So now that the public option's taken a bigger beating than Michael Jackson's doctor, we're already moving on to co-ops. Because, you know, health care's a lot like an urban garden.
(And by the way, does anyone have a clue what's going on in that Senate Finance Committee? I've seen looser lips on a J.J. Abrams set.)
At any rate, it's pretty clear the Senate saw these co-ops as Plan B all along. Howard Dean's impassioned morning show plea aside (what's his title these days, anyway?), senators have had enough. The pushback was more than they expected and now they're ready to cave and say, "Look, how 'bout we do this, instead?"
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But stay tuned. Because I'm betting we'll see a backlash against the backlash. Already the unions are playing hardball, threatening an electoral sit-out if the public option gets dropped. And while the Republicans remain lukewarm to this concession – for lack of a better word – the more progressive Dems are outraged. (Maybe not mad enough to start packing heat at town hall meetings, but maybe, at least, really big sticks.)
Truth is, this so-called public plan option could very well be one of the single worst aspects of every reform proposal we've seen. I mean, to use Obama's own example, how is the post office doing these days? They're how much in debt? They're cutting back on delivery days? I don't know, sounds like spiraling costs and rationing care to me … .
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