More uncomfortable public "option" questions

Courtesy of Tom Blumer:

Questions for those advocating the "public plan" option in Obamacare:

1. Will the "public plan" pay income and other taxes like the companies who run private plans must? (Example: Aetna alone incurred $790 million in income tax expenses in calendar 2008, and over $3.5 billion in the past four years. The company's most recent 10-K [PDF] indicates that this expense is almost entirely related to its Health Care and Group Insurance.)
2. What will anyone do to keep the "public plan" from taking advantage of other unfair advantages, which could at least include general government absorption of administrative costs, sales-tax exemptions, property-tax exemptions, "public service" advertising, and much more?
3. Will the "public plan" be just as vulnerable to class-action and no-limit malpractice lawsuits as private plans currently are?
4. If the answers to Question 1, 2, or 3 are "no" or "I don't know," how can you possibly claim to know that the "public plan's" competition against private plans will be conducted on a level playing field?

Very good questions, Tom. I've asked similar questions and made similar accusations that have so far gone unanswered. I'm sure the Obamabots will respond soon. Yup. Really soon.

Any day now ...