteran's Administration hospital system better? Both sides of that argument make good points. But before we wade into the details that will be hashed out in the coming weeks, don't lose sight of the goal of the public health insurance option.
Jacob Hacker's enthusiasm for a 'real' public plan option is laudable. But Hacker overstates the case for Medicare, and in so doing weakens the case for a public plan option. There's another government plan that is kicking the collective private health plan industry's rear end.
Recently, some policy experts have called for a “compromise” approach on universal health care that would involve state-based public plans designed to mimic state self-insured health plans or a government contract with one or more private insurers to administer claims. Neither approach would achieve the cost savings nor delivery system changes that a truly national public plan could.
More than 7.2 million U.S. jobs are dependent on a healthy U.S. auto parts supply chain. What’s needed to strengthen the automotive supply chain and revitalize American manufacturing are policies that get America back to work.
For years Larry Summers and I had a running argument over industrial policy. He argued that governments can't pick winners and losers. My view was that as an industrial nation we would inevitably make decisions that involved picking winners and losers. Well, now that the U.S. government owns the banks, insurance, and auto companies with Larry as the chief winner and loser picker, that whole discussion has become moot.
Every journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single step — including stopping human-caused global warming at “safe levels,” as close as possible to 2°C. more »
Please America, let's take a rehab from fossil fuels. By reviewing the 12-step program developed in 1935 by Alcoholics Anonymous, I have created 12 steps the United States and the American people must take to alleviate this addiction and truly reach eco-freedom and environmental justice.
David Roberts argues that it appears right now a small step on climate change is all we can take. But did it have to be so? And will it always, especially when we don't have time for only small steps if we are to avert a climate crisis?
The story of climate change, like the progressive story itself, is about the distance between what justice and prudence demand and what's possible within the current constraints of power politics. It just so happens what when it comes to climate, the distance is unusually large.
In response to Dean Baker: I would like to see the White House and the Congress working toward a comprehensive regulatory overhaul this very minute. What I don’t think we should do is rush the reform process through as an explicit response to this crisis.
Is Medicare the right model for a public health insurance option, or is the Veteran's Administration hospital system better? Both sides of that argument make good points. But before we wade into the details that will be hashed out in the coming weeks, don't lose sight of the goal of the public health insurance option.
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