At one time it was a given that health care reform included a requirement that all sellers of health care insurance had to sell to anyone who wanted to buy it, no rejections for existing problems, no rejections of unhealthy people, etc. If that is part of the final plan, the public option will not end up as the dumping ground for the unhealthy.

The problem we face is that what we want from a new health care plan is exactly the opposite of what the industry wants. Anything that reduces our costs, makes health care more available to everyone, also reduces industry profits. And, when you stand in the way of a wealthy man seeking more money, you almost always get trampled.

Our only way to get what we want is to demand it, accepting nothing less. Last night I printed up a few pages of a petition to Dianne Feinstein, went to a big free concert in the park, and in an hour I had 52 signatures. I faxed the petitions to Feinstein later last night. This isn't enough to get what we want, but the more things like this we do, the more the Senators get the message that their reelection prospects are only there if we get what we want. And, that is the case, isn't it? If not, we won't get a good health care plan.