The Supposedly Democratic Process

Reading about the legislative machinations necessary to move the health care finance bill through congress on a simple majority vote, I'm disappointed to think that a Democratic congress and president cannot get even a simple majority for any sort of public option.

Most Americans support a public option.

The public option has worked remarkably well for seniors covered by Medicare.

A public option is one of a number of effective policies for achieving universal health coverage at reasonable cost in other industrialized nations.

And an overwhelmingly Democratic congress cannot muster a majority for a stripped-down version of one of its most longstanding goals?

Pretty. Damn. Poor.