I am going to be careful with my comments on this issue, as avoiding politics when discussing this healthcare law is very difficult as it IS a political program put into law via a political process.
Any law of this scope, that has only the support of one single party AND requires two other things to have it passed. One, the pay off of certain states with pork (See LA as one clear example) and secondly has to suspend and change the traditional vote counting in the senate to have it passed is suspect to begin with.
Secondly, any law of this scope that began with maneuvers that can be described with other words, but will leave it at maneuvers, that mislead not only the public but the congress of the USA. I am speaking of the untruth told to the american public about public hearings. They did not happen, and IN FACT clearly 90% of all discussions were held in secret. The promise to incorporate other proposals already in play (yes, there were a few...maybe 20 or so....other healthcare proposals that had been put forward) and then not only to ignore those proposals but to ignore those who put them forward
This kind of law with a shadowy, secretive birth had failure written all over it.
While much of the bill is great and that is ALL the designers of the bill speak of, it is going to cost this country so much money we simply cannot afford it. REMEMBER....the bill, since it is been pushed out and out, will not really come due for a few years. The tax bill in a couple years will shock all of us.
This bill has so many things that are wonderful. When the president at the time introduced a proposal to discuss health care in 2007, he was mocked by the congress....now, his proposal was not the same at all except it had most of the same goals
As what is really going to happen to this country as this bill matures, the american public have become very suspect.....and as time goes on it will be even worse.
Insuring those with pre existing conditions....allowing children to stay on their parents health policy, etc.......ALL proposed in the past....ALL agreed by everyone to be a part of any health legislation. What was missing was any discussion, public OR private with anyone but the health insurance industries.
Those who speak as if this law is black and white...if you oppose this, you are a bad person opposed to items I mentioned....NOT THE CASE.....I cannot think of anyone opposed to any of that at all.......it is how we get there that was the question and do you not wonder what might have been had there been discussion on this bill ?
The financial implications of this bill will haunt your children and grandchildren for years....it is already haunting those who have lost their health insurance or worse.
Ill designed.....poorly planned...politically planned....I doubt if this can be scrapped and start over. I know the authors are already doing the dance of asking for suggestions to fix it.....they sure should have done that when they promised they would and did not....might have been a different landscape.
A great thought has been made into a political football and did not need to be that way. I, for one, will never forget the birth of this and the dishonesty and manipulation done in the name of caring.
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