please build an alliance with single payer advocates

Written by: John Harder on May 31, 2009 9:31 AM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Night School, Democracy for America Tri-Cities

May 31, 2009

[Theme:  How is Dr. Dean's campaign going to bridge the gap between Public Option and Single Payer advocates, and how do we, citizens, assist the effort?]

  I watched a recent Bill Moyers Journal episode on the topic of Single Payer Healthcare issues.  The guests interviewed by Moyers brought forth their positions which they have carried during their commendable careers in healthcare reform advocacy.  I truly appreciate the main points these people offered, but I am disturbed that it appears that Single Payer diehards may elect to oppose the Public Healthcare Option in President Obama's plan.

  It apparently is based on the tension between concerns of cost and efficiency on the one hand, and political feasibility on the other.  That is, a Single Payer system could be the most efficient option in terms of cost containment through reduction of the (substantial) public and private bureaucracies involved in payment collection.  However, in terms of Political Feasibility, the Public Option plan avoids the deeper public relations pitfalls that Single Payer plans encounter, most specifically, the ubiquitous unfavorable comparisons of Canada's single payer system and the alleged poor service it provides.

  I am troubled that opponents to any change in the ineffective status quo of healthcare in the United States are assisted in 'Divide and Conquer' strategies by the inability of reformers to find common ground to make progress on healthcare reform.  Though I am now highly impressed with the prospects of a good single payer system, I am more supportive on incremental progress that is more likely to be achieved by the Public option than supporting 'the perfect system' or no change at all.

  Money is not the real obstacle in the United States.  (An obscene war and the obscene bail outs to Wall Street and Corporations which have corralled jaw dropping amounts of dollars demonstrate my point, so don't even start to tell me that there isn't any money left for healthcare.  The Treasury will print  enough of it for the programs which demand it).   Money is simply a device which scares and confuses most people while those who control 'organized money' continue to 'run the table'.  

  Again, how is Dr. Dean's campaign going to bridge the gap between Public Option and Single Payer advocates, and how do we, citizens, assist the effort?

John Harder, Kennewick, Washington

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Location: Kennewick, WA 99336