President's speech on healthcare

The president's decision to address congress is a good one: It will redirect focus from the ridiculous "death panels" and "socialism" cries of the right.

I am sure he will emphasize three goals:

1. Universal access with no preconditions and premiums that are affordable.
2. No lifetime limits that lead those chronic conditions to declare bankruptcy once the cap's been reached.
3. The chance for people to buy insurance from the government if they choose. That's the so-called "public option."

To get to universal coverage there will also have to be some form of mandate for employers and citizens.

In the end (if we're lucky) the final bill will have points one and two. I don't have much hope for the third. My side really blew it in explaining the public option. I'd love to be able to buy my parent's medicare. Instead in Iowa I'm basically stuck with a couple of big companies - none as good as medicare.