ACA Refusal Is A Symbolic Act Of Secession

[TheMastersNemesis]

Think about it. These GOP governors are almost declaring that they are seceding from the union. A number of them already refused stimulus money. Now they are doing the same with ACA. What other law will they refuse that they do not like? I do believe that we have an issue here that has to be addressed aggressively and the governors should know that there will be consequences.

Rebellion by elected officials on this level is really not acceptable. They should be smitten by an iron hand politically. I have been saying for a long time that we are no longer in a debate or election we are in a political civil war and the ACA reaction is a good sign of it.

[demwing]

1. Agreed, its naive to think that they are playing by yesterdays rule book

Prepare yourself, especially if you live in a state ruled by one of these bastards. It will get worse before it gets better.

[Angry Dragon]

2. I say have them arrested by US Marshalls

and throw in jail with no bond

[unblock]

3. my understanding is that the law provides for states not implementing it.

and allows the feds to come in an implement it for them.

so it's certainly a *symbolic* act of defiance and no doubt plays on and stokes the secessionist lust in those states, but unlike secession, this action (or rather, inaction) is perfectly legal.

[jimlup]

4. Not sure if we should play their game or not...

Here is where I'm really not sure how to proceed. The problem with the political civil war is that we don't want it to escalate. At least I wouldn't think we would. On the other hand maybe we should ... I don't know.

[Honeycombe8]

5. I thought the same thing. Isn't it against the law NOT to enact the ACA?

They can opt out of the Medicaid expansion, but they can't opt out of the entire ACA law, can they? I don't think so. It's federal law.

[Puzzledtraveller]

6. Except that recent court ruling....

[cherokeeprogressive]

7. Hyperbole much?

[HopeHoops]

8. It might not be a bad thing. Lets see how well they do on their own.

How long do you think it would take before they come crawling back to the Union? We don't even need a war on this one - just let them go and wait for them to return.

[Leopolds Ghost]

9. Courts just said they can opt out of the Medicaid expansion -- no complaint heard

So all the people above me on this thread are really upset about is the prospect that red states and purple states and "Blue Dog" states will fail to enact any sort of progressive policies, as usual. Get back to me when "blue" (Dog) cities stop making it illegal to feed the homeless and stop financing schools with gambling dollars --

[NNN0LHI]

10. Which GOP governors actually refused the stimulus money?

I know there was a lot of big talk from these assholes but did any of them actually turn the money down?

Don