Degs,

My point is that the WF&A in Medicare is public knowledge. Perhaps the extent and the ease at which it is accomplished is less known, but it's existence has been. Enron and the rest may have been going on for years, but they were for the most part secret and unknown. Big difference. And my number is an annual screwing, yours is merely a sum total. Admittedly large, but not in comparison. By anyone's measure $60 billion a year is a large number.

My question regarding the tie-in to employment regarding access to HCI was pointed at the obvious: there is no logical tie-in. Why can't each state have a state pool with a variety of programs competing for their business? having 50 payers vs. 50,000 or more, should be a step forward and not involve Uncle Fed. I'd be more in favor of that and never in favor of the federal government option.

As for the "moneyed interests", I've been in favor of stripping corporations of any rights out side of general business law. They should never have any "Constitutional" rights that an individual has an inalienable right to enjoy.