I hear all kinds of excuses for why we need to maintain employer-based health care and the for-profit corporate health insurance industry, but other than a few Republicans I don't hear people making these arguments on the merits. I think employer-based health care is the stupidest thing ever, and I don't know anyone who enjoys interacting with their health insurance provider. As far as I can tell, we're just engaged in the art of the possible here, with almost no attention being paid to the best quality solution at the least expense. I don't like it, but I accept it. What I don't accept are these arguments from Democrats about how the cost is too high but that the public option will cost local hospitals and doctors too much. It's one or the other. Either the bill spends an inordinate amount of money compensating health-care providers or it saves money. It can't do both at the same time. I see so little merit in the Blue Dogs' argument that I think it is fair to call them corporate whores, plain and simple.