I can’t say I’m surprised, honestly. I believe I’ve pointed out before that we were screwed once there was an acceptance that the insurance industry was going to be at the table when the health and welfare of our families, neighbors and friends was at stake. It seemed to obvious to me–and, yet, one could still try to remain hopeful. But, short of a serious uprising by people who understand what a cancer the insurance industry totally is–an industry that as my colleague, friend and health care industry expert Eve Gittleman points out conducts "murder by spreadsheet"–we are simply going to get a shriveled version of "reform" that, down the road, will be proven to be inadequate.

   And, so, the days news is not surprising, even if it is deeply disturbing:

The White House, facing increasing skepticism over President Obama’s call for a public insurance plan to compete with the private sector, signaled Sunday that it was willing to compromise and would consider a proposal for a nonprofit health cooperative being developed in the Senate.

   You can’t put lipstick on this pig. Co-ops are just simply a joke and will have no power in the marketplace to contend with the massive economic might now exercised by the insurance industry. We cannot play along with this farce and pretend that, if this is the version of health care reform that passes, that it is anything but a capitulation to the insurance industry–and a defeat for the health of the people.

   There are some elected members of Congress who are still out there holding the line:

On Sunday, Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, Democrat of West Virginia, affirmed his support for the public option. “I believe the inclusion of a strong public plan option in health reform legislation is a must,” Mr. Rockefeller said in a statement. “It is the only proven way to guarantee that all consumers have affordable, meaningful and accountable options available in the health insurance marketplace.”

   And I suppose it shows where we are that I consider the public option as holding the line–i.e., that single-payer is not something that these folks are willing to push, even though it’s the only sound economic and moral solution.

   I am not saying this is over yet. So, keep speaking up.