Now that Obama is starting to lead "mainstream" Democrats to endorse a single-payer medical system, we will have to campaign to ensure it isn't watered down into something much less.

I propose this watchword: if it still offers private insurance companies a role, it doesn't go far enough. Those companies are already scamming patients by leaving large expenses uncovered.

Doctors and hospitals should not be allowed to bill patients directly for any part of the care covered by the system, except system-approved co-pays, and those should exist only for outpatient care.