White House Appears Ready To Drop 'Public Option'
The Associated Press August 16, 2009

Bowing to Republican pressure and an uneasy public, President Obama's administration signaled on Sunday that it is ready to abandon the idea of giving Americans the option of government-run insurance as part of a new health care system.

Facing mounting opposition to the overhaul, administration officials left open the chance for a compromise with Republicans that would include health insurance cooperatives instead of a government-run plan. Such a concession probably would enrage Obama's liberal supporters but could deliver a much-needed victory on a top domestic priority opposed by GOP lawmakers.

Is there a  real Republican pressure and an authentically uneasy public? The answer to the first question is yes and to the second maybe.

What are the facts?

1. In the absence of universal coverage, there are millions of uninsured americans who receive only emergency care.
2. The insured Americans pay higher and higher premiums for ever-shrinking coverages.
3. Physicians and hospitals operate under immense financial pressures while insurance executives roll in million dollar bonuses.

Who stands to lose from healthcare reforms? No one.
So why the unease? Fears injected by insurance executives who are afraid to get paid for what they  honestly earn instead of what they can squeeze out of subscribers and health care providers.

So what does this public debate over health care really teach us? That in order to serve each other honestly and to be paid for honest work, we need to give up selfish ties to million dollar bonuses and work to change the way we run the health care industry. How do we do that? Self-building shows the way. If all of us join in this effort, we will find solutions instead of disagreements and everyone will find honest prosperity.