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The Bad News About ObamaCare Keeps Piling Up
The Wall Street Journal ^ | JUNE 17, 2010 | Karl Rove

Posted on 06/17/2010 4:39:17 AM PDT by Scanian

In his brilliant exposition of why sweeping policy changes often have unintended consequences, the late sociologist Robert K. Merton wrote that leaders get things wrong when their "paramount concern with the foreseen immediate consequences excludes the consideration of further or other consequences" of their proposals. This leads policy makers to assert things that are false, wishing them to be true.

Which brings us to President Obama's many claims about his health-care reform. Take his oft-expressed statement that if you like the coverage you have, you can keep it. That sounds good—but perverse incentives in his new law will cause most Americans to lose their existing insurance.

This was brought home to me when I asked the CEO of a major restaurant chain about health reform's effect on his company, which now spends $25 million a year on employee health insurance. That will jump to at least $90 million a year once the new law is phased in. It will be cheaper, he told me, for the company to dump its coverage and pay a fine—$2,000 for each full-time worker—and make sure that no part-time employee accidentally worked 31 hours and thereby incurred the fine.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: costs; employers; healthcare; privateinsurance
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1 posted on 06/17/2010 4:39:17 AM PDT by Scanian
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To: Scanian

Every single person who was paying attention knew that this was going to happen. The people opposed to the law said so. The people who advocated the law, anyway, kept silent.

But the people who pressed for this law knew full well what was going to happen. They just didn’t care. The law enhances their power, and that is all they care about.


2 posted on 06/17/2010 4:46:25 AM PDT by Haiku Guy (Gov. Chris Christie (R) won the NJ-6 held by Rep. Frank Pallone (D) by a 15.5% margin!)
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To: Haiku Guy
But the people who pressed for this law knew full well what was going to happen.

Of course they did. It was deliberate and intentional. This health control boondoggle has been the Progressives wet dream for nearly 100 years. It's all about control. When they control your access to health care they control you!

3 posted on 06/17/2010 4:52:50 AM PDT by Thermalseeker (Stop the insanity - Flush Congress!)
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To: Haiku Guy

I think people cared but so many don’t follow politics at all. They listen to the news for 2 minutes a day and don’t read much news on the net either. Sadly this is half the country and it is that half, the ignorant ones like some of my own family members who just don’t know.
The media is the major culprit in this whole Obama horror story.


4 posted on 06/17/2010 4:56:07 AM PDT by DebraAI
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To: Scanian

Missouri has the first challenge on Obamacare on August 3rd when we vote on the “Health Care Freedom Act” This issue is not just a states rights issue, but the beginning of a NATIONAL REFERENDUM which will get results faster than lawsuits by states. Lawsuits are fine. But they do nothing to block implementation in the years they will take to finally reach court.
Please understand that this campaign is going to be very expensive. The left wing is already rolling out their campaign of scare tactics and lies. Missouri can set the tone of the debate that unwanted and unconstitutional federal regulations are not welcome in Missouri, or America. With your help we can be decisive. Please go to http://www.mohealthfreedom.org and get involved in the battle against unconstitutional government mandates.


5 posted on 06/17/2010 4:58:06 AM PDT by o_zarkman44 (Elect Chuck Purgason US Senate http://purgasonforsenate.com/)
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To: Scanian
"...and make sure that no part-time employee accidentally worked 31 hours and thereby incurred the fine."

The French legislated the 35 hour week. Obama's going the French one better, he's legislating the 30 hour week. Everyone's going to be part-time in the future. Hopenchange in action, YEAH!!

6 posted on 06/17/2010 5:04:14 AM PDT by Jabba the Nutt (Are they insane, stupid or just evil?)
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To: Scanian; ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas; stephenjohnbanker; DoughtyOne; genetic homophobe; FromLori; ...
RE:”This was brought home to me when I asked the CEO of a major restaurant chain about health reform’s effect on his company, which now spends $25 million a year on employee health insurance. That will jump to at least $90 million a year once the new law is phased in. It will be cheaper, he told me, for the company to dump its coverage and pay a fine—$2,000 for each full-time worker—and make sure that no part-time employee accidentally worked 31 hours and thereby incurred the fine....This reality is settling in at businesses across America. A Midwestern contractor told me he pays $588,000 for health insurance for 70 employees, contributing up to $8,400 a year for a family's coverage. If he stops providing health insurance, he'll pay $2,000 per employee in fines, and the first 40 employees are exempt from fines altogether.It's also dawning on employees that they will lose their coverage. Some will blame management; many more will blame those who wrote this terrible legislation. Employees who lose coverage get to select a policy from a government-sponsored insurance marketplace called the “exchange.” This will be subsidized by taxpayers. Depending on his income, a worker will have to pay between 8% and 9.8% of the cost. But there are a few hitches. Employers now pay for employee health plans with pre-tax dollars, but workers who buy into one on the exchange pay with after-tax dollars. Families making less than $30,000 and individuals making less than $15,000 a year will be dumped into Medicaid, widely viewed as second-class health care.

Obama-care ping!

7 posted on 06/17/2010 5:05:11 AM PDT by sickoflibs ( "It's not the taxes, the redistribution is the federal spending=tax delayed")
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To: Scanian

My former employer (I retired after 33 years) has sent me written documentation that (More or less) said as soon as ObamaCare became law, I was being dropped off my retirement insurance. Hope and Change you can believe in.


8 posted on 06/17/2010 5:11:14 AM PDT by BipolarBob (Even the earth is bipolar.)
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To: Thermalseeker

“Of course they did. It was deliberate and intentional. This health control boondoggle has been the Progressives wet dream for nearly 100 years. It’s all about control. When they control your access to health care they control you!”

This needs to be overturned at all costs. America has to take back congress and turn this administration into a lame duck ASAP. Then start writing bills that would never let the Europeization of America happen again.


9 posted on 06/17/2010 5:23:07 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (You know it's bad when "Miss me yet" billboards with Carter's picture are displayed,)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

I recently missed a COBRA payment due to an illness no less. The company I worked for dropped me and didn’t have the courage to tell me why, since they do have the option to keep me on COBRA.

A week later, they were informed thet their insurance would be changing and their benefits cut. I love poetic justice. I did call my HR rep to let her know that now she will feel like I feel when her kid gets sick and there is no one to help her.

Needless to say, she wasn’t amused. As they say in Russian, “Tough Poopski”


10 posted on 06/17/2010 5:27:29 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (You know it's bad when "Miss me yet" billboards with Carter's picture are displayed,)
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To: sickoflibs

You can thank Rove and Boosh for part of this. Their incompetence, along with McStain helped elect Obama.


11 posted on 06/17/2010 5:39:58 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops....and vote out the RINOS!)
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To: Scanian

Another fact that was not explained in the article was that the “grandfather clause” does not apply to UNIONS. They are exempt from it and don’t have to worry about changes in their health insurance plans.

Nothing to see here...move along.......


12 posted on 06/17/2010 5:48:18 AM PDT by DH (The government writes no bill that does not line the pockets of special interests.)
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To: Scanian

Every member of Congress who voted for this should be gutted like a fish and then forced to endure the same coverage that we will get.


13 posted on 06/17/2010 5:49:04 AM PDT by thethirddegree
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To: DH

Additional information:

http://yidwithlid.blogspot.com/2009/06/unions-exempt-from-obama-care-taxes-why.html

Read it and know what it is all about for the union membership.


14 posted on 06/17/2010 5:52:17 AM PDT by DH (The government writes no bill that does not line the pockets of special interests.)
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To: stephenjohnbanker
RE :”You can thank Rove and Boosh for part of this. Their incompetence, along with McStain helped elect Obama.

I just assume forget them when I can, but what worries me is the current RINO party. They are not attacking democrats on the specifics of Obama-care. I get these optimistic reply pings saying Republicans will repeal it but I don't see that happening given the RINO party. They don't even have specifics, they are just counting on the wind sailing them to victory in November.

15 posted on 06/17/2010 6:02:14 AM PDT by sickoflibs ( "It's not the taxes, the redistribution is the federal spending=tax delayed")
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To: stephenjohnbanker
You can thank Rove and Boosh for part of this. Their incompetence, along with McStain helped elect Obama.

What part of the responsibility should the voters share? After all, the voters are responsible for Karl Rove and President Bush. Perhaps you could face the reality that Obama is responsible. Just a thought, but it’s a damn good thought.

16 posted on 06/17/2010 6:13:51 AM PDT by MosesKnows (Love many, Trust few, and always paddle your own canoe)
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To: stephenjohnbanker; Mrs. B.S. Roberts

You carefully mis-spelled the names “BOOSH” and “McSTAIN” and then carefully correctly spelled “HIS” name. I think that labels you quite well.
HE was elected by the Joseph Goebbels School of Journalism graduates in the US Media, and their readers/ listeners who lacked the ability to think for themselves. As they now die off, I wonder how they like their version of Hope and Change.


17 posted on 06/17/2010 6:23:09 AM PDT by CaptainAmiigaf ( NY Times: We print the news as it fits our views.)
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To: MosesKnows; sickoflibs; ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas; DoughtyOne; genetic homophobe; FromLori

I will tell you what I know. Every time the Republicans run a weak candidate for POTUS, the Democrats win.

Americans are too damned uninterested when it comes to learning about the people they vote for. They are better than most other countries, but look at the other countries.


18 posted on 06/17/2010 6:34:09 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops....and vote out the RINOS!)
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To: CaptainAmiigaf; sickoflibs; ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas; DoughtyOne; genetic homophobe

” You carefully mis-spelled the names “BOOSH” and “McSTAIN” and then carefully correctly spelled “HIS” name. I think that labels you quite well.”

Yeah, I guess if you are an obtuse f’ing dummy like you, it would ;-)


19 posted on 06/17/2010 6:36:38 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops....and vote out the RINOS!)
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To: Scanian

Yet on AOL news, they say pro-health care poll is up!
Collective insanity!


20 posted on 06/17/2010 7:01:56 AM PDT by matginzac
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