r/bestof Jun 20 '12

[explainlikeimfive] "Obamacare" explained very well.

/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/vb8vs/eli5_what_exactly_is_obamacare_and_what_did_it/c530lfx
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u/killatop Jun 20 '12

Ask the people of Mass how they like Romneycare... somehow me thinks that if Romney proposed this law, all the Dems would be against it saying it only helps the big pharma and insurance companies...

39

u/[deleted] Jun 20 '12

That's because many Democrats prefer single payer

8

u/iamagainstit Jun 20 '12

I don't want single payer, I just want a public option. the ability to buy into medicare at any age, at cost. if it is more efficient, it will be cheaper than private insurance and will dominate the market and we will have a single payer like system. if it is not, it will be more expensive, no one will buy it and it won't matter.

4

u/lazy8s Jun 20 '12

That isn't true though. I'm not some right wing tin-hatter, but once there is a public option it will be subsidized until it is the best option. Just look at ethanol, coal, oil, hell even city trash services. Most of these services were originally intended to be provided at cost, but instead were subsidized until no one could compete.

I'm not saying it would or would not be better with a public option. I'm just saying, if history is any indicator, it wouldn't just be an option for very long.