Obama healthcare speech buys some space

Some, but not a lot. Independents, the poll says, remain high in their distrust of both major parties, and that number would include me.

From the left, I still don’t expect Obama to deliver a public option in the end. From the point of true realism, I don’t expect anybody in GOP or Democratic ranks to really tackle costs.

In the end, both issues, and many others, will all get punted down the road to an indeterminate future date, I’m sure.

The public option is a clear case of what to do.

On costs? A variety of issues.

Driving down med school education costs. Promoting more loan forgiveness in exchange for community service medicine. Encouraging more GPs. Tackling fee-for-service medicine. More purchasing co-ops for high-dollar equipment. More insurance regulation — on medical malpractice insurers; will save more than tort reform.

And, that’s just off the top of my head.