Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Dashcle (D - SC), clearly states the issue about the quality of care in this country due to the insurance companies' unethical business practices in this roundtable discussion on Meet the Press which aired on August 16th, 2009.

Here we are now, about to do the very thing which Daschle believes would be tantamount to holding us 37th on the WHO pole for quality of care; keeping our care in the hands of the insurance conglomerates, who are fiscally incented by law to create profits for their shareholders, not to keep prices down or deliver quality care.

*Entire video loaded, section I am referring to is 19:30 to 24:00.  Watch these 4.5 minutes, it will be worth your time.   Sorry to torture you with Dick Armey - but the other points in between are worth it.

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In fact, I think it is important to remember Obama's important words on his September 9, 2009, Congressional address regarding why we need a public option (in some form, whether it was an extension of Medicare or the "exchange" mentioned below):

"My guiding principle is, and always has been, that consumers do better when there is choice and competition. Unfortunately, in 34 states, 75% of the insurance market is controlled by five or fewer companies. In Alabama, almost 90% is controlled by just one company. Without competition, the price of insurance goes up and the quality goes down. And it makes it easier for insurance companies to treat their customers badly - by cherry-picking the healthiest individuals and trying to drop the sickest; by overcharging small businesses who have no leverage; and by jacking up rates.

Insurance executives don't do this because they are bad people. They do it because it's profitable. As one former insurance executive testified before Congress, insurance companies are not only encouraged to find reasons to drop the seriously ill; they are rewarded for it. All of this is in service of meeting what this former executive called "Wall Street's relentless profit expectations."

Now, I have no interest in putting insurance companies out of business. They provide a legitimate service, and employ a lot of our friends and neighbors. I just want to hold them accountable. The insurance reforms that I've already mentioned would do just that. But an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange. Let me be clear - it would only be an option for those who don't have insurance. No one would be forced to choose it, and it would not impact those of you who already have insurance. In fact, based on Congressional Budget Office estimates, we believe that less than 5% of Americans would sign up." *

This bill has turned into what Obama declared would be less than 5% of Americans signing up for the not-for-profit public option in the “exchange” in hopes of keeping the insurance giants honest, to turning over 65 million new members required to take insurance, or be dealt a "fine", from the same insurance giants Daschle heavily criticizes for manipulative practices, with little regulation and no added competition. 

It feels eerily similar to a banking bailout which provided a lot of carrots for CEO's bank accounts without any stick?  I remember paying for that, do you? Why don't our elected officials?

The incredible economist of our times, Steven J. Levitt, who wrote Freakonomics, can prove anything can be solved when you find the right incentive.  Simply put, our politicians have just created a bill to incent the insurance market to run their businesses as usual, provided them with a mandated market without competition, and managed to do all this with the power of a Democratic Supermajority under their heft.

And, before anybody starts beating the "Republicans were right" drum too quickly, go back and watch the former House Majority Dick Armey (R-TX) make a mockery of sought after political air time.  In other words, he is a mumbling idiot.  The other side of the aisle had their chance and lined us up for the brink of this mess; we just teetered over as Obama came in. 

The entire political system in Washington is completely defunct.  I do not believe this is an overstatement.  I also do not believe this is the first time in the past quarter-century where we were at this low in national morale at the hands of a corrupt system.  I do ardently hope this is the last time our inspired citizenry, the one's who came to the poles in November 2008 with a real hope for change, will find a way to make their voices heard once again.

If you are not concerned about the state of our union, dare I say “the time is now”?

*See full transcript here.

** Comments turned off for personal reasons, feel free to PM.