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Texas yesterday became the most populous state to say it won't participate in the expansion of...

  • Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 11:54 AM ET
    Texas yesterday became the most populous state to say it won't participate in the expansion of Medicaid or create a health insurance exchange, joining Florida, South Carolina and three other states in rejecting these Obamacare provisions. Medicaid insurers that could be affected by state opt-outs include WLP, WCG and CNC.
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This news story has 31 comments:

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    I wonder what the Hispanic community is thinking....
    10 Jul 2012, 11:56 AM Reply Like
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    How can I vote more than once?
    10 Jul 2012, 12:48 PM Reply Like
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    I wonder what americans are thinking
    10 Jul 2012, 12:17 PM Reply Like
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    Who's going to get me more free stuff?
    10 Jul 2012, 12:49 PM Reply Like
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    Texas already has the most un-insured of all the states. THANKS though for saving the rest of us even more money...eventually Texas, riding high because of high oil prices, will collapse when oil prices do. I grew up there, and am ashamed of the state now...
    10 Jul 2012, 12:32 PM Reply Like
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    Don't worry, big brother will make it right.
    10 Jul 2012, 12:50 PM Reply Like
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    Topcat, we are all ashamed of you. Get your dumbass out of our state.
    11 Jul 2012, 12:11 AM Reply Like
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    someone needs to explain to me why people dont believe that EVERYBODY should have healthcare it ends up being cheaper and people end up being healthier overall please give a coherent explanation
    10 Jul 2012, 12:41 PM Reply Like
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    Yes, comrade, I agree. Why wouldn't anyone support whatever is necessary for the common good?
    10 Jul 2012, 12:47 PM Reply Like
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    again calling me comrade is not an explanation please I have yet to hear a honest not childish explanation to the healthcare problem
    10 Jul 2012, 12:55 PM Reply Like
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    You won't get any intelligent political discussions on this site. It's a lot of right wing nuts trading bumper sticker slogans with a few left wing nuts.
    10 Jul 2012, 01:16 PM Reply Like
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    Because "should" doesn't pay for hospitals to be built, doctor's tuition, new medicines, R&D, etc etc etc. It's kind of like saying, "No one should be able to live completely off the work of others via lifetime welfare/medicaid/section 8." You're not asking a rational question.
    10 Jul 2012, 01:18 PM Reply Like
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    firehouses have to be built police stations have to be built but we get by with that being socialized so explain to me why trying the model the rest of world uses is not fit for this country
    10 Jul 2012, 01:31 PM Reply Like
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    "firehouses have to be built police stations have to be built "
    Look into how many municipalities are declaring B/R or going broke over public entitlements and obligations. You made my point, just saying it has to be done doesn't morph reality and make it sustainable.
    http://yhoo.it/LFpxLg
    http://huff.to/LFpwa6
    http://bit.ly/LFpwa7
    http://bit.ly/LFpy1v
    All heavily dem areas, btw.
    You can't make 1+1=3 to pay the bills, no matter how "necessary" you deem it to society.
    10 Jul 2012, 01:44 PM Reply Like
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    Everyone should have healthcare and everyone should be a direct consumer and pay for it (To hold down costs and be a good consumer). Policies should be freed from mandates and should be more a catrastrophic policy.That said, Anyone that wants more or different should be allowed to purchase the desired coverage and all should be free to roll the dice as well and not choose to cover (Without anyone intervening, for good or bad). No tax deductions for insurance for employers or other, that breeds bad behavior. That is the high level. I could go to more detail but probably not necessary

    Does that help ? This is an honest attempt to clarify a position that many of the opposed feel is wrong with centralized Govt controlled healthcare.

    That said even those opposed can see the holes in this plan and it will get played and abused until it can't take the cost anymore. Companies will send everyone to the exchanges or stay below 50 employees, the costs will climb, many will not buy policies and stage protests (Even those that want free care).
    10 Jul 2012, 07:35 PM Reply Like
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    Yes, you especially should pay for my healthcare since you are so gung ho about it.
    11 Jul 2012, 12:12 AM Reply Like
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    You leave out the point that these municipalities you link to all lost revenue through property taxes when the housing crisis ballooned and people lost their homes. Those property taxes were trickled down to the bottom rung on the ladder as the Federal and state gov'ts quit providing funding for schools in the last decade. Property taxes went up then they disappeared as people got foreclosed on. That's not a product of socialism or communism. That's a product of corporate lobbying in DC for money to go elsewhere. I.E. The military industrial complex, corporate handouts and oil subsidies, kickbacks to the US board of Realtors and the banks in easing of restrictions. Folks blaming social programs are way off the mark. Politics is always about money and the Republicans have used the Fed to fund what they are into. Now it's time to put money back into the wallets of ordinary people like firefighters, teachers, police and healthcare workers. There is no trickle down. Only trickle up under Republicans. Republican congress people are just corporate shills.
    11 Jul 2012, 12:29 AM Reply Like
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    Who says the current situation is the most efficient? Why not privatize it and let fire and police departments compete for efficiency?
    11 Jul 2012, 12:46 AM Reply Like
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    And democrats aren't corporate shills. And there are only two parties and two modes of thought. And economics doesn't work. It's time to force the people who sold us out to stop selling us out and start selling out the people with much more money because that will work! Honesty always motivates more than money! RAWR!!! AMERICA!!! Voting works!
    12 Jul 2012, 01:48 PM Reply Like
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    Why stop at healthcare? Everyone SHOULD have a car, a house, a TV, a fully stocked refridgerator, a boat, a plane, a spaceship, and lightning bolts. We can just let the government pay.
    12 Jul 2012, 03:34 PM Reply Like
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    You're right Convingtonium.

    Let's go the other way and remove all the services provided by government, starting with septic and water. Dismantle the military, no one really needs the Coast Guard, and highways? Why should I pay for them I walk to my office.

    Making an extreme example does not prove your point, ever.
    13 Jul 2012, 08:57 AM Reply Like
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    This is why... http://bit.ly/5BsyVl People that work are paying for all of the people who don't...but even then can't keep the deficit from growing. The US dollar will ultimately collapse...when? Who knows.
    10 Jul 2012, 01:45 PM Reply Like
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    U do know the defict always rises cuz of republican polices right again u cant have a society WITOUT everybody having the same basic rights
    10 Jul 2012, 01:55 PM Reply Like
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    But it's for the good of society, even if it's ultimately going to cause its downfall. ; /
    10 Jul 2012, 01:57 PM Reply Like
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    Hey, what is a "republican" policy?
    12 Jul 2012, 03:37 PM Reply Like
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    so u think 30-40 million people without insurance is better Im clueless and alot of jobs ARENT offering health insurance every single industrial society EXcept ours offers it and it works these are facts not opinion so please explain to me why the for profit model of health care makes sense when nobody i repeat NOBODY else runs it anywhere
    10 Jul 2012, 01:57 PM Reply Like
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    I understand that you believe that everything is a right and not a privilege (which I happen to disagree with) but think about something that JFK said at his inaugural address... ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.

    People need to be productive and have more personal responsibility and stop feeding off of broken policies that allow them to be deadbeats.

    Healthcare needs to be decoupled from employment and people need the ability to make their own choices and select the insurance that fits their needs and lifestyle. Competition shouldn't be limited to a few giants in any given state but many that can compete accross state lines. Employers shouldn't be burdened w/ bearing the weight of insuring the health of their employees.
    10 Jul 2012, 03:44 PM Reply Like
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    I agree with separating health plans from employment. Health care plans coupled with employment offers, in the united states, are a product second world war government policy. It had something to do with assisting the government in paying for war costs. The argument is on one of the schiffradio.com playlists. Basically, before this period in time, most American companies did not offer health care plans. Now the job market has come to consider it as a given and as such, it is included as a monetary benefit in final wage and salary calculations, and thus contributes to lower pay on average across the board. It also contributes to job lock as employees are fearful of utilizing their freedom and changing jobs because they will lose their health insurance.
    12 Jul 2012, 03:41 PM Reply Like
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    Convingtonium -- almost correct on the history. It was a response to wage controls during WW2. Companies circumvented those by adding health insurance to lure (then) scarce workers and to increase "compensation" to existing employees.

    I never fail to be amazed at the law of unintended consequences. One of the most powerful forces in the universe.
    12 Jul 2012, 03:57 PM Reply Like
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    As a Texan, Y'all, I have to admit I am not surprised. This is not a true conservative state, it is a bastion of neocon nonsense. Funniest commercial here in TX now is Lt. Governer running for Senate. Says he will close the borders. In TX, the Lt. Gov. is the most powerful person in govt, and the borders are wide open to any one coming in from central America including any Asians, moslems, malcontents and criminals and mafia from any other country. It is a gesture of political nonsense and nothing more from the State who still thinks the Civil war is not over. Backwards in every way here in Midland TX. Home of GHWBush and His son the Shrub. Nothing meaningful or sincere ever comes from TX politics, but we are the 6th biggest economy on the planet so we are taken serious even when it is nothing more than BLUSTER. Only the poor suffer from this thing, so most "real Texans" could not care less. There really is an attitude that if you're poor you deserve it here. We are second only to AZ in "bubba think"
    11 Jul 2012, 10:37 PM Reply Like
  •  
    I'm from Midland. I'm curious, what do you do?
    12 Jul 2012, 03:42 PM Reply Like
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