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  2. On Healthcare, There's Nothing Left to Compromise

On Healthcare, There's Nothing Left to Compromise

By mikethemadbiologist on November 23, 2009.

Steve Benen tells us about the long list of compromises by progressives and liberals to get us to where we are on healthcare:

Keep in mind, when progressive Dems argue that they've already compromised, they have a very compelling case to make. They started with a desire for Medicare for all. That was negotiated down to a national public option. That, in turn, was negotiated down to a national public option with limited eligibility. That was negotiated down again to a national public option with limited eligibility tied to negotiated reimbursement rates, instead of Medicare rates. In time, that was negotiated down once again, leaving a public option with limited eligibility tied to negotiated reimbursement rates, which any state could choose not to participate in.

The only thing I would add is that some of us started back at single payer, which isn't even on Benen's list. The Blue Dogs better pay through the nose on something else. When do they compromise?

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The only thing I would add is that some of us started back at single payer, which isn't even on Benen's list.

Just to clarify, when I said, "They started with a desire for Medicare for all," that's what I was referring to. Medicare is, of course, a single-payer system, and Medicare for all -- expanding eligibility to those under 65 -- would be single-payer for all.

They don't compromise, and that is why it is wrong to compromise with them.
The progressives will continue to make no progress until we wake the fuck up, and stop fucking voting for democrats that betray us with these false compromises.

"They don't compromise, and that is why it is wrong to compromise with them. The progressives will continue to make no progress until we wake the fuck up, and stop fucking voting for democrats that betray us with these false compromises."

Bingo. I've been on this beat for years. The progressive movement in America isn't much, but it won't be anything if it doesn't stop dumping grassroots effort into a center-right party. We're long overdue to just ditch the Democrats.