| There are three options facing the United States | | | | instead. |
| in today's health care reform debate, what | | | | This would drive down costs because the |
| follows is a compare and contrast between those | | | | government plan would be less expensive than |
| three options. | | | | the private insurance plans available now, and the |
| (1) No Real Change | | | | new competition would force down prices at the |
| The first option is to not make a significant | | | | private insurance companies. So even if you do |
| change to the system. This is the choice of the | | | | not choose the public option yourself, it would |
| insurance industry which is making billions of dollars | | | | positively effect you. |
| of profits even during this economic recession. | | | | The Public Option is a compromise between the |
| This is the choice being pushed by the Republicans | | | | first position of no change and the 3rd position |
| and "Blue Dog" Democrats in the House & | | | | which is true universal health care known as |
| Senate since they are effectively bought off by | | | | "single payer." |
| the insurance industry. This is also the choice we | | | | (3) Single Payer |
| can quickly dismiss because we cannot continue | | | | The "Single Payer" is the government. This means |
| on the same road we are on now. | | | | that everyones health care needs would be |
| The system we have now is seriously broken. It | | | | covered by a government health care plan. It |
| costs more than any other system in the world | | | | would work somewhat like Medicare except |
| and yet our actual health care is far worse than | | | | instead of only certain people being eligible, every |
| many other nations. The US health system is | | | | American would be. |
| ranked #37 in the world by the World Health | | | | This would greatly reduce costs and paperwork. It |
| Organization and we rank #50 in life expectancy | | | | would cover every single American with no |
| (yes that means the people in 49 countries live | | | | questions asked. It would most likely result in far |
| longer than we do on average.) We have about | | | | better health coverage for Americans. Other |
| 50 million uninsured people. Furthermore this is | | | | countries have in place similar health care systems |
| more than just a health issue, it's also an | | | | and they spend far less than we do on health |
| economic issue. If our current system is left | | | | care and get far better health care results and |
| unchanged it will bankrupt our nation. | | | | live longer than we do. Simply put this is the |
| (2) The Public Option | | | | obvious choice that we should be making. |
| The second option is "The Public Option." This is | | | | The problem is that it would effectively kill the |
| being pushed by President Obama and by most | | | | health insurance industry and they are far too |
| of the Democrats in the House & Senate. It | | | | powerful in Washington to let that happen. That |
| allows for the creation of a "public health insurance | | | | means while this is definitely the right choice for |
| plan" much like Medicare. This plan would allow | | | | the American people, we are unlikely to see it |
| people to either stick with their current health | | | | actually happen because too many rich fat cats |
| care insurance or to choose the government plan | | | | have corrupted our political system. |