Note:  This post was originally put on Progressive Independence (to visit go to blogroll).

I realized that after I posted on the speech the Prez recently made that I did not give enough details on what he is proposing.  I will try and rectify that oversight now.

The Prez gave his talk and most people, with the exception of conservs, really thought it was a good speech, but is he really caving to the base on this?  IMO, he is caving period.

These are the main points of the speech and I would like to thank the McClatchy Newspapers for this list:

•CURRENT COVERAGE: Those who’re now getting employer-provided coverage or are insured through Medicare, Medicaid or the Veterans Administration wouldn’t be required to change their plans or their physicians.

•COST: About $900 billion over 10 years.

•HOW IT WOULD BE PAID FOR: By finding “savings within the existing health care system,” mostly by trimming waste and rooting out fraud. Also, insurers would be charged a fee for their most expensive policies.

•HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGES: Consumers and small businesses without coverage could comparison shop at these marketplaces among private and perhaps also public plans. The competition is supposed to help reduce prices. The exchanges would take effect in four years.

•PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS: Insurers wouldn’t be permitted to deny coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions. Nor could they cancel or dilute coverage when people get very sick.

•AFFORDABILITY: No limits on how much coverage a consumer could get in a year or a lifetime — but limits on out-of-pocket health care expenses. Tax credits would be available for those needing aid.

•PREVENTIVE MEDICINE: Insurers must cover, at no extra charge, regular preventive care and check-ups, such as mammograms, colonoscopies and routine check-ups.

•PUBLIC OPTION: People without coverage would be able to choose a nonprofit government-run insurance plan that would have the same rules and protections that private insurers do. A government option plan might be available only if private insurers fail to meet coverage benchmarks in designated markets. Alternatively, a nonprofit co-op might administer a competitive insurance plan.

•CATASTROPHIC INSURANCE: Low-cost coverage would be available in the years before the exchanges are created to protect against financial ruin in case of a serious illness.

•INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE MANDATES: Everyone would have to have basic insurance. Most businesses would be required to offer insurance or “chip in” to help cover workers. Only hardship cases and some small businesses would be exempt.

•MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAWSUITS: The administration will seek experimental “demonstration projects” in different states aimed at helping to revamp the tort system.

There you have the meat of the proposal and what part of it looks like he is caving to the Left?  Single payer is gone and almost forgotten…..public option will be a mere reflection of what it was suppose to do…..Medicare will take the brunt of any cuts and savings to pay for the above system…..and then there is the tidbit to try and pull in Repubs….tort reform, one of the GOP’s most  favorite reform that and those damn silly HSAs…..health savings accounts.

With all that said Obama is showing the sickness that has plagued liberals for decades….that the political choice is the lesser of two evils….instead of real reform Obama is pushing some middle of the road crap that will be turned over as soon as a new pres walks into the White House.  Instead of taking a bit out of the problem, he is just gumming at it.

The Dems seem to be living with the idea of a bi-partisan solution….this past summer…the summer of hate…has proven that to be a no deal.  Liberals are caught up in this pie in the sky attitude that “good people” will inject good character into the debate…..and the idiots have been proven wrong time and time again and yet they persist in the naivete. Liberals are full of good intentions but do not seem to have the guts to make them happen.

The proposal that the president is offering will probably pass because it is basically still protecting the people that are the problem….but my biggest question is will the Progressives fall for the pale imitation of the public option?