NPR, the public option and bad metaphors

by: The Big E

Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 16:56:32 PM CDT

Now before you zone out on the words public plan, let's try substituting those words with public airplane.  President Obama wants all Americans to get to Healthyville.  Right now there are many ways to get there including flying on big, fancy air carriers.  They offer leg room and complimentary drinks maybe there's an inflight TV and a hot towel if you can afford it.  

The trouble is it's getting more expensive to travel.  Some people can't afford to travel at all.

No, April, you've got it a bit wrong.  Have you actually ridden on a plane recently?  What leg room?  Current airlines squish us in there like sardines.  I hear it's great in first class.

Let's take her metaphor where it really needs to go.

If anybody flying on a private carrier gets sick on the flight to Healthyville, stewardesses analyze the cost of treating the illness.  If the stewardesses deem that the expense is too high, the sick person is tossed off the plane.  In mid-air.

People die because their "carrier" places their profits before people's health.

Others who get sick, but are lucky enough not to be tossed out in mid-air, have to go deeply into debt, then declare bankruptcy and finally lose everything before they make it to Healthyville.  They get the privilege of financing the CEOs million dollar lifestyles by losing everything.

So the President wants to create ... say ... Government Air.  He wants to offer you a ride in a public airplane.  It's just as sturdy as those other guy's 737s, but it might lack a few of the perks.  It might be a little more crowded and there probably won't be free meals on the public plane, but you will get a seat and you will get to your destination, Healthyville.

Seriously, April.  Have you ridden on an airline lately?  The food is wretched and see my previos comments about sardine class.

What she fails to mention is that people won't be thrown out of the airplane mid-flight on "Government Air."  If we have a choice between an airline that is more expensive and might toss us out at 10,000 feet, which airline do you think we'll choose?

She fails to mention that people on "Government Air" won't be financing CEO's million dollar lifestyles.

Predictably towards the end, April's little trip down Tenuous Metaphor Lane takes a detour down Unreality Alley.

Now suppose this idea for this new mode of travel catches on, people really like it and the current carriers start to take notice.  The private health insurance companies, current carriers, get nervous.

They say they are providing the best service possible already.  They fire of letters of protest claiming that if the government steps in they will be driven out of business.  The President says not to worry.  Like good capitalists the current carriers will start cutting their prices to attract the customers back, because if demand is high for lower prices the market will produce lower prices.

Then perhaps the cost of health care will stop skyrocketing into the stratosphere which was President Obama's hope all along.

Hello?  April?  Are you actually paying attention?

The private health insurance companies are already spending millions and millions of dollars to prevent the public option.  The total bill for their lobbying and advertising efforts might reach a billion dollars.

Like the CEOs of the health insurance industry are going to just throw up their hands and give up their bajillion dollar salaries because Obama said so.

April?  Please join us in the real world and do a wee bit of research before you delve into the nether regions of tenuous metaphor.  I'd suggest watching Michael Moore's movie "Sicko" for starters.  

As you probably won't, please stick to happy, friendly non-controversial topics.  It's easier and reality doesn't have to interfere.