4 ms·

Please don't call it "Obamacare".

by kprobst 16y ago

w1ntermute 16y ago
He just copied the title from the article. He didn't "call" it that (i.e., editorialize). And before anyone starts on how this is irrelevant political tripe, read the 2nd & 3rd words of the title again.
lionhearted 16y ago
> Please don't call it "Obamacare". I agree it's stupid, but let me ask you since I've been wondering - what's the difference between using "Obamacare" derisively vs. "Bush tax cuts" derisively? It seems to me that both are trying to paint a specific set of legislation as solely due to the president's prerogative. IE, I don't see people upset at the term Obamacare try to get people to call the tax cuts "the '01/'03 tax cuts" which is much less politically loaded and much less emotional... (I do think both are stupid, and ignores the culpability of Congress in decisionmaking)
- uxp 16y ago
  I really hope this doesn't turn into a political battle thread. However, "Bush tax cuts" is an accurate term for the tax cuts provided by the Bush administration. It has no negative or positive (besides "tax cuts") meaning inherent in its wordings alone. "Obamacare" is a dumbed down slang for "Obama health reform", mostly because Obama, nor his administration, is providing care. It inherently does not describe what it represents, reform* not care. When using either term derisively, then that is a whole separate ballgame. I will admit though that "Bush tax cuts" has turned into a phrase that one may use to speak ill about president Bush, but then the anger still should be directed towards that session of congress, not Bush himself. I also agree that both are stupid. * although I personally like the healthcare reform bill, one should always remember that just like evolution, the definition of reform does not suggest that the change it is describing has moved in a positive direction. There is no de-reform or devolution. Change is change, how positive or negative it is can only be valued by each individual separately.
- po 16y ago
  Calling something the "Bush tax cuts" is a still-english shortening of a long bill name: "Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003" Wikipedia even mentions that this is the commonly used name. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jobs_and_Growth_Tax_Relief_Reconciliation_Act_of_2003 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jobs_and_Growth_Tax_Relief_Reco... Obamacare is a non-english dog-whistle slur. If you look around online, you will see that pretty much the only people who use that name are politically right-leaning. Perhaps someday it will ameliorate to be the accepted popular name of the bill but right now it is contentious. The same thing happened with Hillarycare. I don't think you would hear much complaint if they called it the "Obama health care plan".
beoba 16y ago
Bushwar!

Please don't call it "Obamacare".

by kprobst 16y ago

Please don't call it "Obamacare".

He just copied the title from the article. He didn't "call" it that (i.e., editorialize). And before anyone starts on how this is irrelevant political tripe, read the 2nd & 3rd words of the title again.

lionhearted 16y ago

> Please don't call it "Obamacare". I agree it's stupid, but let me ask you since I've been wondering - what's the difference between using "Obamacare" derisively vs. "Bush tax cuts" derisively? It seems to me that both are trying to paint a specific set of legislation as solely due to the president's prerogative. IE, I don't see people upset at the term Obamacare try to get people to call the tax cuts "the '01/'03 tax cuts" which is much less politically loaded and much less emotional... (I do think both are stupid, and ignores the culpability of Congress in decisionmaking)

uxp 16y ago
I really hope this doesn't turn into a political battle thread. However, "Bush tax cuts" is an accurate term for the tax cuts provided by the Bush administration. It has no negative or positive (besides "tax cuts") meaning inherent in its wordings alone. "Obamacare" is a dumbed down slang for "Obama health reform", mostly because Obama, nor his administration, is providing care. It inherently does not describe what it represents, reform* not care. When using either term derisively, then that is a whole separate ballgame. I will admit though that "Bush tax cuts" has turned into a phrase that one may use to speak ill about president Bush, but then the anger still should be directed towards that session of congress, not Bush himself. I also agree that both are stupid. * although I personally like the healthcare reform bill, one should always remember that just like evolution, the definition of reform does not suggest that the change it is describing has moved in a positive direction. There is no de-reform or devolution. Change is change, how positive or negative it is can only be valued by each individual separately.
po 16y ago
Calling something the "Bush tax cuts" is a still-english shortening of a long bill name: "Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003" Wikipedia even mentions that this is the commonly used name. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jobs_and_Growth_Tax_Relief_Reconciliation_Act_of_2003 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jobs_and_Growth_Tax_Relief_Reco... Obamacare is a non-english dog-whistle slur. If you look around online, you will see that pretty much the only people who use that name are politically right-leaning. Perhaps someday it will ameliorate to be the accepted popular name of the bill but right now it is contentious. The same thing happened with Hillarycare. I don't think you would hear much complaint if they called it the "Obama health care plan".

beoba 16y ago

Bushwar!