Medicare is “a monster,” says former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, but not one that can’t be fixed. Keeping Medicare from going bust before the end of the next decade will require slowing the rate of growth of medical costs, and that problem requires the federal government to offer a public option for Americans when choosing health insurance plans. The reason why a government-run program is so important, argues Reich, is “with a public option, the government can use its bargaining power with drug companies and suppliers of medical services to reduce prices.” And doing that will force private insurers to trim their costs while providing quality health coverage.