If I didn't need the help, I would definitely have done the same.'

However, it is WRONG to say that business can't survive if they can't make a profit. As I have already said several times, the insurance companies in several countries are not allowed, by law, to make a profit, and they're doing just fine.

I happen to be a small business owner (with JtS). THAT (and pre-existing conditions) IS WHY WE CAN'T GET INSURANCE. If we could earn a decent salary, make all of our expenses, and have enough left over to reinvest in our infrastructure, we would be quite able to not only survive, but to actually thrive without making any profit.

If the insurance companies in Germany, Japan, Switzerland, and all of the other countries who aren't allowed to make a profit at all, by law, can not only survive, but thrive and do a far better job than the insurance companies in the US do, our insurance companies sure as hell can survive if all they have to do is compete with a public option.

And on the subject of Medicare, certainly the above poster has paid into the system. And that's exactly what people who benefit from the public option would do as well. The difference, is that the above poster has the benefit of being able to rely on the government to ensure that they can be adequately covered for a cost that is affordable. That's what those of us who want the public option want as well. It's pretty selfish for someone to say "I deserve this, but I couldn't give a rat's ass whether or not anyone else can have it also".