The Lethal Politics Of The Opt-Out Public Option

Atlantic Monthly by Andrew Sullivan | Oct. 29, 2009 (Opinion)

(Blog Post) I'm surprised this hasn't gotten more attention. But imagine for a moment that the opt-out public option passes and becomes law (I give it a 65 percent chance at this point). Then what happens? Well, there has to be a debate in every state in which Republicans, where they hold a majority or the governorship, will presumably decide to deny their own voters the option to get a cheaper health insurance plan. Full Story »

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by Kim C. Maynard - Oct. 29, 2009

This article has the dubious distinction of both overstating and oversimplifying the case. The author seems to believe that Republican legislators would somehow speak honestly to their constituents about the offered Public Option without resorting to claims of encroaching Socialism and the impending total collapse of health care provision to our grandmothers in order to provide abortions for illegal immigrants. Okay, it probably wouldn't go that far. But the likelihood of Republican Legislators offering a fair assessment to their constituents is even a greater stretch.

Opt out is probably better than opt in. What would be best is if Democrats paid Tom DeLay a couple million dollars to take over the party leadership and use his skills to get them in line. Love him or hate him, DeLay knew how to get things done.