tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8049100705786633064.post2927353264942462945..comments2024-01-20T02:06:45.388-08:00Comments on The Political Omnivore: The Obamacare Blind AlleyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8049100705786633064.post-76655520537645023322015-05-01T08:04:50.596-07:002015-05-01T08:04:50.596-07:00Firstly, let's be careful about our terms: Soc...Firstly, let's be careful about our terms: Social Security has "succeeded" by any stretch of reasonableness--but you can still (easily) find hard-liners who describe it as a Ponzi Scheme and think it must be dramatically altered or even repealed. The success of Obamacare (or not) will likely depend on:<br />1. The 2016 election: If Walker wins there is a good chance it'll go away.<br />2. The SCOTUS decision this summer. While most roads lead to OCare remaining, if ruled against, there will be a window to kill it the GOP might be able to capitalize on.<br />3. The millions of "standard-bearers" who buy the insurance and use it. <br /><br />Now, my 'store-bought' executive level insurance has a 4k deductible so, uhm, does it suck? It's a complicated question. What I think is clear is that in a time of unprecedented political polarization and a time of what I believe is historic levels of opposition, Obamacare has managed to establish a beachhead in terms of *engagement* with the population.<br /><br />Notably: it seems to be serving a purpose people (generally) seem to like and some of the more obvious objections haven't panned out. Resultantly, getting rid of it is now a Gordian knot and there isn't going to be simple solution of just waving the "go away Obamacare wand" that some GOP reps were hoping for.<br /><br />I think that's actually a success in a lot of respects.<br />-The OmnivoreAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8049100705786633064.post-88449987241363235212015-05-01T06:38:02.721-07:002015-05-01T06:38:02.721-07:00Dozens of attempts to de-fund, repeal, or limit pa...Dozens of attempts to de-fund, repeal, or limit participation in the ACA. Is there any discussion about the - apparently cynical - basis of those decisions? Is Krugman the only real staff-bearer for the success of the program (Omnivore aside)? There needs to be bright light shed on the fact that those politicians relentlessly decrying the legislation were either incredibly wrong, did not have the public good in mind, or both.Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05014735047394242638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8049100705786633064.post-15257242020906669462015-04-25T07:11:30.857-07:002015-04-25T07:11:30.857-07:00The ACA, like Social Security, is a horrible parti...The ACA, like Social Security, is a horrible partisan mess. But millions of people also depend on it, and it's also well on its way to hardening into permanence to the point where tinkering with it becomes so politically radioactive that no politician can survive even suggesting it.<br /><br />As you say, if anyone but the Democrats themselves end up destroying Obamacare (they would have to be insane to do this, but you never know), the Republicans - right or wrong - will get blamed for it. A worst-case scenario indeed; if they weren't such utter fools, they'd be doing their level best to <em>protect</em> the ACA instead - even though it totally sucks, for all the wrong reasons. What irony!<br /><br />-- ΩAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8049100705786633064.post-77403089901531084722015-04-24T14:13:03.803-07:002015-04-24T14:13:03.803-07:00While we have to be careful with generalizations, ...While we have to be careful with generalizations, the fact that the GOP "getting what it wants" (a SCOTUS ruling against Obamacare) could be a worst-case scenario is a sign that things are out of whack.<br /><br />-The OmnivoreAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8049100705786633064.post-64397025992335050542015-04-24T10:07:18.711-07:002015-04-24T10:07:18.711-07:00This is where you end up when emotion and belief t...This is where you end up when emotion and belief trump logic and evidence.Stanleybostitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00806163739407718704noreply@blogger.com