Rick Boucher expresses opposition to public option because it would be ‘very popular.’

[cal04]

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/20/boucher-public-plan/

Earlier this week, Democrat Rick Boucher (VA) held a health care town hall in Dublin, VA. To his credit, Boucher informed the crowd that “the public option is not socialized medicine,” a statement that elicited boos and jeers from the audience. Boucher said he is a skeptic of the public option because he’s concerned it will be too popular:

“I have a problem with this government option plan,” Boucher said. “I’m troubled that the government option plan could become very popular and if it became sufficiently popular it could begin to crowd out the other” private insurance companies.

But, Boucher “voiced support” for Sen. Kent Conrad’s (D-ND) proposal to create health care co-ops. He said “having co-ops competing in the market would offer a check on the insurance companies, similar to the purpose behind the government option.” So, Boucher is supportive of a check on insurance companies, as long as it’s not a powerful one.



Boucher unconvinced on 'government option' for health care
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/215813

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Then the insurance companies would have to do what the Free Market says, adapt or die.

[Echo In Light]

6. True, but the Powerful always ensure a rigged game while denying it's rigged

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Do they ever!

[Critters2]

2. So, Mr. Boucher represents the insurance industry? nt

[BattyDem]

3. You'll like it too much, so we can't let you have it.

FU Boucher! Who the hell do you think you are? You work for US! :grr:

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

4. No one so far has been able to mount a logical offense against either

public option or single payer without revealing that the ONLY problem is that either one diminishes or eliminates private profits. They also NEVER talk about the fact that both or either would reduce overall costs to the taxpayer/citizen.

[The Magistrate]

5. The Man Is A High-Grade Nimrod, Ma'am

What he 'fears' is people getting better insurance at lower cost than the predatory private companies will or can provide. And yet he tells people who he expects to vote for him he thinks this is a bad thing....

[KansDem]

7. So he wants us to have the less-popular, more-expensive plan?

So capitalism is all about having the least-popular, most-expensive choices...

So much for hearing all my life about how capitalism keeps quality high and prices low...:crazy:

[OHdem10]

10. If it is popular-the people will leave Insurance companies and

go to Public Plan. This has been the argument all along.

This is why Nelson of Nebraska who calls himself a Dem is against
the PO. It will hurt Insurance Companies.

[KansDem]

12. "It will hurt Insurance Companies"

So what?

Maybe the insurance CEOs will have to take less than eight-digit salaries?

Maybe I can get quality health care instead of some fucking "GIVE US YOUR INSURANCE CARD, PHOTO I.D., AND COPAY!" demand the instant I walk into my doctor's office?

Maybe the doctor's office will accept my copay and not reject it because they don't have change and deny my seeing my doctor for my six-month checkup after a heart attack because I refuse to go over cross the street to a grocery store and "make change?" (true story).

Maybe I won't have to wait seven fucking weeks to see a specialist regarding a rectal ulcer: 49 fucking days feeling like I've been impaled on a red-hot spike only to be scheduled for out-patient surgery three days later to correct the malady (couldn't go to the emergency room--no...no...had to wait), because the specialist's calender is full? (true story--yeah, but you have to "wait" in Canada :eyes:).

As you can see, I really don't give a damn if it "hurts the insurance companies."

[hedgehog]

9. We can't let the people have what they want, that would be MOB RULE!!!!

:scared:

[sinkingfeeling]

11. The people of ND need to convince him.

[EC]

13. Why do they believe that the insurance companies won't

just come up with new products, such as supplemental policies to cover the remaining %'s...like with medicare...if the plan covers 80% a supplemental could cover the remaining 20%...I believe that would be more profitable for the private insurance companies than the way it is now...I guess innovation isn't part of the discussion...

on edit: Being a capitalistic society, the private insurance companies shouldn't gripe...after all isn't this what Wal-Mart does to communities? Comes in and undercuts prices of local businesses (because of unfair methods of cutting overhead) who have to adjust or parish...the right believes Wal-Mart's business model is really good - so why not use it in health care to increase competition...either the insurance companies adjust or parish...aren't the right wingers the ones that were screaming that we should let the automakers and banks fold if they were broke and couldn't compete?

[justinaforjustice]

14. Time to Evict Mr. Boucher from Office. Demand "Medicare for All".

It is appalling that so many Blue Dog Democrats are representing the interest of the thieving insurance companies rather than the Democratic voters who put them in office.

We have to start finding solid Dems to run in primaries against these "Republicans in Democratic Clothing". Every Blue Dog Dem should be loudly warned that they will be ousted if they vote against the interests of the people who elected them.

[The Magistrate]

16. Hear Hear, Ma'am!

[niyad]

15. and this idiot is a dem?