Posted on 12/24/2012 6:14:33 PM PST by Kaslin
This March will mark three years since Obamacare became law, and it still has not had any serious effect on most Americans' lives. That's the way President Obama and the law's Democratic authors planned it; they conveniently pushed the dislocations and unhappy consequences of national health care well past their re-election campaigns.
But Obamacare will be here soon, with an Oct. 1, 2013, start of enrollment in insurance exchanges and a Jan. 1, 2014, deadline for full implementation. The political results could be deeply painful for Democrats.
During the campaign for Obamacare, President Obama pledged repeatedly that his health care scheme would not touch the vast majority of Americans who are satisfied with their coverage. "No matter how we reform health care, we will keep this promise to the American people," Obama said in June 2009. "If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan, period. No one will take it away, no matter what."
If anyone believed that then, they probably don't believe it now. In practice, Obamacare will mean the loss of employer-based health insurance for many people; big increases in premiums for others; changes on the job for still others; and a bureaucratic nightmare for many more. Add to that the involvement of the Internal Revenue Service, which will act as Obamacare's enforcer -- all Americans will have to prove to the IRS that they have "qualified" coverage -- and it's likely Obamacare will have a rocky and unpopular start.
Over the past months there has been scattered press coverage of coming problems. That is likely to increase in 2013. There will be more stories with headlines like this, from Bloomberg News recently: "Aetna CEO Sees Obama Health Law Doubling Some Premiums."
And this, from the Associated Press: "Surprise: New Insurance Fee in Health Overhaul Law."
And this, from the Wall Street Journal: "Health-Care Law Spurs a Shift to Part-Time Workers."
Real-world experience might even spark some rethinking of Obamacare's premises. For example, the president and his Democratic allies promised Obamacare will cut the deficit. That's almost certainly not true, although many in the press repeated it faithfully. Now, with Obamacare near, there are hints of a reassessment.
For example, in a recent editorial about fiscal cliff negotiations, The Washington Post noted that the nation's "underlying fiscal problem is that federal expenditures are slated to rise faster than economic growth," and that "the long-term drivers" of those federal expenditures are "Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and subsidies for the health-care exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act." Obamacare will take its place as a contributor to future deficits.
Obamacare has never been popular. Indeed, it has been underwater in terms of public approval from the moment it began to take legislative shape in 2009. In last month's exit polls, 49 percent said all or part of Obamacare should be repealed, while 44 percent said it should be left as is or expanded.
"There hasn't been any trend," says pollster Scott Rasmussen. "From the beginning, well before the law was passed, public opinion has been remarkably stable and modestly negative. ... All of that has been based upon theory and politics. Most Americans have not yet felt any impact from the law."
If Obamacare were popular, there's no doubt more governors would choose to have their states set up insurance exchanges, as the law envisioned. Instead, nearly two dozen Republican governors have refused, which will force the federal government to build the exchanges itself.
The governors are saying no to state-run exchanges for three reasons. One, they believe it will cost their states too much money. Two, they believe the federal government will exercise ultimate control over everything, despite federal reassurances that states will play a significant role. And three, many believe Obamacare implementation will be a disaster.
Some who watch Obamacare closely see something similar. "The administration is well behind schedule," says James Capretta of the conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center. "It's going to be a train wreck in a lot of places."
Capretta sees the administration trying to paper over some of the problems by rushing billions of dollars in subsidies out the door. That way they will argue Obamacare is doing much good, whatever its flaws.
But it's possible no amount of money will be enough to hide those flaws -- once Obamacare becomes a reality in Americans' lives.
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I’m certain there will be no racism in Obamacare.
This is why I’m a registered Democrat. When they start rationing healthcare I won’t be a second class citizen.
The liberals have told us that, when people find out what’s in Obamacare, that then they are in favor of it.
It’s only because conservatives demonized it by labeling it “Obamacare” that so many Americans are opposed, according to liberals.
The liberals have told us that, when people find out what’s in Obamacare, that then they are in favor of it.
It’s only because conservatives demonized it by labeling it “Obamacare” that so many Americans are opposed, according to liberals.
Actually, a guy who e-mailed pictures of a bulge in his underware prepared the text.
Actually, a guy who e-mailed pictures of a bulge in his underware prepared the text.
Idiot democrat voters will get a taste of the US economy, Obama-style, very soon. Republicans were trying to save them from the forthcoming financial apocalypse, but noooooooo, they weren't having any of that! The extra $$$ they'll be shelling out will have to come from somewhere (can't do without those fancy shoes, cellphones, nail salons, rap music, movies with their favorite liberal activist "stars" and drugs) so be prepared!
We are on an express elvator to Hell
Nope. Anything bad will be blamed on Repubs, and the media will help force that opinion into the minds of all the sheeple. The Dems won't be blamed for a thing. Look at Welfare!
What if the doctors are Republicans?
I’m old.
I hope global warming is a fact because they might have trouble finding an ice floe for my final ride into the sunset.
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“What if the doctors are Republicans?”
I trusting that they’ll be fair minded. I’ve found as a Republican I’m a lot more tolerant of my Democrat friends than they are with me. I’ve been “de-friended” on Facebook after I’ve posted a pro-Romney ad. I’ve never de-friended any of my Dem facebrook friends.
Or delay giving a cast for this guy with a broken arm
Plumber with shattered arm left horrifically bent out of shape... - Daily Mail www.dailymail.co.uk/.../Plumber-shattered-arm-left-horrificall... Oct 8, 2009 – I have never heard of anyone else having a broken arm for ten months. .... try REALLY hard - and he's not eligible to the UK version of disability?
Boycotting the thing myself. Right down to refusing to pay any penalty, etc...Come and get me, cause I’m in good enough health as far as I’m concerned and I’d encourage anyone else to do the same.
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God,that’s awful.
Why couldn’t someone load him with booze and try to straighten it out before it set?
It would be less than perfect,and very painful,but that’s how they did it in days past.
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The bottom line is, when it comes time to cut “entitlements”, and you look at Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Food stamps, etc., and whatever popular programs have been in place for years; do you cut them, or the most recent untested and unpopular one, Obamacare. Because we know the ever-expanding welfare state is unsustainable, and you first have to drop the program that makes the least number of beneficiaries unhappy.
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