Health-care Predictions Thread...

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

Somewhere Dec 15-Jan 15 the president signs a bill similar to, but a tad better than, what the Senate Finance Committee passes. Final conference bill contains a fairly weak PO trigger of some sort and other face-saving measures. 35-45 progressive House Dems vote against final bill. Initial Senate bill may have passed with deal of generous puglican representation on conference committee.


What's your prediction?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

1. Pacquiao beats Cotto. nt

[BOSSHOG]

2. A public option will pass

and in ten years, patriotic conservatives will be yelling loudly to keep your government out of my public option.

It will pass and "conservatives" will be at the head of the line for medical care.

[gateley]

3. We'll bitch about it whatever the final outcome. nt

[vi5]

4. My prediction...

Poor and middle class people will be f*cked even more than they are already, rich people and corporations will make out like the bandits they are.
Because no money changed hands from rich people to poor people without in some way compensating the wealthy for that exchange, the "moderate" dems will crow about what a success the bill was.
Because they may be able to peel off Olympia Snow, asshats like Reid and all the insular, too-long-in-DC Dem insiders will crow about it being "bi-partisan".
The media and the right will declare it a failure.
Dems will lose seats in 2010.
Everyone will be f*cked.

[Craftsman]

5. Remember this anytime the middle class get thrown a bone, the rich get a steak

[Dr Fate]

8. Seems like you just described the history of the entire "3rd way" strategy...

....no matter what the issue.

[Beetwasher]

6. There Will Be A Public Option In A Less Than Perfect Bill

That will still improve the disastrous state of healthcare in this country and be an historic achievement. It will be a significant victory for progressives against the most powerful, entrenched special interests in the history of the world. Many of the usual suspects will still bitch and moan because it's not perfect, however, it will be the foot in the door that will be expanded upon and allow additional improvements down the road.

In 10 years or so, we will look back on this bill as the beginning of real health care reform in this country.

[villager]

7. I hope Beetwasher's right, but fear vi5 might be...

n/t

[rug]

9. About 22,000 deaths a year.

http://www.nchc.org/facts/coverage.shtml

[quantass]

10. TRIGGER'd Public Option == FAIL (Crossing fingers it doesnt happen) nt