Now, you must have known I'd have to do a post on this, right? I mean its the biggest thing since sliced bread so.....
First:
I'm glad that SCOTUS found the law "constitutional" , not doing backflips, but it is a step in the right direction, cuz we're moving towards what the rest of the 1st world countries have--health care for their citizens that doesn't throw them into bankruptcy if they get ill. That gives us more freedom and liberty rather than less. I would prefer(along with many others) single payer, but the ACA does give America some basic health care and gets rid of recission of insurance and so-called pre-existing conditions and some of the worst parts of Bush's poison pill Medicare, part D--the doughnut hole, Medicare Advantage and stronger law/enforcement on Medicare fraud.
Second:
I don't think that Roberts did this because he has seen the light and is trying to amend his ways. Nope, but I do have some other views on why he would do this:
- He doesn't want history to remember the "Roberts Court" as the clown court--the Citizen's United being the most horrendous. The ACA decision allows historians to argue that Roberts was just looking out for the letter of the law.
- He saw the writing on the wall, if ACA was turned over, single payer was closer, the left would be energized for the election and the right just can't excited about Romney.
- Another small deal is Roberts own health issues--he has epilepsy(a pre-existing condition) and does understand some of the issues with our insurance corporations. OK, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt on this one, but that is my happy clappy liberal way!
Third:
New battle cry for cons--abortion/gun control/gay marriage/religion. Facbook, among other places, has gone crazy--specially the right. Calling it a tax has the "right" energized for the election, to the point that McConnell is now saying that since its called a tax, when he becomes Senate leader, he will bring it to the floor under reconciliation(cannot be filibustered)...but President Obama can still veto it...so I guess this one's really just a talking point.
But, again the right just isn't too swift on Romney. And that goes in the favor of sane voters.
Oh and lets not forget the mature words from Mike Malzone, founder of the Merrimac Tea Party of Merrimac NH. On Facebook, his status read, "I hope the 5 Supremes get colon cancer." Well, at least now, they are promised care, whether justices or not. It's just too sad that Mr. Malzone can't formulate an actual argument, just attack the people....that's the right wing way, tho.
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Comments: 54
He doesn't want history to remember the "Roberts Court" as the clown court--the Citizen's United being the most horrendous...He saw the writing on the wall, if ACA was turned over, single payer was closer, the left would be energized for the election and the right just can't excited about Romney. Another small deal is Roberts own health issues--he has epilepsy(a pre-existing condition) and does understand some of the issues with our insurance corporations...
tame: Worthy and important considerations!
Kim and Tame
Excellent Article and Comment
Nobody suggests that John Roberts may have a conscience or that he may love his country. May be he saw what was best.
That is the easiest explanation.
***********
I'm voting for Romney ... Head hung low.
Oh, but then I checked you page....farm kids running the lawn mower???? Obviously, you really need to check facts instead of drinking the rightwing koolaid.
Glome, the President has set the bar too high for Mitt Romney to be effective. The man has absolutely no convictions. Not even you can state what the man stands for.
But I feel safer going with the unknown than letting President Obama stay another term.
I'm sorry. I know that is hard on you guys. :)
What makes the people of Massachusetts more deserving of health care than than people in all the other states?
That's like saying that we've found a cure for cancer, but only the people of one state should have access to it.
I think we live in strange days. Ordinarily, I would agree with you. This is one thing that confuses me.
What do you honestly see as the character of President Obama? I don't want to trash him, but to me, he has so obviously lied, is leading in a dangerous direction, and kind of does thing his own way even if it isn't the rules. That seems like such a fearful fault to allow someone.
Do you just think I'm making mountains out of mole hills? That I am misreading him?
How can two people see so differently?
Lloyd "Massachusetts more deserving of health care than than people in all the other states?"
Massachusetts wanted it, America doesn't. That's self rule. Mitt went along with each of the people, one from the state and one from the country. That's as it should be. We aren't electing baby sitters. We want someone to fun a few offices in Washington. Mainly to close offices down. :)
And you're remark about it being so hard on "you guys" leaves me puzzled--are you a millionaire? Cuz if not, its gonna be hard on you if Romney gets in--he thinks Paul Ryan's plan is just "marvelous"...the one that kills Medicare, kills Medicaid, cuts taxes AGAIN for the richest of the rich and raises taxes for poor/middle class...and to say you'd rather have the unknown??? gotta say, that sure sounds like "voting for the white guy" to me and that is just so sad.
Here's what I wonder; do you honestly not see him 'handling' the people? Twisting facts into what is simply not true? If you see it, do you just count that as normal politics? I know, I'm genuinely interested in why we see different thing when we see him.
I think, you're first question trips me :) Where has he lied? It takes my breath away. Almost every day he is using deceit in the very way he laughs at so many people. His disgust with everyone that doesn't agree with him is hyperbole. Why should everyone agree with him. He is the one that stirs the idea that any thought different from Dem party line is evil and deliberate proof of our hatred.
First--no one said it was "free", but it is subsidized up to 400% of the poverty level(that would mean that a family of 4 could get a subsidy for coverage up to about $88K a year...that doesn't sound too poor to me).
Second--the only people that will face a penalty are freeloaders, people who can pay for insurance but refuse to
Third--Medicare recipients have already saved $4 million due to the continued closing of the doughnut hole
Fourth--Medicare has saved $5 billion due to better laws on fraud and getting rid of the Medicare Advantage(where private insurance companies charged 20-30% more due to administrative costs than Medicare did for services).
Fifth--Kids up to age 26 can stay on parents insurance.
Sixth--Children up to age 19 cannot be denied due to "pre-existing conditions"--my granddaughter was one of these, she was born a month premature--no complications, but that was enough to be denied insurance.
Seventh--People are now getting rebates from insurance companies because, under the ACA, insurance companies must spend at least 80% of your premium for health care...not bonuses, not travel junkets, not CEO's salaries, 'magine that?
Eighth--Small businesses will receive tax credits/subsidies for offering insurance to employees.
And that's what I remember just off the top of my head...so, what part of this is horrible? Unfair?
Sorry Kim, we do think really differently. We aren't being evil we just think The government should stay as small as possible and not have anything to do with our private lives.
It's just a different way of living. Independent. And your right, it holds people accountable for themselves. There are always those that just can't do it. We need to help them.
We all day dream before we go to sleep. My most common meanderings are planning a living place for the homeless. I dream but I have no money. I need to marry someone that is very rich, then dies right away so I can spend his money & I'll be ready to go :):)
Good luck on your dream....but I doubt its gonna work the way you hope...
PS Sorry if I reported it wrong. I'm thinking the article actually said they can't use small tractors & I don't remember if the article mentioned grass or if I jumped to that conclusion, but I'll get my story straight :) Thanks.
Virginia? $1.51, Idaho? 1.21, Iowa? 1.10, Kansas? $1.12. So if all of these so-called religious people would prefer god to provide...they need to give the extra back! Oh, but that ain't gonna happen...and therein lies the hypocracy...the ones that suck the rest of us dry crying about how the federal gov't is taking over...and, again, facts are those evul librul things....
Nows, he has decided he will run my private business as I am not intelligent enough to run my own. Beside, he wants my money to spread out over others. I will have less medical because of that but that is no longer my business. I've become a pawn. I wish we would find out for sure he isn't eligible for the presidency so we can scratch all the things Obama did in the last 4 months.
The rest of the garbage you spewed out is so much crap it doesn't deserve a response...go back to the wormhole. And, you've pretty much proven you prolly aren't intelligent enough to run you "private business" if you believe the crap you spew.
The 2010 elections were fueled by the Obamacare debate and we saw 700+ additional Republicans elected to office across our nation. The decision has re-energized conservatives, we will elect Romney and possibly a Republican super majority to strike down obamacare.
As far as Roberts desicion goes. who the heck knows what the man was thinking....But I'm all in for term limits for justices.
And, except at Faux news, most of the polls are showing that when Americans actually see whats in the law...and understand that the mandate/tax penalty will only affect those freeloaders who have the money to pay for health care, but don't want to(like real adults), the tide is going towards accepting the Affordable Care Act.
And, yes, polls say that if someone is asked about the ACA, a minority approve...until the pollsters ask about specifics...so tell me Dan what is so bad about Insurance companies:
cannot deny insurance due to pre-existing conditions
cannot "rescind" insurance policies(once a person got sick, they co. would find an excuse to terminate patient)
Allowing kids on parents insurance til 26
cannot deem lifetime maximums
Or these:
Getting rid of the doughnut hole in Medicare
Free wellness exam for seniors
Free mammograms
Free prostate exams
Saving $4 billion just in one year due to strengthening Medicare Fraud Enforcement
Getting private insurance companies off the gov't teat by kicking them out of the Medicare program(due to their 30% administrative costs vs. Medicare's 5%--that's a savings of 25% to be spent on seniors!)
The mandate/penalty/tax that the 1-5% will have to pay because their freeloaders---won't own up to personal responsiblity even when they can afford it(which means when these "freedom" loving idjits suffer an illness/accident and go to the ER--all of us adult insurance carries end up paying for it---they're the same as shoplifters, they're still thieves and costing me money!)...so, you're saying that the right who loves to scream about personal responsiblity is shirking their own???
Again, it sounds more like "I'm just voting for the white guy"...and we all know it isn't because of his excitement or his policies cuz he doesn't have any that don't fit on the etch-a-sketch.
It was determination against an overstepping government that motivated the voters in 2012.
If you and your fellow citizens in the state you live in choose to enact health care like Obamacare then by all means do so.
"Saving $4 billion just in one year due to strengthening Medicare Fraud Enforcement"
Q: Why hasn't it already been addressed?
A: Because the government doesn't do anything well, except for wasting our taxes.
There is nothing wrong with most of those things you mention as long as it's not the feds doing it.
And of course as a progressive you couldn't help but play the race card could you.
This is from those who know our health care better than anyone else;
"The Doctor Patient Medical Association has released a new survey of about 700 doctors, and the results are bleak. Scary bleak. Among other dismal figures, Doctors' Attitudes on the Future of Medicine: What’s Wrong, Who’s to Blame, and What Will Fix It found that 83% of respondents are contemplating leaving the industry if Obamacare is fully implemented, owing to its disastrous projected consequences. Indeed, they openly blame the healthcare law for their industry's woes":
KEY FINDINGS
90% say the medical system is on the WRONG TRACK
83% say they are thinking about QUITTING
61% say the system challenges their ETHICS
85% say the patient-physician relationship is in a TAILSPIN
65% say GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT is most to blame for current problems
72% say individual insurance mandate will NOT result in improved access care
49% say they will STOP accepting Medicaid patients
74% say they will STOP ACCEPTING Medicare patients, or leave Medicare completely
52% say they would rather treat some Medicaid/Medicare patient for FREE
57% give the AMA a FAILING GRADE representing them
1 out of 3 doctors is HESITANT to voice their opinion
2 out of 3 say they are JUST SQUEAKING BY OR IN THE RED financially
95% say private practice is losing out to CORPORATE MEDICINE
80% say DOCTORS/MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS are most likely to help solve things
70% say REDUCING GOVERNMENT would be single best fix.
And yes, doctors(just like corporations) scream about pulling out, but there's too much money to be made. My ortho(knee replacement) and I had an interesting conversation--he was against ACA because "they want to put doctors on a salary!!!" OH...MY...GOD..really? A salary(which is not in the law)...I told him I didn't like the fact that, for him, I'm "piecework"; he didn't understand what I meant.
Now, this doc does his appt's by 15 minute intervals...I'm assuming he works 40 hours a week(Tuesday is his surgery day)...he works with about 10 other doctors...all doing the same thing...yes, they have to pay their support staff...but my 15 minute appointment? It costs about $400--that's without extras. My insurance would not pay for his PT(did it thru hospital) or his MRI(again, thru hospital). An aquaintence of mine did have the MRI at his office--it was twice as much as the one I had done at the hospital(couple hundred more than mine)...so, lets figure this out....$400 every 15 minutes....1600 an hour...about $13K per day, 51K per week(one day for surgeries, etc.), $200K per month...and then multiply that by 7-9 other doctors--pretty good $$ for all--and I was only one knee! Shoulders and hips cost bunches more...and who goes to orthos? A majority of the patients are over 55...and many are over 65--the Medicare money coming in will not be turned down. Same for more people being able to get help before it turns to surgery(I first started going to him and just getting a cortisone shot--that was a bit less, $350), thanks to the ACA. Now, he will lose money with the in house MRI's, etc., ACA won't pay for it because, studies have shown that in house MRI's and some tests are done better at either a testing facility or hospital and they're a whole lot cheaper.
Once the first day or arguments was over, the government then argued it could be a tax...it can't be both, the court should have thrown it out then.
Yet in the majority opinion Roberts refered to it as a tax and it only passes as a tax, which is a complete stretch and backflip, also Roberts thought he had to "save the act" and if this part of it was stuck down the rest would fall....It is not in the judges purview to do such, they are simply to rule if something is or isn't constitutional.
Which we all knew it was anyway. A tax that will take more of my money and give me less for it. Also, I doubt we get to keep our own doctors which is a terrible invasion of privacy. The other 4 may have voted that way...but they lost. It is a tax.
I pray that you desire truth. That is the only important thing.
The Willing change the world
The do nothings do nothing for you.
I would be pushing this and other USDF items, why can't government use business models to help offset costs?
I am a woman and I do vote for who I think might be the best man.
More access to the same supply, which results in lower quality/slower access, is no solution. Certainly no increase in "freedom and liberty" by your definition.
Piling on more government regulations and taxes, etc. always reduces our liberties. How about you have your Obamacare, and let anyone that objects to it or other government health programs fully opt out of the system (payments and benefits)? That is liberty.
Also, why don't you(in the plural meaning of you) understand that "you" can be a specific pronoun or used in a general sense? I mean I learned that in 8th grade, I think.
And please, attacks?!??!!?? There goes the right wing whine...don't understand the English Language and its nuances and blame someone else for their shortcomings.
Sorry, but when someone posts "you", even when its in a reply(to something I've written), I don't automatically think its specifically me(unless it has specific info about me)...but, another lesson I learned during my elementary education is that 2nd person is much easier to read than when you do 3rd person because 3rd person is more stilted, more removed from the realm of this type of venue.
I thought the answer was tucked up there in my original comment.In case it's not clear, no, you should never be force to pay for my healthcare costs.
And I shouldn't be forced into paying other's costs or participating in an particular system of healthcare.
Just letting you know that your post is our latest FEATURED one.
Thanks for your contribution. Thanks for being a loyal member.
Your friend,
Lloyd