Harry Reid announced an opt out clause for the public option.

As the debate over health care reform rages on several powerful politicians are crafting a bill that will ultimately be voted on the Senate floor.  Today Harry Reid unveiled an interesting spin allowing for states to opt out from the public option.  As you remember the version of the bill championed by Max Baucus did not contain a public option, however it is now being combined with a version from the HELP committee and that one did contain the public option.  Because of the relative unpopularity among senators and the public alike, Reid crafted a compromise that would theoretically be appealing. 

What is especially odd about this move is the manner in which Olympia Snowe was "suckered" into voting for the version from the Finance committee while issuing a warning that she will not support a public option.  Therefore it certainly appears that promises were made in order to get some version out of the finance committee.  However Reid's proposals raises serious questions.

How do states opt out, if federal taxes are levied across the board?  Citizens will not be too keen on opting out of a program they are paying for. 
Who decides the opting out process?  Governor, state legislature or even a ballot initiative could all be viable options and will add to the confusion. 
What about the individual mandate?  If the public option is optional why is the mandate to purchase insurance not optional?  Perplexing at best.

This looks like a strategy to get the public option in the final bill in a subversive manner to appeal to the most left-wing base of the Democrat party.  Obama has gone back and forth on the public option, but beyond all the words and facades he secretly wants a public option and even a single payer option as he once professed on the campaign trail. 

This is not health reform, this is a few people toying around with one of the most crucial aspects of our lives and it is appalling to see how many games the powerful elite are willing to play in order to acquire more power. 

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