Moveon.org has a new ad pushing a public option for health care. It stars actress Heather Graham. Here's the NY Times description:
Several insurance representatives stand on a running track, one of them eating a huge sandwich and another one pouring Champagne from a bottle into his mouth. Ms. Graham, the only one in running clothes, takes off down the track, with the startled-looking insurance people giving laggard chase.
What? Do the angry leftists ever observe the real world? No government ANYTHING resembles the runner Ms. Graham portrays in their ad. Government control has brought us the Soviet Union, Cuba, North Korea, the Post Office monopoly, state motor vehicle departments and Synfuels.
In my state, the government tried to put bookies who take bets on horse races out of business by creating a state agency to run off-track betting. The New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation, which has a Governor-appointed board of directors, has been so incompetently run that it now LOSES $38 billion per year despite its government-granted monopoly. Taxpayers are now on the hook for over $228 million
An activity that was so lucrative to bookies that they risked arrest to pursue it becomes a money-loser when the state tries to do it.
Yes, the current insurance system is flawed. As usual, government makes it worse, partly by rigging the tax system so most Americans’ health insurance is tied to their employer — and prohibiting buying insurance across state lines. Still, the insurance industry is fairly competitive. There are more than 1,300 insurers in the US, and many employers offer their own plans.
How about an ad where Heather Graham gets in a Trabant and it breaks down? That would be a better analogy.
I believe the following would work:
A) Insurance co's provide ALL who want insurance without regard to health
B) Gov't(public option?) would pay for all PRE EXISTING claims in first 5 years of policy, then Ins Co's would pay
all claims from then on
C) Each year, everyone would have the ability to shop and switch their plan/ins co if they so choose(Medicare's Rx Plans work this way)
D) Insurance Co's would still be in the business to sell to the public, and compete/innovate
October 28, 2009 at 9:34 am
Dave
I think it's hilarious to depict a government run public option as the "lean, athletic, and focused" participant in the race. How many government agencies can you say meet that criteria?
October 26, 2009 at 12:24 am
cb750
I always love the "insurance companies are making profit" arguments. First off the profit is still there. Its not destroyed. Second its reinvested in society in the form of loans and mutual funds.
Compare that to the fed who has wasted .5 to 1 trillion. even Obama says this is waste... ITS GONE. AND that money was borrowed off the debt which means our children have to pay it off. A trillion is about 200 times larger than the profit the ins comp supposedly make.
Its an easy choice folks.
October 25, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Aj Abraham
When can I find you on Fox Business Channel?
October 23, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Bob
"Government control has brought us the Soviet Union, Cuba, North Korea, the Post Office monopoly, state motor vehicle departments and Synfuels."
Yes, and the Free Market has brought us slavery, unsafe working conditions, child labor and yes let's not forget pretty much all the wars in the Middle East, oh yeah and our latest financial fiasco.
70% want the public option? Wow, this ad is informative!
October 23, 2009 at 2:56 pm
paul
take a look at more recently government run operations--- the h1n1 flu vaccine - 1000 people standing in line for 400 shots??---or the cash for clunkers-- just SHIFTED sales forward one month and cost billions??? OH GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTHCARE WILL ANOTHER JOY LIKE GOING TO THE POST OFFICE OR GETTING A PASSPORT RENEWED.
October 23, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Corey in GA
Who ever thought Trabant would be a part of something that was "better"?! :-D
David, didn't you see the version made by Makeamoveon.org?
October 23, 2009 at 12:28 pm
jonat
Competition IS as American as apple pie. Cheating, on the otherhand, by making up your own rules is as Democrat as voter fraud. However, I applaud Ms. Graham for being in the only tastefull add put out by the left in years. There was nothing truly "mean spirited" about it; just a lie. There is no competition if they steal the money to make it "competitive" and create laws to restrict their opponents. Of course, this is not cheating to them. It's just the way their system works.
October 23, 2009 at 11:48 am
David Pinto
It would have been more effective if Heather was naked.
October 23, 2009 at 10:54 am
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John Stossel joined FOX Business and FOX News in October 2009. He is the New York Times best-selling author of Give Me A Break and Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity. His "Give Me a Break" commentaries take a skeptical look at a wide array of issues, such as education, the economy, parenting, and more.
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GregF
Should "LOSES $38 billion" be million instead?
William
I believe the following would work: A) Insurance co's provide ALL who want insurance without regard to health B) Gov't(public option?) would pay for all PRE EXISTING claims in first 5 years of policy, then Ins Co's would pay all claims from then on C) Each year, everyone would have the ability to shop and switch their plan/ins co if they so choose(Medicare's Rx Plans work this way) D) Insurance Co's would still be in the business to sell to the public, and compete/innovate
Dave
I think it's hilarious to depict a government run public option as the "lean, athletic, and focused" participant in the race. How many government agencies can you say meet that criteria?
cb750
I always love the "insurance companies are making profit" arguments. First off the profit is still there. Its not destroyed. Second its reinvested in society in the form of loans and mutual funds. Compare that to the fed who has wasted .5 to 1 trillion. even Obama says this is waste... ITS GONE. AND that money was borrowed off the debt which means our children have to pay it off. A trillion is about 200 times larger than the profit the ins comp supposedly make. Its an easy choice folks.
Aj Abraham
When can I find you on Fox Business Channel?
Bob
"Government control has brought us the Soviet Union, Cuba, North Korea, the Post Office monopoly, state motor vehicle departments and Synfuels." Yes, and the Free Market has brought us slavery, unsafe working conditions, child labor and yes let's not forget pretty much all the wars in the Middle East, oh yeah and our latest financial fiasco.
bfrawg
70% want the public option? Wow, this ad is informative!
paul
take a look at more recently government run operations--- the h1n1 flu vaccine - 1000 people standing in line for 400 shots??---or the cash for clunkers-- just SHIFTED sales forward one month and cost billions??? OH GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTHCARE WILL ANOTHER JOY LIKE GOING TO THE POST OFFICE OR GETTING A PASSPORT RENEWED.
Corey in GA
Who ever thought Trabant would be a part of something that was "better"?! :-D David, didn't you see the version made by Makeamoveon.org?
jonat
Competition IS as American as apple pie. Cheating, on the otherhand, by making up your own rules is as Democrat as voter fraud. However, I applaud Ms. Graham for being in the only tastefull add put out by the left in years. There was nothing truly "mean spirited" about it; just a lie. There is no competition if they steal the money to make it "competitive" and create laws to restrict their opponents. Of course, this is not cheating to them. It's just the way their system works.
David Pinto
It would have been more effective if Heather was naked.