…and the endangered Democrat majority:
It was during the health care debate that the essential building block of the Democratic majority – Independent voters – began to crumble. It was evident in the generic ballot. It was evident in the President’s job approval numbers. It was evident in Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
What’s really amazing is the ongoing delusion (notoriously assisted by Bill Clinton) that once they passed it, it would magically become popular.
They used to say that Social Security is the third-rail of American politics, but given 1994 and this year, I think that health-care “reform” (at least democratic socialist style) is. And this time, the donkeys jumped on it with all four feet.
Actually, my hope is that the health care debacle, and the economic debacle we are in disconnects the electricity from the Third Rail.
What amazes me is that the pundits keep trying to pin Obama’s plummet in the polls to just one policy decision. If they are looking for just one thing, I would suggest that America has gotten to know the guy.
“Actually, my hope is that the health care debacle, and the economic debacle we are in disconnects the electricity from the Third Rail.”
If they’d gotten cap’n’tax through, there wouldn’t be any electricity…
I am kind of surprised that “they” got Health Care Reform through as it was not just touching the Third Rail (Social Security) but the 25 kV overhead wire (Medicare).
For starters, they have gotten rid of Medicare Advantage, which was this deal that Newt Gingrinch had worked out that you could have more of your medical costs covered if you agreed to enrollment in some kind of HMO, which these these days more takes the form a PPO (preferred provider network, where they have negotiated discounted reimbursements).
Maybe my Dad’s doctor was getting hosed with the deep discounts, but as part of their financial reorganization and “weathering the storm”, Ford cut loose its salaried retirees from the Ford Retiree Medicare Supplement Plan, gave each retiree a small pot of money towards medical expenses, and said, “Here, do what you want with it”, where what they were pushing was Medicare Advantage.
As far as I can see from the TV ads, Medicare Advantage is no more, except, maybe, in Florida, where they made an exception, which is probably many of the corrupt bargains in the Health Care Reform (Jim, oh Jim, were you going to remind me what a great deal this is?)
Mark Billings was filling in for Rush today and he talked about how there will be a large number of employees in for a shock this fall as their employers roll out new “Obamacare compliant” health benefits. New plans and open enrollment for most companies happens over the next two months — just in time for the November election. Costs are skyrocketing as the insurance companies anticipate new expenses, red tape and uncertainty in the health care market. These costs are being passed to companies who in turn will be passing them along to their employees. Should be an eyeopener for many voters who may still be under the delusion that Obamacare had anything to do with lowering costs and increasing availability. Just what the economy needed, less take-home pay for many employees who work for private employers.
“…it would magically become popular.”
They may have said “popular,” but what they meant was “addictive.”
Jim, you disagree?
This thing needs to be pulled up by the roots. If the Republicans take control of Congress and then proceed to start tinkering around the edges in an effort to “fix” it, America is finished.
Even if the Republicans win control (as opposed to “taking control” or “seizing control” as described by the Press) of Congress, they’ll still have to deal with Obama. It seems unlikely they’ll even get a majority in the Senate, much less the ability to overturn Obama vetos. There is only so much they’ll be able to accomplish in the short term. Since they control the budget, they could reduce the funding in an effort to “starve the beast” but that’s about it.
On the other hand, I would imagine that a new Congress could fund the ever-lilving daylights out of the program, and force it down the throats of the states in order to speed up the process of states filing suits against the Federal Government.
Or maybe those suits have already been filed (because, well, I don’t pay that much attention any more), in which case, the Congress could starve the program as a de facto injunction to keep it from wrecking too much havoc until SCOTUS can get to it.
Not that I have any faith in SCOTUS any more to declare it unconstitutional, unfortunately…
Maybe someone can help but I am at a loss to understand why Oscamcare is unconstitutional. It is a really, really, really bad piece of thoughtless and careless legislation but that can be reversed by repeal. The real problem is how do we stop the obscene profits the insurance companies will make from all this.
One thing is for sure, if this goes ahead we will have two bureaucracies to contend with, the insurance company bureaucracy and the government bureaucracy.
Just exactly how this will help health care in America eludes me.
Many are claiming the mandate that requires people to purchase insurance from private companies is outside the bounds of what the federal government can do. It has never been done before in all of our history. However, the Constitution means whatever 5 Supreme Court justices say it means so there’s no good way to predict the outcome of a court challenge.
As for the insurance companies’ “obscene profits,” their profit margin is less than what many other companies make. Further, the legislation mandates additional coverage with little or no ceiling in lifetime claims and coverage for people with preexisting conditions. That will greatly increase the costs to the insurance companies. In turn, they’ll raise their prices which will be passed on to consumers. Some companies are expected to drop their employer-provided coverage and pay the fine, which will put pressure on their competitors to do the same. The insurance companies will lose customers which is hardly a way to make “obscene profits.” In the end, the plan will likely force a lot of insurance companies out of business and drive people to a single-payer government plan. Given the mess the government has made of Medicare and Medicaid, I can’t see how any rational person could possibly believe that’s a good idea.
To Leftists, any profit except their own is obscene. To the rest of us, profit is what a company needs to stay in business.
Yes, if we take Roe v. Wade seriously as a constitutional right to control your medical life, it cannot be reconciled with Obamacare. There is certainly a stronger basis for refusing medical care than buying a commercial product because medical treatment involves bodily touching, and if you read the VA MTD opinion, it’s clear that if you can refuse medical treatment, then refusing to buy medical insurance is not definitely a commercial activity.
Isn’t it safe to jump on a rail with all four feet?
Only if you succeed. They’re pretty clumsy…