When I first heard of the plan to allow states (Red States) to opt-out of the Public Option my initial response was let them. Kinda the same reaction I had to the threats of Texas seceding. It is past time to call these obstructionists on their empty rhetoric. Let them Go Galt. A diary on kos spells out the advantages. (Read the whole thing)
Here are the main points:
- It forces GOP legislators to put up or shut up, leaving them in a very uncomfortable position.
- It leaves the rest of us with a strong public option, even after it’s watered down.
- It hampers the ability of Republicans to lie about healthcare issues.
- Businesses will have an incentive to move to blue states.
Don’t get me wrong. This is not an ideal solution for healthcare. It is, however, a perfect solution to make Republicans put their money where their mouth is. So far they’ve been given a political pass. They bitch and moan while they cash their stimulus checks. Basically, they score their political points by spewing rhetoric they have no intention of turning into reality. It’s past time to give them what they claim they want.