As you may have heard, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) unveiled a policy paper today that outlines the broad contours of a Democratic universal healthcare plan. To be honest, it's beyond my ken to give it a detailed assessment, but Jon Cohn does so here and Ezra Klein provides his reading of the paper here (and give his thoughts on the politics surrounding it here. )
The short version is, this is promising and dovetails pretty nicely with Obama's proposed plan (although Baucus' plan states the need for mandates), but it's pretty vague on many of the more troublesome details.
Be one of the first
Help kick off the new era of In These Times! Without a media that brings people together and creates a written record of the struggles of workers, their voices will be fragmented and forgotten.
The mission of In These Times is to be that written record, and to guide and grow those movements.
We have a lot of work ahead of us, and that work starts today. Early support is the most valuable support, and that’s why we’re asking you to pitch in now. If you are excited for this new era of In These Times, please make a donation today.
Brian Cook was an editor at In These Times from 2003 to 2009. He now works on the editorial staff of Playboy magazine.
More articles by Brian Cook

Culture
Mr. Robot Is the Anti-Capitalist TV Show We’ve Been Waiting For
By placing class warfare front and center, Mr. Robot makes socialism a vibrant force again in popular culture, its aims urgent and compelling.

Culture
Watching The Watchers
Mass Observation returns for the Obama inauguration.

Culture
Won’t Get Fooled Again
(Well … maybe just one more time.)