let the good be the enemy of the mediocre

if you haven't heard the phrase yet, the obama admin has a mantra floating around: "don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." in other words, don't wait for the perfect policy (i read this as the most liberal policy, but that's up to your discretion) be the enemy of a good policy.

BUT, no or weak public health insurance option in a health care bill! WTF. this isn't obama (though we'll see what he says in his press conference today). this is the senate finance committee's bill FIRST DRAFT. here's a list of the members. if you feel as strongly about this is we do, please:
WA: call maria cantwell 202-224-3441
NY: call chuck schumer 202-224-6542
OR: call ron wyden 202-224-5244

and tell them: "A health care bill without a strong public health insurance option is completely unacceptable." (script from moveon.org ;) )

i also wrote senator cantwell last night. this is not my best letter but feel free to use it when emailing your senators. really it doesn't matter what you say, so long as they register that you want a public health insurance option:

Dear Mrs. Cantwell,
There absolutely needs to be public option for health care reform. Please do not let this option slip away. Please take some initiative and do not rely on "co-ops." Group Health-like HMO's cannot catch all people without insurance and will be very hard to regulate nationally. The majority of Americans want a public options, please listen to them.
Thank you.

to prove my last line see graphic below...


info from washington post on finance committee