Opt Out

[Are_grits_groceries]

I keep people hearing people say that nobody will opt out. I wish that was true.

I'll bet cash money that SC opts out, and that AHIP pours money in here hand over fist to make it happen.

You have already heard the screeds that were used to scare people before. That will be tame compared to what they will come up with now. They will pick out portions of the bill and blow them up into big issues. They will make it appear that it will cost everybody a brazillion dollars.

The Dems have a good candidate for governor. With Sanford and his shit, we have a good chance to retake that office.

Then boom goes the dynamite and instead we will be fighting the health care battle.

Yes, I know the points:
1- You elected them so you deserve it.(Thank you for your support.)

2- It won't take long before they knuckle under. (How long is that? Nothing will be set up until 2013 at this point, and by then who knows what will be done?)

3- We need a bill so we will have to sacrifice. (What do you mean we?)

4- Why don't you move? (Where and with what money?)

5- All the people down there are knuckle-dragging cretins, and don't deserve any better.(I thought we were all in this together. Even when SC was going red, I sent $ to other states.)

Saying that nobody will opt out is a comforting way to ignore the political reality in several states. It makes it easier to be in denial and take the opt out and run.

Don't bother to get up. I'll just throw myself under the bus.

[Ian David]

1. Opting-out would be political suicide. That's why Hannity is trying to call it "Opt-in." n/t

[Are_grits_groceries]

3. Did you read my OP?

It will not be political suicide if they can scare people enough. They will have the money.

Go ahead. You are ignoring everything I pointed out.

[Ian David]

4. They can't scare enough of the people long enough to make it stick.

Do you think voters in your state are really THAT stupid?

[Are_grits_groceries]

9. It's not as much a matter of stupid thank you very much,

as it is a matter of framing and money. Whoever frames the message in the best way to highlight their side will have a leg up. Medicare + 5 would be great, but that ain't gonna happen.

Then there is the matter of money. AHIP will see that the OOs get it.

[Ian David]

12. So you think the voters in your state are so stupid that all it takes is money and marketing.

Don't ever accuse anyone else of "bashing" The South again.

[Are_grits_groceries]

15. I am not bashing this state.

You are using reduction to ignore what those 2 things can represent.

A lot of people here have grown up with one reality, and that is the GOP. They have spent the money and the time year after year to get a message across. If that's what you hear all the time, that is what you are predisposed to believe.

I know these people because I went to school with them and I am related to them. On one level they are the nicest people you can ever meet, and on another when you get down to it, they can be scared to death by the constant caterwauling by the GOP that drowns out a lot.

People have pushed a long time and pushed hard to open things up. There has been progress, but not nearly enough. Right now we are pushing not to lose ground in all the hooha.

And let me say one thing about the power of money and marketing! It can go a long way in convincing anybody to believe something no matter how smart they are. If you read any studies on how people can be unknowingly influenced, then you would have a clue.

What if other measures like civil rights ahd been opt out? MEH!

[Ian David]

19. Other civil rights weren't popular at the time. Public Option *is*. n/t

[ddeclue]

23. You are DELUSIONAL - it will NOT be "suicide" at all in many Red States.

[SPedigrees]

2. We will have to see what the final bill actually looks like, but

my understanding is that states will be allowed to opt-out only after the public option has been in effect for 3 years.

Opt out after people have adopted this coverage = political suicide. I don't see it happening anymore than opting-out of stimulous money happened.

Opt-out is brilliant because it cuts off republican criticism at the knees. 'You don't like the public option, opt out of it.'

on edit: People can only be frightened away from that which they do not know. By the time governors are eligible to opt-out, public health insurance will be understood and embraced and the govs can opt out at their own peril.

[Are_grits_groceries]

7. Is the 3 year clause definitely in?

If there is any kind of trouble getting the program running and I'll bet there will be, that will be magnified a brazillion times.

I wish people who didn't live here and don't know the ins and outs of this state and its politics would quit assuming it will follow any set pattern. I am not a glass half empty person. I'm a where the hell is my glass person.

I look through jaundiced glasses with good reason.

[SPedigrees]

10. Nothing is definitely in yet.

I said very clearly that we will have to wait to see what exactly is in the bill that passes.

I have heard that medicare or medicaid (not sure which) began with an opt-out clause.

[kjackson227]

13. Ed has defined the opt-out/opt-in provision as...

Opt-Out Definition
The Opt-Out means every state will start off with a public option for at least 1 year. After that time the state legislature and the governor can vote to opt out of the program.

Opt-In Definition
The Opt-In means the state legislature and the governor would need to approve a public option before it would be implemented in that state.
====================================================================================================

According to Ed, it seems that the Opt-Out would be better than the Opt-In. What a mess.

[Shagbark Hickory]

5. I'd be cash money that ALL states opt out. Money talks and the campaign contribs from the

health denial companies will be thru the roof.

[SPedigrees]

6. Dream on! nt

[Shagbark Hickory]

8. It's not a dream, it's a nightmare.

Opt-out is a slow, extremely painful death of health reform. I'd rather they just go ahead and kill the public option now and spare us all the agony of yanking our coverage.

[bunnysoft]

11. 43% of Mississipians voted for Obama

So i agree with you that we shouldn't lump everyone in a red state as a dumbass.

[Jane Austin]

21. The problem is how many voted for Haley Barbour -

or Rick Perry in our case. :(

[rudy23]

14. If "opt-out" would be political suicide, why are ANY right wing policies still around?

Wouldn't they all be political suicide?

I have to wonder what political reality people are living in when they don't think state GOP pols will opt out of a public plan. I'm in a state where Bobby Jindal just rejected some BADLY needed stimulus funds for unemployment and a rail system between BR and NO. He'll be applauded for it, just like EVERY time a GOP politician convinces voters to go against their own interests.

If an opt-out would be political suicide, where did all those screeching town hall people come from?

[SPedigrees]

16. When those teabaggers have a public option, they will not be screaming.

No right wing politician has yet had the opportunity to opt out of a public health insurance plan.

They did have the opportunity to opt out of stimulous money, and just look at how many risked their political careers by doing so.

But oh they talked big about how they would opt out of stimulous funds for their states. Talk is cheap.

[rudy23]

20. They're screaming about Medicare! They think Saddam planned 9/11!

What makes everyone so sure the propaganda won't cause them to unite against their own best interests, once again?

[guitar man]

17. Wouldn't surprise me if OK did either

They got enough idiots to vote for "Right To Work" here a few years back, it probably wouldn't be too hard to sell them a sack of shit about why we should opt out either :(

[damntexdem]

18. First of all, get a bill out of the Senate and into conference committee.

Hopefully, it will there by strengthened, any opt-out opted out.

[ddeclue]

22. +1 for FL as well.