Correction for enhanced accuracy: 63% of polled physicians (a smattering of 2,130 MD’s) favor a government public option/private insurance “mix.” A minuscule 10% favor a government plan only [single-payer] (kevinmd.com and “The New England Journal of Medicine”). Mixing these polling percentages is deceptive. Also, “the opinions of individual doctors (on the health care reform issue) are less clear.” Let’s talk turkey shall we. Here’s the deal: A sustained mixture with the government public-option plan and private insurance companies is a “dream” world – unsustainable. Plus, because of cost over-runs and health care system overuse, ALL of our taxes, not just on the wealthy, will be hiked (CMPI Advance; dickmorris.com [“Catastrophe”]). Sure, if the public-option plan passes the House and Senate (whether it’s laid out on the table or “backdoored” on us) and is implemented, everything will seem hunky-dory at first. But, one by one, privatized insurance companies will start dropping like flies. And what will be left, you guessed it, good old “Uncle Sam.” The public-option can and will evolve into the single-payer system, which current data shows is only supported by 10% of the polled doctors (but I gather that’s what the above author wants). “Reader beware,” everything out there, from the bookstore to the internet, your fact-checker my fact-checker, your source and my source, are subject to errors, slant, cant, and biases. (Maybe it’s me, but it almost sounded like the above author was about to slip and admit that “jury is still out” on the global warming debate)

The poll is valid. The word "or" suffices-- 63 pct + 10 pct = 73 pct. The U.S. pays TWICE what other countries do and gets no better health results overall. Maybe U.S. private insurers (and pharmas) can't compete??

The Massachusetts plan which turned it over to all private insurers and gave them taxpayer dollars is an example of "Mr.C" aka greggieperch would like.

As to global warming, I take Latif at his word, he's "not one of the skeptics."

Maybe it's me, but it almost sounds like "Mr. C" is embarrassed by the truth.

Greggieperch? Who?

The Massachusetts Plan is NOT an example of what I would like to see. Targeted tax refunds and tax incentives piped from the “government” to the “taxpayer,” giving the individual the “freedom” to purchase health care insurance from the “vendor” of his or her choice within the private sector is what Mr. C from White Plains, NY. would like to see.

True, Professor Latif is not a “global warming denier.” He just had to make a RADICAL revision to his global climate modeling, which by the way, had to frustrate and embarrass the c@#p out of Mr. Gore.

Embarrassed? Never by the truth. I am embarrassed though for Mr. Obama after the IOC showed him up in Denmark, and then yesterday when the Nobel Peace Prize committee blind-sided him with something that he clearly did not earn.

"Mr.C from White Plains" is notably absent in explaining with any specificity his own remedy as it concerns health care reform would differ from the current miserable situation. What he offers looks like the same ol' same ol'.

Since private insurers provide NO, ZIP, ZILCH, NADA, health care, but do produce a brown blizzard fine print, collectively resulting in a blizzard of bookkeeping for doctors and hospitals, and at the same time deny as many claims as they can to make as much money as they can, whatever the effect on individuals and families...and since they would "die like flies" if faced with a non-profit public option which would lead to a single-payer system, I say "Hip, hip, Hooray! Get out the fly swatters!"

The worst of all scenarios would be to follow the Massachusetts example, but that's EXACTLY what the private insurers and related lobbyists who swarm the halls of Congress are working for--and shoveling out money and promises like candy.

As to any "radical" revisions in global warming models, that is a word you may choose if you like, but the influence of solar activity and oceanic currents are not new subjects of debate, "Mr. C." The consensus supporting anthropogenic global warming is clear and strong among those with real credentials. Latif is no exception.

It is sad "Mr.C" takes cheap shots at the new President, saying that he was "showed up" in being unsuccessful in getting the Olympics in the U.S. and pathetic that he begrudges him the honor of the Nobel Peace Prize. Let us hope President Obama succeeds in regaining some of the moral ground we lost under the previous sadministration.

(You might have been a more credible impostor had you not fastened on the specific issues you did--and spewed your predictable bile with a wholly unrelated ad hominem. Smile.)

To the above column writer; I’m a little worried for you. With all the animosity and contempt that you have regurgitated the past couple of days for more than half the population of this great country, you sound exhausted. I think you’ve had a long day, so turn off your computer, take your medicine, and tuck yourself in. It’s past your bedtime.

Many little fish grow, but the Mr.C. aka "greggieperch" variety gets relentlessly smaller. We give him the final tug at the bobber.