Use reconciliation and pass a strong public option

What Democrats do not grasp is the public anger that will result when consumers learn they are forced by feds to buy a private-sector product and punished by feds severely if they do not, without giving them the choice of a public option, which is exactly why so many support the public option so strongly.

This occurs as the White House supports the fat-cat pharma execs who negotiated a secret deal with the White House to lower costs, then gouged consumers with a 9.5 percent price increase in a nation without inflation, and now wants to keep gouging consumers by preventing importation of lower-priced drugs. This provision was once championed by then- Sen. Obama and then-Rep. Rahm Emanuel, who now oppose it to protect their secret deal to lower pharma costs while pharma companies have been raising pharma prices.

The fat cats run this town, the consumers get the shaft, the budget deficit rises. It is time for progessives to make a stand.

1. Reconciliation was created to deal with the budget. Both the strong public option and the importation of lower-priced drugs reduce the cost to government, lower the deficit, lower prices to consumers and are supported by strong majorities of the American people.

Reconciliation was created for the very purpose of lowering the deficit and preserving majority rule. It should be used for the public option and for the drug import issue.

2. Progressives in Congress should refuse to support any healthcare bill without some public option, drug import provision and repeal of insurers’ exemption from price-fixing and collusion.

3. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) should be replaced as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. I am not in favor of going after his wife, I am in favor of going after his power.

No doubt the president will abhor this course of action, which is why Democrats are in so much trouble with voters and why many voters are on strike and refusing to vote for Demcorats again.

If my view does not prevail, and Democrats in Congress join the president in another surrender, the fat cats win, the people lose and the voters will continue to leave the Democrats. It is time for progressives to make a stand.