Our country's health resources are allotted on the 80-20 model: 20 percent are old or sick and they use 80 percent of the medicine and costs. The other 80 percent are healthy, generally like their health plans because they don't use them, and can go around screaming "I don't want President Obamabutu from Kenya ramming his socialism down my dagburned throat!" But that only means they are five years, 20 years or 30 years before their medical event. Once they have their medical event, which is biologically inevitable, then they flip over to the 20. For changing sides, they aren't issued new uniforms. Instead, the medical insurance industry sizes them up, fits them in the vice and begins its tightening. They turn and turn until the last flicker of carefree life leaves their eyes. And then they keep turning, because there's more to get, turning and turning, systematically turning until you are six feet down. And once you are sealed tight in your box all safe and quiet, they will take the money they saved on you, that they extracted from your body, and they will buy themselves a congressman, who will be that much less likely to hear or understand the person whose medical event will occur tomorrow. World without end, amen.
However, in America we get opportunities to change things. One of those opportunities is now.
The public option would be a Medicare-like plan offered to those who freely choose it. It is the only feature under consideration that could innovate coverage and reduce costs.
A loud minority says we can't do it -- they are the same ones who opposed Medicare.
Call your Senators (Capitol Switchboard 1-800-826-3680) and the President (1-202-456-1111, or write a message at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/). Tell them you want a national public option now, no co-ops, no triggers.
