Dear Senator Sanders,

Senator Sanders,

I just finished taking your survey, and I have some issues. I know that just like multiple choice tests, multiple choice surveys are difficult to construct: the answers provided often do not adequately apply to or express the respondents' situations.

I have had good health insurance for the past 12 years. The price has kept going up, but I have had no issues with its coverage. I understand it will be classified as a "Cadillac Plan," which is a GROSS mischaracterization. It is neither luxurious nor extravagant. I still pay copays; many things are covered at percentages; it includes lifetime caps, but has to now -- we just changed from Washington Employers Trust, to Cigna -- covered pre-existing conditions. I pay $60.28, twice a month which is %20 of the cost, and that includes dental and vision as well as medical, for a total cost of $7234.80/year, FOR MYSELF.

Now under the Baucus Caucus / Gang of Six proposal, my employer would be FINED, because he treats me too well. He gives me crappier coverage, he no longer pays the FINE. Further, the "funding" to provide for whatever public option there might be goes away, which is a recipe for disaster, which as anyone knows is exactly what the Reaganite Republicans want: Government HAS to be a problem; it CANNOT be a solution. You already know that.

I WANT reform, but not THIS reform. In theory, my coverage will remain relatively unaffected, but if my boss gets selfish or offended or simply cannot afford the imposed FINES, my coverage will get worse. It's like passing a highway bill that assures every city will have a bridge that will fall down.

In theory, I agree with a public option, and the idea that "if you like what you have, you can keep it," but what's not being said is that if you don't like what you have -- can we say Walmart? -- you are F*cked.

In theory, I approve of the expansion of Medicaid, but since that is a mandate to states, who are going broke, I disapprove.

Now I TOTALLY disapprove of the "Opt-out" provisions which put unfortunate people at the mercy of morons like Rick Perry and Mark Sanford and the Democratic candidate who lost in VA while promising he would opt out. I TOTALLY disapprove of allowing insurance companies to sell across state lines. True, this would initially lower costs, while the big boys slash prices to squeeze out little guys, but in the end it will create companies that are too big to fail. Just like banking deregulation. I TOTALLY disapprove of Republican ideas of tort reform, since they take away our right to a day in court in many cases merely to force insurers to do what we pay them to do.

I WANT reform, but not THIS reform. I agree with you and Thom Hartmann and Dennis Kucinich and Jim McDermott and others (who I wish would form a third party that actually represents People not corporations): Single payer/Medicare Part E.

Sincerely,
Chris Harmatta

Let's Kick Some Tires

or inflate them or something.

Bernie Sanders, Independent Senator from Vermont, has a petition at his website. Bernie's no Lieberman; he's actually a Socialist.

If Vermont wasn't so frozen in the winter, I think I'd like to live there.

Go fill it out and send it to Paulson. It may do no good, but doing nothing does nothing either. I mean.... you know what I mean.