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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Friday, March 23, 2012

Happy 2d Birthday to Obamacare!

Two years ago today, Obamacare was shoved down the throats of an unwilling public, leading to a Republican majority in the U.S. House. But aside from all the emotional pros and cons, has it worked? According to an analysis by Politico, No. It presents these four hard truths.

1) Some people won’t get to keep the coverage they like. - This contrary to President Obama "if you like it, you can keep it" argument.

2) Costs are not going down.

3) It's just a guess that the law will pay for itself.

4) People don't like the law any more now than they did when it passed.

Updated Friday, 8:45 AM: As a birthday present, Politico is now reporting five mistakes Democrats made when enacting a supposed health care reform. (1) It was a partisan victory instead of consensus; (2) They've been unable to sell it to the public; (3) Obama never really led the "great  campaign" promised to inform the public, and now he's too busy with an even greater campaign; (4) Democrats have been unable to campaign on this bill's enactment; and (5) The individual mandate is by no means a slam dunk in the courts.

46 comments:

Anonymous said...

The CBO has nearly doubled its cost already, two years before full implementation. Nancy Pelosi said we needed to pass the bill to see what was really in it- as it was not fully read and the Obama administration failed to deliver on their promise to publish the full bill on line for 30 days prior. It's far worse than originally feared, which is why it is so unpopular and the White House kept the anniversary very quiet. The law is a turd.

Anonymous said...

The attempts at sabotage by the Republicans doesn't maker the need for this coverage any less important. Your republican issues spin story is seen for what it is.

Anonymous said...

Bernie,

This Bill is designed to control each Citizen from the cradle to the grave.
There are less Doctors and even Hospitals since this Law was passed.
However any Law that Indicates the need for 30,000 additional IRS Agents, isn't Health care!!

Anonymous said...

Bernie,
An additional comment, This Law, and having Pelosi, Reed and Obama in control of the Government
Has done more for the Republican Party and the Independent movement
then any other issue before.

Anonymous said...

Bernie,

I'm from the Government, and I'm here to HELP!

Anonymous said...

health care is a right just like housing. Who can deny people this?I say take it away from insurance companies, they just care about profits. I trust the government with my health care.

Allentown Democrat Voter

Anonymous said...

the republican echo chamber was particularly active last night.

Anonymous said...

Yes Bernie, and we are seeing increases as high as 35% for certain groups, and that is criminal.

Anonymous said...

Federalization of health care is what this is about. Get ready folks for means testing, death panels, and Canadian/English style health care that take the choice away from you and allows the Federal Government to dictate. Oh, did anyone say tell you that even if you go outside their system, you will still not be able to make any choices.

RS said...

I can see the flaws in Obamacare. However, I'm still waiting for the comprehensive health care plan that the Republicans promised over two years ago. Oh, they still don't have one.
The Rs even backpedaled on the features of Obamacare that the party had supported earlier.
OK, Obamacare isn't a very good plan but health coverage in this country stinks for many and is extremely expensive to boot. So, Rs step up to the plate and propose a valid fix. And no, merely scrapping Medicare and Medicaid and replacing it with an unaffordable user paid insurance isn't acceptible. If you think that $7,000 a year will buy a 65 year old health insurance, you haven't tried to buy it.

Anonymous said...

Where's the Republican plan..Nowhere in sight as usual!!!
In fact, Obamacare as it is now called is the result of the Republicans filibustering a single payer plan and a public option. They would not allow votes on any sane plan so we came out with this mishmash..however, very few people understand what it actually will do so they instinctively reject it..Most of the moronic Obamacare opponents know very little about the benefits. They just watch Fox noise and believe their spouted garbage about it...Either way, again, I ask, where is the republican alternative...Again, let me tell you..Turn it over to the insurance companies and let them rape the American people..Or will it be romneycare which Obamacare was modeled after..They are such a joke!!

Anonymous said...

Typical liberal bullcrap. Medical coverage IS NOT an American right, it is a PRIVELIDGE! Don't have good medical coverage? Find a career that has one, I did. And if you're an unemployed government leech, there's Medicaid. Enough said.

Ronnie said...

The R's DO have a plan. Open the state borders and let insurance companies compete for business across state lines...like all our other insurances. Costs would come down in weeks.
Right now in NJ we have 3 or 4 health care insurance companies from which to choose. Since Obama care was passed my monthly contributions to Horizon Blue Cross have gone from $180 for a family to $574 with less coverage and higher co-pays. The explanation from Horizon was "Due to the new health care law..."
We will be forced out of our plan if costs go up any further and then we'll either have to pay a Government fine for not having coverage or be forced into a "single payer plan"...dictated by the government.
The whole thing sucks and needs to be repealed ASAP.

Anonymous said...

If Obamacare was only about insuring those who are uninsured that would be one thing. This stinks to high heaven. How can this be a right? What's right is when you control your own life and it does not cost others. That is what you have a right to as do we the taxpayer. In this culture where men are woman and woman want to be men opposed to self control and responsibility where are we headed? Obamacare pays for sex changes. Excuse me, we pay. We had better fix our country.

Anonymous said...

I want a sex change.

I want some free abortions.

I want a free house.

I am definitely voting for BARAK HUSSEIN OBAMA!!!

(two or three times, just like in 2008, Yo!)

Anonymous said...

It is a shame that this upstanding young lady (who did not deserve to be called a slut) cannot get all the contraception and abortion she wants for free at Georgetown.

I'm voting for Barak Hussein Obama again and again and again and again.

Mmmmm Mmmmm Mmmmm

That will show those nasty Rethuglicans a thing or two about Fairness and Justice.

Anonymous said...

Retired ASD teacher here.

Among MANY hidden surprises in Obamacare, I am amazed how few people realize some of the creative ways it will be paid for.

Particularly galling to me is the NEW tax on homeowners upon sale of their residence. A process EVERY homeowner will do at some point.

In addition to the typical 6% commission paid to your selling agent, Obamacare tacks on an additional 3.8% charge. Nice.

You, or you heirs, were just clipped for an additional $7600 on a $200,000 property.

ironpigpen said...

$ 200,000 property?

Sounds like some evil, greedy rich guy who is not paying his fair share in the first place, Retired ASD Teacher.

0-bama will make everything right if only he is given enough time and unbridled power!

;)

Anonymous said...

People don't realize that Obamacare is the single most devastating law and will cripple the middle class with new taxes. We should be working toward less government intervention in our lives, not allowing them to run everything from healthcare to "retirement". When are these idiots going to realizing that we're creating a dependent society! Pure socialism!

Bill Coker said...

9:10 AM

That 3% tax applies only to the profit made on the sale over $250,000 for an indivual or $500,000 per couple. Not many of us will ever have to pay.

Anonymous said...

I'm grateful people will all have insurance so that people don't walk around thinking they will never get sick and then hitting the rest of us with an exorbitant bill. Better to spread that cost around to everyone.

Plus, I'm happy that healthcare is being seen as a basic right of a human being in an advanced society.

Anonymous said...

That 3% tax applies only to the profit made on the sale over $250,000 for an indivual or $500,000 per couple. Not many of us will ever have to pay.

Shhh. Don't confuse the right with facts. Fox tells them half the story for a REASON. Oh, and that damned "death tax" too! The audacity! Bwahahahaha

Anonymous said...

Excellent point 11:11. The 30 million people that will have healthcare in 2014 thanks to the act are middle class working poor..Hard working folks with two or three part time jobs that cant get reasonable coverage now..The poor already get free health care.. The rich get whatever they want...You wont be able to be denied health care coverage if you have a preexisting condition or dropped because you are sick..Thank God for the law..

Anonymous said...

To 10:49 and 11:15

Considering the average home price in the US is 233,000, it'll soon effect almost EVERYBODY.

And to 11:11, in my advanced society, people are responsible for their own expenses and it should NEVER be a burden of the government and the taxpayer. That's advanced.

Ronnie said...

To anon 11:11,
Obama Care will NOT provide ALL with coverage...he said so himself. And it is a 10 year plan of which only the last 6 years are covered.
What then??
Those of us who do work and have since been hit with HIGHER premiums because of this law will not see anything resembling fairness.
I work, pay taxes, and support myself. What right does anyone else have to my earnings for his/her healthcare? None.

Anonymous said...

Retired ASD teacher here.

Thanks for clarifying, Bill Coker, even though I do expect the tax to apply in my situation at some future point.

To me, ANY new tax is an unfortunate addition.

Anonymous said...

O'Hare again deleting any comments not favorable to his Republican masters. Good puppet, very good.

You get Tea!

Bernie O'Hare said...

I have no idea what you are talking about. i deleted no comment on this thread.

RS said...

I agree that health care is not a right, it is a privilege. OK, so where's the outrage about the government subsidizing health care for the employed. Health care costs are deductible to companies but NOT to individuals. If you want consistancey, push for withdrawing this deduction as well as medicare and medicaid. Make everybody pay for their own and then see how many of the smug people with company supported/government subsidized/socialistic health care scream.

Independent said...

Allenswamp dem (witted) voter 6:05AM.,

Try to use some of you brain, as small as it may be, and vote for issues instead of being a lever puller.

In other words try to think for yourself for once.

Stand up and use your spine said...

7:25, &:24,

Try very hard to think about your health care without a political label. The government is not your personal nanny.

Maybe you will figure out that the pols should not be in the business of health care and your so-called right to said care.

You must work for and earn your wants and desires and thus pay for yourself.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Independent, The comments by Allentown Democrat Voter are sarcasm.

Charles Milo said...

Anon 12:10

The "working poor" are the working poor because the vast majority of them have chosen and are satisfied with that status. Try not to be a social nincompoop and face reality.

Paula Dean said...

Anon 3:43,

Bernie is the last person I would accuse of having Republican masters. Quite the opposite. Besides, he is just a good ole country boy gone astray

Anonymous said...

You are so right! All these people with health care from their employers simply don't care that too many people don't. I call that selfish! It's time for fairness, everyone deserves the same healthcare.

Allentown Democrat Voter

Bill Coker said...

12:49 Ave home sale $233,000

The extra 3% tax is on profit...not sale price. You had to buy it or build it, $250,000 is hard to make on a property,

Anonymous said...

SHOVE IT!!!!

Anonymous said...

Yes people choose to grow older and be displaced on their jobs by cheaper younger labor. Yes by all means. Nothing but parasites. Harvest their organs and move on. Burn them!!

Anonymous said...

The teabaggers want the government out of their medicare, by cracky!

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:12,

Drugs are bad, umkay?

You can re-elect 0-bama if YOU like, but drugs ARE very, very bad.

But, re-read your statement and go on and try to disagree with me ...

"TEABAGGER" SICK OF DUMMYRATS

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:12,

Should you not be out crying for more contraception and abortion that YOU just don't feel like paying for?

Wailing about how entitled YOU are and so on and so forth?

"TEABAGGER" SICK OF DUMMYRATS

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:12,

Should you not be out crying Racism?

(yeah, I know how you roll)

"TEABAGGER" SICK OF DUMMYRATS

Anonymous said...

I think TEABAGGER has slipped out of his tinfoil hat.

Anonymous said...

Let's face the facts, The R's and the D's don't care about the Middle Class!
If they did this entire mess wouldn't have occurred (from the mid-60's to the present)
When the R's had a chance to stop obama, they caved.

Anonymous said...

I'll bet Nancy knows what to do with that big Gavel!!

Anonymous said...

The CBO estimates that in 2019, once "ObamaCare" is fully implemented, there will still be 23 million people in America uninsured. Of the 32 million who will be newly insured under the PPACA, 16 million of them will be dumped into Medicaid - which a third of health care providers DON'T ACCEPT. So they'll have a card, but no care. The additional 16 million will get government subsidies to buy their own insurance based on a sliding income scale - which must be continually verified by the IRS. And all of this will cost us at least two trillion dollars (the estimate doubled from last year to this year, so there's no reason to disbelieve that it will go up again NEXT year....) Anyone who thinks the PPACA will insure all Americans isn't listening, and anyone who thinks there won't be rationing under ObamaCare is in fantasyland.
Donna Rovito