UPDATE: I just read mcjoan's front page storyand was immensely interested in this paragraph she wrote:
That said, leaving any people out of the system should be of vital concern to lawmakers. There's a relatively simple fix to that--make uninsured citizens of those states who choose to opt out eligible to enroll in Medicare. Of course, that might create huge citizen lobbies in every state to get their state to opt out so that everyone could join Medicare, but it would be critical fix for covering more of the uninsured.
That's the approach I need to feel okay with the opt-out idea. If the bill contains a legitimate, viable provision for the hapless needy people of any state stupid enough to opt out, then I'm all for it. I simple couldn't stomach the idea of most of our states tooling off in the public option limo waving "So long, suckers!" to the residents of the opting-out states.