This is truly what I believe needs to be done. I know it's been said many times on DailyKos... BUT we need to start a movement calling for this.
MEDICARE FOR ALL needs to be not only our rallying cry. But we need to get our congressmen and senators using this wording as well.
Let's take Dean's and Weiner's suggestion... which is that the Public Option needs to be the option to BUY INTO Medicare.
Simple.
We need to get all of our progressive senators and congressmen/congresswomen to use the wording "Medicare for All" whenever they speak of the Public Option.
So yes - let's kill the Public Option - only to rebrand it anew.
Just think how powerful this is.
Benefits of MEDICARE FOR ALL:
- Simple to explain. (You buy into Medicare)
- Simple to understand. (Everyone knows Medicare)
- Easy to defend. (Everyone LOVES Medicare)
The Public Option has become a dirty word - but what the Public Option has always been is basically some form of Medicare. So let's not beat around the bush and call it what it should be.
Unlike the wordage "Public Option", everyone (except some red congressional loons) LOVES Medicare.
So get out there and make sure our leadership starts using the wordage "MEDICARE FOR ALL". Bring sings to the town halls. Write letters. Make calls. You know the drill... :)
UPDATE:
I've been getting comments that this is co-opting the former single payer movements wordage. But I don't see how what Dr. Dean suggested - which is the option to buy into Medicare - conflicts with what has been suggested before. It's an evolution. A... compromise.
Medicare for all can be paid for in two ways:
- taxes
- premiums.
The former is required. The later is optional. The later is much easier to sell to the public.