re: #632 lawhawk

The GOP could put forth the most cogent plan, but it will be defeated on party-line vote without the slightest bit of debate. Pelosi is sure to do so regardless of the merits of any GOP proposal. Why should she let the GOP steal the Democrat thunder on the issue?

It’s all about the politics, and the Democrats have the numbers to ignore whatever the GOP does (or could conceivably steal any ideas that the GOP has and incorporate them into their own plan). Right now, the Blue Dogs might try that approach to water down the plan, but there’s no sign that anyone in Congress has the foggiest idea of why an overhaul of the health care delivery system in this nation is even necessary.

Moreover, why can’t the individual states provide the health care. If they’re so interested in providing universal care, let them experiment. They have - and quickly found that things cost a whole lot more than they thought that cost controls quickly cut down on the number of enrollees and what kind of care could be obtained.

So, your excuse for the GOP not offering any constructive plan whatsoever is simply “well the Democrat’s hypothetically wouldn’t listen to it?” That is completely ridiculous. Where was the competing GOP healthcare plan in 1996 when they dismantled Clinton’s attempts at health care reform?