Pay attention, folks: think; don't blow this. Contrary to knee-jerk automatic reaction against it and the predictable and automatic "you're going to cut my Social Security and Medicare" argument already in place, running on autopilot, creating a deficit-reduction commission is exactly what we need in place ASAP to achieve a win in health care reform. That's why the President and his staff are calling for it.
We all know that health care reform reduces the deficit -- and the more progressive the approach, the more the deficit is reduced in the long run. This is the one survivable fact out of all the hype that has been posted on this topic, and adds to the depression we all feel about having a good idea run into the ground by republican opposition. So if you want to retrieve the best ideas for health care reform and put them back into operation now, do NOT oppose a deficit reduction commission on progressive grounds. Let the Republicans and conservatives make that mistake, and let them be the ones to try to defend opposition to an idea that will force both Democrats and Republicans into an agreement that will put a vote on the floor in a bipartisan way on this issue. Bipartisan here means it's harder for them to back out of, which is what we want. Right?
Why do you think the Republican leadership has been quick to look for any way out of this? Think, before you act or post on this topic -- do you want to win; do you really believe health care and insurance reform will work (like we have all been saying -- the more reform, the better), or not?