"As for the Democrats, they have been both pragmatic and moderate, despite all the claims that this plan is "left wing" or "socialist." It is neither."

Democrats have NOT been pragmatic and moderate. Obama had to negotiate this bill behind closed doors with health industry and biotech CEO's. That's how "moderate" it is from a (genuinely) Democratic perspective.

The truth is as follows: Obama is a conservative Republican himself. To win his election, like the elections of Diane Feinstein in CA, he had to change his party label, which Diane does from election to election.

Of course, as this author himself admits -- single payer is the RIGHT way to go. Given the logic here that the Republicans will vote NO on anything Obama produces, why is the common sense maneuver to push through single pay AGGRESSIVELY not happening? It's because of what I've stated over and over again and a fact admitted in this article: Obama legislates, thinks, and feels as a CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN.

It's not just the Republicans, as this author observes, who've moved so far to the right that they are barely recognizable, as Republicans; the Democrats have done exactly the same thing.

SO what we have here, from a higher point of view, is a solidly Republican congress. You have the Republican scavengers, hateful of all government on the severe right, and then you have the rest of the Congress: moderate right wingers who are neo-liberal free market (solidly Republican, like Max Baucus) worshippers keeping government participation at an absolute minimum. We have a whole slew of Democrats who as a central feature of the political philosophy want to reduce government's involvement in all spheres of life. The reason"? It's a central tenet of neo-liberalism that government is inherent evil, "the problem" to be overcome. It's Adam Smith all over again.

Here's what we need: a return of the Democratic party of the 60s, Democrats who have faith in "big government." We need a return of the social state, only done better than it ever has been done before, as we see in GREEN and WAR FREE Scandinavia.

We need an Oval Office and Congress filled with Bernie Sanders-like-politicians. Otherwise, it's "meet the new boss, same as the old boss."

"We will see if this market-based system works. If it doesn't, single-payer plans and public options will look more attractive."

More attractive for whom? All along a vast majority of the American people favored single-payer when it was properly described to them. What has clouded the debate and creation of the current legislation is propaganda. Right now, Republican John Boehner is claiming that the American people are screaming that this bill not be enacted.

If the majority of Americans were already in favor of single-payer, or at the very least a public option, what has to change? Will politicians be able to resist corporate campaign contributions and lobbyists? Will the health care industry decide that it is time they went softly into that good night?
Nether of these things seem likely.

Medicare has been proving that a government administered health plan can work since 1965. And although it is so successful that Tea Partiers cry that government should keep its hands off Medicare, Republicans continue to look for a way to kill it without appearing responsible for its demise.

This health insurance industry regulation bill is driving me crazy! All I wanted was something that made sense. The only thing that seems to make sense right now is that the Democrats hold on to political power by passing something. I was just hoping to get something that makes sense and that is also relevant to improving actual access for health care for all Americans. Big difference.

I consider myself a far-left American. I am DISGUSTED by this "reform" bill and I do not want to see it passed. The mandate sets a precedent that we will seriously regret in the future and I, for one, will not allow the government to force me to purchase anything from the criminal insurance companies, I don't care how much of a penalty I will have to pay. This bill is a crime against all Americans and a gift to the rich corporations (insurance companies, etc.). Obama has betrayed us all with his back-room deal. Let's see if the men and women in Congress betray us, as well.

Obama/Emanuel made deals last summer to kill the public option. Obama's bipartisan bystander act enabled those deals to hold as an essentially Republican bill was crafted. Now Obama postures as a reformer. He is a lifelong servant of the power elite, a hollow man.

"But an individual mandate was hailed as a form of "personal responsibility" by no less a conservative Republican than Mitt Romney" A form of personal responsibility? Where do these clowns in Washington come from? Being forced to purchase insurance isn't personal responsibility. It is the "parent" telling the "child" to do something and punishing them if they don't comply.

yeah...this author has def swallowed the cool-aid whole. most of his articles still use all the old paradigm 'game' mentalities and 'moves'. i guess he just still believes there is an actual difference between dems and repubs. he never seems able to consider looking farther up the food chain for answers.