Populist Reform of the Democratic Party

were the funds to invest and systems to administer health plans, set rates, develop provider networks, relationships with providers, etc. Most importantly, they had the funds to take on the risk of a whole new patient population.

I realize I'm in the minority, but I don't think anything would have passed if the government had tried to take all that on, including the risk of a patient population with pent up demand. We could not afford another failure like Hillarycare that resulted in no politician touching health care for almost 20 years.

Fact is, insurance companies handle the administration of Medicare and Medicaid now. So, had insurance companies been left out, the government would have had to spend tens of billions to administer the program. GOP - and some Dems -- would not have supported that. Obamacare would never have been enacted, and we'd be sitting here with nothing, not even a platform to build upon.

Finally, we saw how people griped about the federal exchange problems. Do you really think anyone on the government wanted to take on the total administration of a health plan that as soon as they said "no" to something to control costs would have set off people -- including Democrats -- claiming "death panels," and worse. I think most in the government would rather insurance companies took the blame -- at least initially -- for the tough decisions necessary to take on this enormous undertaking.

BTW, I hate insurance companies. I also hate doctors, hospitals, plumbers, air and heating repair-people, car salespeople, oil companies, funeral directors, etc. But, sometimes, you just gotta pay the "aholes" when you need them.