Kevin Hassett writes, “For any moderate and sensible individual, the key problem with Obama’s approach is that it calls for a public insurance plan, run by the government, that will compete with private plans.” After explaining why he objects to a public insurance plan, he concludes, “So the key question is: Will there be a public insurance plan that can undercut private firms? If so, the U.S. as we know it will change.” Maybe this means I’m not moderate and sensible — I’ve been called worse — but I disagree. Even if the Democrats dropped the public option I would still oppose their approach. (I agree, however, with Hassett’s larger point in his column, which is that conservatives should not see the Blue Dogs as allies in this dispute.)