It's not truthful to say that a public option gives the government an unfair advantage. ("When public-option supporters were told that creating a public option would "give the government an unfair advantage over private insurance companies" and "be the first step toward single-payer, government-run health care," both of which are likely true, ...").

It would be more honest to say that private insurance is so inefficient that a self-supporting public option would almost certainly be much more efficient, and private health insurers would lose market share. Or, alternatively, that not having a public option gives private insurers an unfair advantage over their customers. Fairness requires that participants have a full range of choices, and information about the choices; fairness doesn't require inefficient businesses maintain their positions.

WRONG !!!! the public option is a govt monopoly that will legislate competition out of existance. Our private companies already have competition, with each other. However thats not the issue.

The issue is health care insurance coverage for those who are unable physically or mentally to provide it for themselves. NOT for the welfare divas or the illegal mexicans or those who choose not to have it or pay for it. That is their problem and is NOT the responsibility of taxpayer to bankroll for them because of thier chosen status to just be a burden on other people. lazy busterds!

Obama care will give us three things: abortions, bandaids and state sanctioned suicides for elderly and the taxpayer will be stuck in this insane loop forever, all thanks to liberal marxist socialism.

I agree with your overall point (and alarm) but I must disagree that we now have a free-market competitive health insurance market.

The current health insurance market is heavily regulated and rationed by each State. We have in effect 50 state-sanctioned monopolies.

All the new proposals will do is exchange State run monopolies for one Federal-run monopoly.

Are you out of your mind? Your post is a string of cliches with no clear point. Other than, Obama = bad.

I meant that blackadder was out of his/her mind, not the poster following. The fact that health insurance companies already are monopolies is a valid point.