"You are a truly blind, the biggest monopoly we face today is over intrusive federal government spending and bureaucracy. If all Americans did not have to support the monstrocity of the fed government we would have more money in our pockets to invest in other things."
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WAKE UP vatoloco, where were you the past 8 years, living in la la land? Much of the current govt. spending has to do with the failed economic policies of the past administration, lower taxes and excessive spending. Add to that a Republican congress which passed spending bill after spending bill, then failed to provide adequate (if any) funding. Throw in a needless war in Iraq and a steady dose of emergency, last minute funding measures to pay for the war so the actual cost could be excluded from the govt. budget. How much of our tax money is in Iraq, vatoloco? I'll answer that for you vatoloc, BILLIONS! If not for the greed on Wall St., which continues today, a govt. bailout would not have been necessary. Explain to me how Insurance Company CEO's paid millions of dollars do anything to benefit health care or make it more affordable?

"So lets ask members of congress the question why isnt the cost of health care debated instead of cost of insurance."

IT IS! The goal of the public option is to negotiate prices somewhere above Medicare and below the current prices, which will create competition, and lower priced insurance options for those people who don't currently have insurance.

"without doing nothing" means he was doing something. McCain, Palin and Biden got paid too, along with anyone else up for election. Campaigning is required for EVERY politician. What does that have to do with multi-million dollar CEO salaries?

Hey Panama, did you know that Obama, while campaigning for Presidentfor almost two years was getting paid 165,00 a year without doing nothing in the Senate? Why dont we hear about that?

"the very reason we need to offset the greed of the private monopoly"

You are a truly blind, the biggest monopoly we face today is over intrusive federal government spending and bureaucracy. If all Americans did not have to support the monstrocity of the fed government we would have more money in our pockets to invest in other things.

Don't be diss'in our Tommy. Just take a look at the gump list and see how high he is up on it:
http://www.akingump.com/attorneys/list.a...

Of course... cynics might be more interested in THIS page:
http://www.akingump.com/CommunicationCen...

" Akin Gump Brokers $666 Million Medicare Settlement With Federal Government"

"Federal Judge Awards $117 Million to Class Counsel in Hillenbrand Industries’ $468 Million Antitrust Settlement With Hospitals and Nursing Homes"

Ezoner, health care reform was last seriously considered in 1993. The initiatives proposed were rejected out of hand by the industry. This same industry has had 16 years to address the concerns broached in '93. Instead, MORE Americans are without insurance, costs increases reach double digits year after year (our WPS group plan increased 23% this last year alone), needless tests continue to be performed, insurance companies continue to dictate who gets coverage or treatment based on their profit margin and Insurance Company CEO's and upper management continue to earn MILLIONS.
In 2007, Aetna CEO, Ronald A. Williams earned $23,045,834 and Humana CEO Michael McCallister earned $10,312,557. Even if they worked 50 hour days for 52 weeks (VERY unlikely) Mr. Williams earned $8,864 (or $147.83 per second) and Mr. McCallister earned $3,966 per hour (or $66.10 per second). Insurance companies are in the business of making money, NOT to provide affordable health care. Do YOU see the problem here? Is greed one of the principles our country was founded upon? I don't expect health care reform to happen overnight, nor do I expect our Legislators will get it 100% correct the first time. Health care is complicated, but we ABSOLUTELY need to diminish the influence and control of for profit companies directing our health care. If Thompson cared about REAL health care reform he would have entered the debate long ago.

Ezoner, many government programs deliver essential services quite well and satisfactorily, from the Interstate highway system to the post office (entirely financed with user fees -- stamps) to our defense department -- and yes, to the largest insurance provider in the United States, Medicare. I would prefer a system run by people accountable to me, the taxpayer and citizen, through my elected representative, to one accountable only to stockholders who sees customers (patients, otherwise known as "us") as a source of profits to be maximized. There's a reason we have the most expensive health care in the world -- a lot of the money goes to investors.

Panama,

You can't be serious. To only look at one side of the arguement is not a serious discussion. You fail to see that the government can't seem to manage ANYTHING without losing OUR money. They are inefficient and look only to grow their power, to remain in office, to be re-elected to live off the people.

Granted -- that may be way to the other side of the arguement -- but surely you see the problem here. I simply do not trust the governemnet to take 4 years of pre-collected fees for health care and then eliminate (effectively) the system we have in favor of what they feel is what I need. These are not the principles our country was founded upon.

Once again we have a person trying to influence changes in our health care, not for the sake of the public's benefit, but which enables them to line pockets. "Thompson says he sees no conflict with his public and private roles in health care reform." Tommy must believe we are complete idiots. Or is Tommy that stupid he does not see a conflict?
This is the very reason we need to offset the greed of the private monopoly by including a public option to realize any substantial health care reform. Those individuals that have health insurance pay hidden costs, without even knowing the true cost. This health care reform is exposing those hidden costs. The expense is not growing so much as the real costs are now being exposed. Good old Tommy wants to stick it to us so he can enrich his partners. Tommy should keep doing what he does best. Nothing!

"it is a few in control of our Congress ..."

You mean, the majority?

Everyone should realize that they have a personal monetary impact/interest in the health care debate. Too many people, have their respective heads in the sand when it comes to this so-called debate. It is not a debate of differing views, it is a few in control of our Congress trying to ram this down our throats. We need real health care changes, not this monstrousity of federal spending that we cannot pay for.