I say bring on the public option. Without it there will be no meaningful change to the health care system. Competition is fine for autos and other consumerables, but everyone in this country should have access to at least a basic level of medical care. We are a modified capitalist country. If we practiced true captialism then only a few would have money and most of the rest of us would be dirt poor. There would be no middle class. Goverment regulation and involvement has insured that the majority of us can at least live a middle class life. So why shouldn't the goverment guarantee that we get health care?

It's really sad that so many people have drank up all of the misinformation that is out there on health care reform. For all of you that think you will be enjoying the same insurance you are today 5 and 10 years from now; you are living a fantasy. The costs in this area alone with the major companies has gone up 18% for the last three years. Lets see, what's inflation this year...-.007%. Ten years ago employer based plans paid a lot more of the cost then they do today. Look, medical insurance will simply become unaffordable in the very near future for many people and for the majority with employer or union based plans, more and more costs will be passed on; that is if they decide to continue to insure you.

I used to be against single payer. Now, I think it should be seriously considered in this country. Get the profit out of the health system. I spend a lot of time in Canada as my wife is from there. I was up there last week and it was interesting to get the relatives take on all the talk about health care in Canada that has come out from here. I don't know one person up in Canada that wants any other system then single payer. Doctors prescribe treatment without goverment interference. When a Canadian goes to the hospital they are not worried about getting an unexpected bill because the goverment didn't pay for some treatment. There are waits for non-life threatning things, primarily because of a Doctor shortage and the lower number of diagnostic equipment such as MRIs when compared to the U.S. If you have something life threatning you get treatment right away. By the way, how many of you wait for several years after you turn 50 to schedule that colonoscopy? True, those who can afford it come to the U.S. to get tested or treated. But, the same thing happens here. How many movie stars have you heard about that have travelled the world seeking to get their cancer cured? If you measure results based on outcomes, the Canadians kick our butts.

What is hurting the Canadians is the same thing that is hurting Social Security and Medicare in this country, although on a lesser scale here because we don't have the huge social safety net Canada has. There simply are fewer workers to pay the tab on their system with so many baby boomers hitting that age when you need more health care and/or reaching eligibility age to collect Social Security and Medicare.

I am not a Democrat, this bill has it's weaknesses, but without a significant leap, there will be no change. However, if Congress votes for it, then they better live under the same system. I say screw the Republicans. The Dems have the big majority and should act to change this system without them.

all of this of course IMHO