A GOP Plan for Health Care? Don’t Bet on It: The Republicans won't unify on a plan

National Review ^ | 01/10/2014 | Jonathan Strong

[SeekAndFind]

For those who say they want to repeal Obamacare, the answer is OF COURSE.

But what's the alternative for replacing it?

If the answer is "Don't replace it"

Well, that's an argument for the status quo -- A SURE LOSER.

[SeekAndFind]

Here's one to consider: Tom Price’s Plan to Replace Obamacare

[SeekAndFind]

Here’s the general Republican idea ( details to be ironed out ):

http://www.humanevents.com/2014/01/09/republicans-get-it-mainly-right-on-health-care-reform/

[Gen.Blather]

Republicans are a bunch of individuals with a full spread of opinions and goals. Democrats are stamped from a mold and have carefully crafted, university focus group tested theory’s. It’s truly astonishing that with the likes of Olympia Snow and John McCain that there were zero Republican votes for the ACA.

[Mr. K]

I DONT WANT *ANY* MORE GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE PLANNING

It is government interference that has caused all the problems to begin with.

[HarleyD]

The reason the Democrats want the GOP to present a plan of their own is so they can attack it-pure and simple. If the GOP presented a plan tomorrow, does anyone think that the media wouldn’t nick pick it apart? Complaints would be front page news next to Christie’s traffic jam and Obamacare failures would be relegated to page 6.

The GOP option is to keep hammering away at Obamacare until the Democrats toss in the towel-which they will do. They are losing this fight and they know it.

[ThunderSleeps]

I'd say keep the federal government out of health care. However, there are several things that could be done to improve healthcare and reduce costs.

• End the self-employed or individual purchaser tax penalty. People getting health insurance through an employer get to use pre-tax dollars, extend that same tax break to people purchasing insurance on their own. Of course the big-government types don't like this 'cause it takes money away from the government.
• Allow insurance companies to compete across state lines. This will increase choices/options and drive competition.
• Tort reform. Real tort reform. Sure, bad things can happen when healthcare goes wrong. But the virtually limitless damages and settlements drive up costs on every single product and service associated with healthcare.

Simple, right? Let the states do their thing. If something is working well, great. If something isn't working well, too bad. At least it is only a fraction of the population, and it will be easier to correct because the failing state system will (hopefully) have several successful state systems to look to as examples. The feds should stay out of it though, we do not need to put all our eggs in one policy basket.

[Gay State Conservative]

There's no *need* for a “plan”.Although imperfect (like everything else that humans do) this nation's health system was pretty damn good...by *far* the best in the world...before Osama Obama came on the scene.Was there room for improvement? Of course.*Nothing* in this country ever has been,or ever will be,perfect.But for the Rats “health care reform” isn't about improving things...it's about payback and power.

[Sooth2222]

The GOP option is to keep hammering away at Obamacare until the Democrats toss in the towel-which they will do. They are losing this fight and they know it.

Absolutely. Since Obamacare is much worse than what existed before, repealing it would be an improvement. Or the Democrats can just wait and watch it (and their electoral prospects) burn. (I favor the "Don't shoot, let them burn." approach by the Republicans.) There is no simple solution to a health care fiasco in the US that has taken over 70 years to evolve.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Was there room for improvement? Of course.

There you go, you just argued for a plan.

My point is this -— arguing that we must repeal Obamacare and then simultaneously saying we don’t need to change anything is a LOSER.

[Hostage]

This the democrat’s red herring. They must defer blame somewhere over Obamacare. So naturally they castigate republicans for a lack of plan.

There are plenty of plans. In fact there’s a whole industry of makers of plans behind the Beltway.

I think the American people have had enough of federal plans. The states are doing just fine without federal involvement.

[Gay State Conservative]

There you go, you just argued for a plan.

You and I must define "plan" differently.I could use a new pair of pants.But I needn't hire 3,000 lawyers to draw up a 2,500 page plan regarding my wardrobe.All I have to do is drive to Macy's,spend ten minutes in their men's department and then pull out my MasterCard.

[SeminoleCounty]

First. ObamaCare must be repealed.

This is too much a liberal canard to not repeal.

Its like the Amnesty Liberals who whine “you can’t deport all the illegals”. Another Liberal Canard to do nothing

First Repeal ObamaCare. We automatically revert to previous system. Then, conservatives can create a real free market approach to health care

[ilgipper]

IMO, a general framework is sufficient. Frame the debate...’government has spent 75 years tinkering in healthcare and the result is higher costs and a complicated system for patients and doctors. Obamacare caused more of that on steroids.’

Then, identify a few key objectives...which a pretty consistently included across the spectrum on the right....open up competition across state lines, give consumers more choice, give individuals the same tax benefits as business so families can make their own choices and not be tied to their employer if they choose not to.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

The RINOs have already pronounced that they want to *keep* the damned thing, just make it *less* onerous to business.

And screw the public. Speaking on behalf of the public, screw them!

“Chamber of Commerce vows to fight ObamaCare *employer* mandate”

“We’re not going to get rid of [the Affordable Care Act] so we’re going to have to find ways to make it work.” — Chamber Of Commerce President and CEO Thomas Donohue

[olezip]

Is it time for the GOP to graduate from bashing Obamacare to embracing a solution of its own?

The health care of the USA will be significantly improved just by getting rid of Obamacare! Billions of dollars will be saved, that is, we will stop the wasteful expenditure of billions if not trillions of dollars!

Millions of citizens will have their health care restored. Our health care system will be restored to what it was before this awful law wrecked the industry, if that is possible.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Fix Obamacare? Easy. I think Shakespeare said it best.

[skinkinthegrass]

!

[februus]

This is why I don’t like to wake up in the morning - let’s gather around the great American bonfire and discuss what solutions Washington has to offer. Middle East need Democracy? Someone is uninsured? Illegals need a path to citizenship? Africa starving and riddled with AIDS? Children being shot? Blacks being incarcerated and failing in school? Banks need free cash? IMF need a hug? Tim Geitner need a job? Ted Kennedy need roses on his grave? Aaaargh!!!!!!

[Cringing Negativism Network]

This is a HUGE problem for the GOP.

The only reason we have Obamacare, is the GOP is out to lunch of the subject.

Step up GOP. Now. The GOP needs to present an opposing proposal.

Simply saying we are against something isn’t an option.

PRESENT SOMETHING GOP.