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Face It: the Public Option's a No-Go

'Political litmus test' wouldn't be effective anyway

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 19, 2009 8:31 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The public health care option is simply a “political litmus test” pushed by left-wingers to represent their side of an “ideological war”—and it’s time to give it up, writes Steven Pearlstein in the Washington Post. “There is nothing about having one government-owned health insurance company that is likely to change the competitive dynamic and bring costs under control,” he notes.

For a government-run plan to bolster product and price competition, it would have to be so big as to “immediately unite doctors, hospitals, and drug companies” against it. As for the argument that it would match Medicare's ability to keep administrative costs as low as 2% or 3%, after collecting premiums, marketing itself, and maintaining a reserve—which Medicare doesn't do—that figure would balloon. But there’s plenty we can do, including some measures already on the table, like bringing national insurance companies to virtually every market, and others, like beefing up antitrust laws, that aren’t yet in a bill.

Former DNC chair Howard Dean has strongly backed the public option.
Former DNC chair Howard Dean has strongly backed the public option.   (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Protesters gather in front of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless' Stout Street Clinic in Denver, Colo., on Aug. 6, 2009, where Nancy Pelosi toured the facility and spoke about health care.
Protesters gather in front of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless' Stout Street Clinic in Denver, Colo., on Aug. 6, 2009, where Nancy Pelosi toured the facility and spoke about health care.   (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)
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The public option is the Maginot Line of health-care policy, and just like those stubborn French generals, liberal Democrats have vowed to defend it even if it means losing the war. -

If there is anything that's been made clear over the last two weeks, it is that the public option is a political non-starter that threatens the entire reform effort. It's time to let it go. - Steven Pearlstein

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 23 comments
hybrid
Aug 20, 2009 5:09 AM CDT
what is wrong with you all. Have you even read the house bill. In fact if you havent read it then do not comment on it. to all those, you are sheep
odowd80
Aug 19, 2009 8:16 AM CDT
You act like this is all over because a conservative columnist says it is. This ain't over till its over.
Snowleopard
Aug 19, 2009 6:51 AM CDT
I hope so odowd80 ... although I did agree with their insistence that the bill was deficit neutral.

 
health insurance • health care reform • Steven Pearlstein • public option

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