Reply #3: Its perfect politicking actually

[Oregone]

The Democrats are pressured to bring about a reform from the left regarding health, so they manufactured a concept of the "public option" (which will cover a measly 10 million people in 10 years) and branded it as an extreme leftist position (with the help of the right-wing). Then, they dust of the old Nixon/Romney reform with this romantic socialized "option" thrown in, and bammo, you have liberals not debating the merits of the reform, but rather the travesty of no reform at all. Not only did they shut out the notion of real optimal reform, they reframed the entire political debate to garner support for the bill that isn't even based on its merits alone. In the end, its all going to become a media/support-fest and the best party will win, the people will lose, and nothing significant will occur. Curtain rolls, put your hands together for applause, and audience exits left, happy.