How many of those of you who still have health insurance through you employer would like to give it up in exchange for paying for yourself? Nobody? Well it seems that is what, wait for it, a bi-partisan group of senators have in mind.

Ezra Klein does a good job of summarizing this:

Jane Hamsher reports on the Progressive Media Summit:

Wyden: Answering a question about whether we will be moving toward single payer, Wyden says that single payer winds up devolving into an argument with people who are opposed to "too much government." But if you use the term "universal coverage" and you say that for the same amount of money everyone can have the same coverage as members of Congress, it's not so polarizing. So basically, no.

A lot of people are talking about the various "mandatory" plans floating about various congressional and gubernatorial offices right now. Ahnold's, Wyden's, etc. It's all the Rage, for young politicians: it's an issue that is still unmade in the national media (what is to come, not what is) and if you're enterprising you can ride this political wave for a generation or more. If as a consumer, you've ever had problems with Phase One of the plan to keep people separated from their dollars and their health, you know what I mean. You're never more ready for activism than when you're reviewing your year-end out of pocket for health care. But get ready to feel the need to go all Che on some ass: Phase Two is a little more "humane" in that everyone gets to pay some people to do nothing, while getting nothing. Or worse.

Right now, we've reached a point, after going on 40 some years, where we've decided we don't think the old or the poor should just die when they can't afford good care. Actually, just the old- it's the anger of the upper-middle class that's really driving the grassroots scream for reform. Biff and Muffy can't stand the idea that they're spending 3K on Grandma's private care and being told to pay even more for subpar converage. Those of us down here on the botton have experienced quite a different reality for some time.

Update: A Kossack totally trashes it. Looks like he's read it too. Ezra has only just gotten started with Wyden's proposal, but it sounds good to me. Here's what Ezra has noticed so far:

Meanwhile, an individual mandate would be implemented, forcing every American to purchase one of the options offered by their state's newly formed Health Help Agency (HHA). The HHA's will have a menu of private insurance plans, all of which must provide coverage equal to or better than the Blue Cross Blue Shield Standard Plan used by Congress. All plans will be community rated by the state, meaning an end to adverse selection and preexisting condition problems. The only acceptable variables for price will be geography, family size, and smoking status. Subsidies will be offered up to 400 percent of the poverty line, will full coverage provided to those below 100 percent. Employers will contribute through a set equation related to business size and yearly profits. There's quite a bit more, but that's the basic outline.