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Paul Krugman: The Incompetence Dogma. So Much for Obamacare Not Working
New York Times ^ | 06/27/2014 | Paul Krugman

Posted on 06/28/2014 11:29:34 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Have you been following the news about Obamacare? The Affordable Care Act has receded from the front page, but information about how it’s going keeps coming in — and almost all the news is good. Indeed, health reform has been on a roll ever since March, when it became clear that enrollment would surpass expectations despite the teething problems of the federal website.

What’s interesting about this success story is that it has been accompanied at every step by cries of impending disaster. At this point, by my reckoning, the enemies of health reform are 0 for 6. That is, they made at least six distinct predictions about how Obamacare would fail — every one of which turned out to be wrong.

“To err is human,” wrote Seneca. “To persist is diabolical.” Everyone makes incorrect predictions. But to be that consistently, grossly wrong takes special effort. So what’s this all about?

Many readers won’t be surprised by the answer: It’s about politics and ideology, not analysis. But while this observation isn’t particularly startling, it’s worth pointing out just how completely ideology has trumped evidence in the health policy debate.

And I’m not just talking about the politicians; I’m talking about the wonks. It’s remarkable how many supposed experts on health care made claims about Obamacare that were clearly unsupportable. For example, remember “rate shock”? Last fall, when we got our first information about insurance premiums, conservative health care analysts raced to claim that consumers were facing a huge increase in their expenses. It was obvious, even at the time, that these claims were misleading; we now know that the great majority of Americans buying insurance through the new exchanges are getting coverage quite cheaply.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: authorondrugs; delusional; incompetence; krugman; obamacare; paulkrugman; worsteconomistever
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To: SeekAndFind

Usual crap. Obamacare is a massive failure, massively unpopular. All it has done is sign millions up for Medicaid on my taxpayer dime. Krugman also managed Enron, so best to ignore him


21 posted on 06/28/2014 11:52:31 AM PDT by Viennacon (Rebuke the Repuke!)
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To: SeekAndFind

The “death spiral” is a spiral - it doesn’t happen overnight - whether it actually does happen we find out in the future, when we get feedback from how premiums and coverage costs correspond. I don’t even have a Nobel Prize in economics, and I can understand that point.

And at a more fundamental level, what we have now is not Obamacare, it’s a small subset of Obamacare. Mr. Krugman can get back to me with his snark once all the delays, exceptions, cut-outs, and hold-overs have expired, and the entire public has to walk around with this albatross.


22 posted on 06/28/2014 11:52:34 AM PDT by Stosh
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To: Beowulf9

The father of a friend on mine has been waiting since March 1 to see a cardiologist, he is still waiting. I am not talking about the VA.


23 posted on 06/28/2014 11:53:06 AM PDT by Ditter
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To: SeekAndFind

(Martha) RADDATZ: Let me ask you this, I want to go back to this implementation, because we can’t quite go forward yet. Did you feel misled by Obama?

(Senator Kristen) GILLIBRAND: He should have just been more specific, because the point is if you’re offered by a terrible health care plan that the minute you get sick, you’re going to have to go into bankruptcy, those plans should never be offered.

RADDATZ: So, were you misled?

GILLIBRAND: He should have just been specific.

No, we all knew...


24 posted on 06/28/2014 11:53:15 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Rat Party Policy:Lie,Deny,Refuse To Comply)
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To: SeekAndFind

I almost feel sorry for Krugman.


25 posted on 06/28/2014 11:53:48 AM PDT by ChocChipCookie ("Demons run when a good man goes to war.")
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To: SeekAndFind

FORWARD COMRADES!!!


26 posted on 06/28/2014 11:55:18 AM PDT by Organic Panic
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To: SeekAndFind

So it just doesn’t count that people are losing their insurance, their doctors, and paying through the nose for the privilege. Those enrollment numbers are up (forced at the point of a penalty or worse).


27 posted on 06/28/2014 11:55:30 AM PDT by mrsmel (One Who Can See)
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To: Regulator

Why should they care? They’re exempt.


28 posted on 06/28/2014 11:56:06 AM PDT by mrsmel (One Who Can See)
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To: SeekAndFind

When should be able to euthanize this creep, under the aegis of the complete lives system.


29 posted on 06/28/2014 11:57:14 AM PDT by grumpygresh (Democrats delenda est. New US economy: Fascism on top, Socialism on the bottom.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I’m going to enjoy the look on Krugholes face when Ophonybamacare is declared a colossal failure and is replaced by a FRee market healthcare system!


30 posted on 06/28/2014 11:59:25 AM PDT by Taxman
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To: Beowulf9
She’s ‘not happy’ with the ACA, I can tell you that, boy.

One thing we can thank God for is that neither Osama Obama nor any of his rich,privileged pals will ever have to wait 4 or 5 *seconds*,let alone days,for *anything*.

31 posted on 06/28/2014 11:59:48 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Rat Party Policy:Lie,Deny,Refuse To Comply)
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To: SeekAndFind
Just a fraction of the population thus far is effected by Odungacare, and there was plenty of stink from those that have it. Wait until this time next year when it effects small and med size Companies with lost jobs and lost hours. Those in larger Company's will see their premiums jacked. The Alphabet Soup networks won't be able not to cover the carnage. And on que Klughead will tell the world all is well.
32 posted on 06/28/2014 12:01:49 PM PDT by DAC21
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To: SeekAndFind

How come Obamacare’s biggest champions are people who are exempt?


33 posted on 06/28/2014 12:02:41 PM PDT by Tzimisce
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To: SeekAndFind

Since much of this calamity has been postponed until after the ‘14 and even ‘16 elections, it is far too soon for this Obama cultist to hoist the “Mission Accomplished” banner.


34 posted on 06/28/2014 12:11:48 PM PDT by txrefugee
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To: SeekAndFind

How can it be working when all of its key features have been delayed for political reasons?


35 posted on 06/28/2014 12:13:08 PM PDT by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
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To: SeekAndFind

You can safely ignore the scare-monger’s rumors of Soviet troops and vehicles in Seelowe Heights. We’ve taken Moscow and are rapidly driving east.


36 posted on 06/28/2014 12:16:08 PM PDT by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I’ll bet Krugman has pinup posters of Barry all over his bedroom walls.


37 posted on 06/28/2014 12:17:19 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Feed the wacko enrviromentalists to the starving polar bears.)
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To: SeekAndFind

It is working just fine except for the ones who need it or have it. Otherwise..its a winner!


38 posted on 06/28/2014 12:17:47 PM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: SeekAndFind

Not even half of Obamacare has been implemented after all Obama’s waivers for favored groups and his putting off many major components, including the biggest component of all which is implementation of the employer mandate.

No one but an idiot or an Obama apologist would be declaring success at this stage.


39 posted on 06/28/2014 12:18:48 PM PDT by Will88
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To: Mouton
“great majority of Americans buying insurance through the new exchanges are getting coverage quite cheaply”

But wait until they try to turn that into healthcare.

Then they'll find out how much paper is worth.

40 posted on 06/28/2014 12:21:10 PM PDT by eddie willers
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