Raise a Ruckus for the Public Option

To anyone following the healthcare reform debate, it's obvious that there's a big difference between what the House, the White House, and the people want and what the Senate is willing to legislate voluntarily. Witness the bill that just passed committee, with the miraculous bi-partisan army of one, that lacks what most people who have looked at the issue carefully conclude is a sine qua non of any real improvement in the way health care in this country is adminstered, namely the public option. Or whatever else you want to call it. I like "medicare for all," but I'm not in the advertising business.

Historically, the Senate's role as the more inherently "conservative" (in the literal, not current political sense of the term) chamber has been to put the brakes on overly radical ideas, to keep the irrational exuberance of democracy and the dark power of empire in check. Some might argue that that's what is going right now. Good old altruistic Senator Baucus and his 99 friends in pinstripes are saving us from our worst instincts by ensuring that we will all have our choice of indistinguishable, crappy, unaccoutantable, private-sector bureaucrats denying us coverage. I hate to say this, but I think something else may be going on. I think it's possible, just possible, that the Senator, plutocrats who listen more and more to other plutocrats and less and less to ideas from outside the echo chamber, have lost perspective.

I think it may not be a bad idea to help them get some other perspectives. In light of this, I've written the letter below to one of my Senators (Schumer). I wrote a variation on this theme to my other one (Gillebrand) as well. I think it would be useful for others to do this as well, focusing efforts ont he Senate, as that is the place where it seems good ideas need the most help.

Dear Senator Schumer,
My name is John Albin, I am a lifelong fourth generation native New Yorker. Among other things, I worked for 21 years in the New York City Dept. of Transportation [NB, where his wife was the boss for 8 years] and now work in CUNY [where she's now a big shot], so I am well aware of all you have done to help Washington help New York, and I share your commitment to helping my fellow New Yorkers. I am writing today to urge you to keep fighting for a robust public health insurance option. It has been disheartening to me to see the scope of healtcare reform grow narrower and narrower within the Senate. I am hopeful that a better bill than what has come from Senator Baucus' committee can emerge, especially if people with your progressive pedigree and legislative savvy keep fighting for it.


My family has been through several major health crises, and we have experienced the full gamut of options -- from "none" to "cadillac" to Medicare. I have to say that on balance Medicare has provided the best level of coverage, with the least difficulty. I think it is essential, from the perspectives of cost containment, quality, and access, that something like this be available for all. I know that in your heart you agree with this. I would be happy to share some of my thoughts and experiences with your staff if that would help you frame issues as the debate continues in Congress. It is my sincere hope that Senator Baucus' flawed and limited vision of what health care reform should be does not win the day.