A lot of ink has been spilled over how the Republicans are like a dog that has finally caught the car, and now that they have to at least give the appearance of repealing Obamacare, all their options are politically toxic.
Start with allowing a Medicare buy-in. This is good for politics because:
- Medicare is popular, particularly among older voters, who vote in high percentages.
- It’s easy to sell.
- This specific vote would likely peel off some Democrats, which allows you to sell the “bipartisanship” involved.
- You get to sell it as a big “Fck You” to Obama for your base.
It’s good policy because:
- Even though it’s better than the old system, the PPACA is a clusterfuck compared to single payer.
- It saves a lot of money.
- It eliminates balance billing and narrow networks issues.
Disclaimer: What I am engaging in here is “Concern Trolling”.