What editorial writers are saying about Obama's idea for a public health plan

All agree that health care costs are spiraling, but a sampling of editorials in newspapers across the country shows a wide ideological divide about the public plan option.

A public health plan

There is no serious consideration in Congress of a single-payer governmental program that would enroll virtually everyone. Nor is there any talk of extending the veterans health care system, a stellar example of "socialized medicine," to the general public. The debate is really over whether to open the door a crack for a new public plan to compete with the private plans. Most Democrats see this as an important element in any health care reform, and so do we. New York Times, June 20

What health reform must do

A public option may be the only means of ensuring there is a viable coverage plan for everyone, and it already has brought private insurers to the negotiating table. So a public option should remain in the mix until there is another way of guaranteeing universal coverage. St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, June 21

President's "option" will kill private system

President Obama was shrewd enough to repackage socialized medicine as merely a new and improved version of the current public/private system. ... This "public option," as the president describes it, would undercut private health insurance plans and put a quick end to the current employer-sponsored system. Millions of Americans would then depend on Washington -- liberal Democrats' fondest dream -- to provide their health care. Press-Register (Mobile, Ala.) June 16

President Barack Obama rolls out health care "Trojan horse"

The real Trojan horse is Obama's representation that including a government health insurance option alongside private plans isn't the first step toward a complete federal takeover. "The public option is not your enemy," Obama said, "it is your friend." Obama should get a real fight on that one. Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City), June 17

What doesn't work

Obama, Sen. Edward Kennedy -- chairman of the Senate health committee and a longtime proponent of national health care -- and many other Democrats insist on the public option. Obama, in a letter to Senate leaders, said that option would make the health care system more competitive "and keep the insurance companies honest." ... We don't purport to know what shape that plan should take. ... What we know for certain is that the system that exists does not work for many, if not most, Americans. Gainesville (Fla.) Sun, June 14

Fix U.S. health care to improve California's financial well-being

Providing universal coverage will deal with the health care crisis on a personal level, but from the standpoint of the national economy, cutting costs is even more important. ... If we can accomplish that goal, Americans won't care whether the system is public, private or, most likely, a combination. But it's hard to see how to get the cost savings without some competitive pressure. San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, June 14