This Is Not The Analogy You’re Looking For Department

At yesterday’s healthcare town hall meeting, President Obama tried to alleviate fears that government-run insurance would drive private health insurance companies out of business.

“People say, ‘Well, how can a private company compete against the government?’ My answer is: If the private insurance companies are providing a good bargain and if the public option has to be self-sustaining, meaning tax payers aren’t subsidizing it, but it has to run on charging premiums and providing good services and a good network of doctors, just like any other private insurer would do, then I think private insurers should be able to compete.”

“They do it all the time. ... UPS and FedEx are doing just fine. ... It’s the Post Office that’s always having problems.”

The Post Office, which has struggled to keep up with changes in the market and technology? The Post Office, which is constantly asking to raise its rates and still runs in the red? That Post Office?

And we’re supposed to be reassured that the so-called “public insurance option” is going to be like the Post Office?

You need a different analogy, Mr. President. Amtrak, maybe?

Time for some Jedi mind tricks.