It's about time this nation has a real serious conversation about a socialized healthcare system, or at the very least, a public option.  I'm at the point now when someone wants to engage in a discussion about health insurance and healthcare, my first response is, " How do you feel about employer-based, for-profit system of health insurance?" 

Depending on their answer, I will continue the discussion or drop it right then and there.

We could tweak, re-tweak, re-re-tweak, repeal, replace, etc. what we have now or go with something like the rest of the civilized world has.  As long as medical insurance is viewed as a for-profit industry, I see no hope for traveling down this highway any longer. Like national defense, I view education and healthcare as the top three priorities for this country.  I would no sooner run our military as a for-profit industry than I would healthcare or education.