Valerie Jarrett Takes On The Tea Parties

How about some common ground?  President Obama says he wants to promote 'choice and competition' in the market for health insurance.  Here are two ideas that would accomplish that goal at ZERO cost to US taxpayers:

1.) Allow individuals to purchase individual health insurance policies across state lines.  Did you know that this is currently prohibited under federal law?  Why?  Would lifting this restriction not promote more competition?  Would doing so not be 100% costless to US taxpayers?  What good reason is there for leaving this restriction in place?

2.) Enact a tax credit for individuals who purchase health insurance policies independent of their workplace.  Why not?  It would do two important things: A.) Give people more disposable income with which to purchase health insurance; B.) De-link work and health insurance so that if a person loses his or her job, he or she doesn't necessarily have to choose between COBRA (super expensive) and going without health insurance.

Can we agree on these?  Modern?  David?  BSB readers?  If so, why can't the politicians?  Would love to hear some thoughts, will present a few more ideas as responses (if any) roll in.

Hmm. No takers on a substantive, issues-based 'dialogue' on health care? That's funny! Radley Balko (link below) had it right:

"These people don’t want a dicussion. They don’t want to hear ideas. They want you to shut up and do what they say, or they’re going to punish you."

But it's not working. It will fail. With today's announcement from the White House that the 'public option' is essentially off the table, following Democrat removal last week of 'death panel' (quote Sarah Palin - yes, SARAH PALIN) language from the bill, it seems that every day Democrats move closer on the issue of the day toward the views of Americans previously deemed to be 'un-American,' 'Nazis,' 'terrorists,' et cetera, than toward those of the likes of BSB readers and other liberal blogger-types. It's almost as though they made a bunch of promises they can't possibly keep.

Recall that Democrats are +20 in the Senate and +79 in the House of Representatives.

Change. Ha, ha, ha.

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http://www.theagitator.com/2009/08/15/whole-foods-2/