Obama needs to show leadership on this issue.
He needs to clearly define to the American people what this plan will provide and what it does not. He also needs to account for the cost. Not just in tax dollars but in overall healthcare expenses for the American people. He must also stress what will happen to costs if we "stay the course"
Trying to include the Republicans in this process is useless. They have already indicated that they are unwilling to support any package. To include the provisions the republicans want and then have them vote no anyway is counterproductive.
Obama needs to hash out a compromise that is acceptable to the 60 Senate Dems and the House Dems and proceed without republican support
No. What he needs to do is to come up with a new plan that does not interfere with the free market system we now have. If there are indeed 47 million US citizens without health insurance coverage (and the number is more like 15 million), then let him propose a method of covering THOSE PEOPLE and leaving the rest of us alone.
Government run ANYTHING turns to shit after being touted as the cure-all solution to our woes. All his plan will bring us is health care that is pathetically inadequate, rationed, available only after approval of a committee of imperfect, biased officials after a lengthy review...while you stand in line...coughing and spitting up blood...or being eaten away by the cancer that will be inoperable by the time you get permission to be treated.
If you want to know what health care will be like under the Obama plan, just go visit any one of the several poorly run VA hospitals that we now operate with the usual government "efficiency". Hang around all day and watch what goes on. Be sure you visit all of the wards and not just those that have been primped up for public relations.