With the public option getting whittled down to a toothpick these last few months, this plan might actually be better. At least for me, since I'll get into Medicare sooner and be able to kiss my current, barely affordable $7,500-deductible insurance policy good-bye. I suppose the insurance companies will go along with this because they can get rid of us high risk geezers while the young and healthy will now be forced to buy insurance. As usual, young adults get screwed, but a public option that would only cover a few million adults wasn't going to help them much, either. Maybe something like the federal employee plan will.

I sent a missive to my Senators...the new one and the RINO one, both.

I'm still screaming to get a single-payer system (as if...).

I think Bill Gates should be able to handle that...right?

i tend to follow what ezra klein from the wa post has to say about this stuff and he thinks it's pretty good from first glance. time will tell. have to wait for the cbo to come back. not done yet.

Democrats are the new REPUBLICANS

Honestly, I think the expansion of Medicare is on the right path, while a "public option" with restricted enrolment, delayed or triggered implementation, and no or limited right and power to negotiate prices with providers, is not.

This morning Paul Krugman said it was better than what he expected and gave it a thumbs-up. If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for me.

That said...Novick for Senate.