BrianGarst.com

Democrats have a brilliant new idea to force on you something you don’t want: pretending you could decline. I say it’s a trap:

Senate Democrats have begun discussions on a compromise approach to health care reform that would establish a robust, national public option for insurance coverage but give individual states the right to opt out of the program.

The proposal is envisioned as a means of getting the necessary support from progressive members of the Democratic Caucus — who have insisted that a government-run insurance option remain in the bill — and conservative Democrats who are worried about what a public plan would mean for insurers in their states.

…

How such a system would work is still being debated, according to those with knowledge of the proposal. But theoretically, the “opt-out” approach would start with everyone having access to a public plan. What kind of public plan isn’t yet clear. States would then have the right to vote — either by referendum, legislature, or simply a gubernatorial decree — to make the option unavailable in their health care exchanges.

Oh that’s perfectly innocent. We’ll force it on you, then make your politicians have to “deny” you “choice” in order to get rid of it. And even if they do successfully navigate that minefield of demagoguery, you’ll still get taxed for it!

For the states, this is purposely designed as “an offer they can’t refuse.”

Hat tip: HotAir

federalism