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Worth noting: neither major Presidential candidate, nor the news media, made health care a focus of the recent election. The issue was almost ignored. And neith

by lapcat 2y ago

Worth noting: neither major Presidential candidate, nor the news media, made health care a focus of the recent election. The issue was almost ignored. And neither major political party offers much: the Democratic establishment will defend the Affordable Care Act to the death (literally in this case), despite the fact that it's not particularly affordable, becoming more unaffordable over time, and it continues to enshrine and subsizide the ruthless for-profit insurance companies. On the other hand, the Republicans paint any kind of government involvement in health care as "Communist", despite the fact that the entire rest of the civilized world have more efficient, effective, and compassionate health care systems heavily regulated by the government. I think it's a sign of deep American corruption that we can't even have this public debate without a salacious murder occurring.

lofenfew 2y ago
The affordable care act is the most reasonable path from the current american system to a system on par with other first world countries. This especially given the sort of republican opposition it's liable to face. It's current form is due in substantial part to the republicans gutting it, so you can't really blame the dems for it not working very well.
- lapcat 2y ago
  The Affordable Care Act received precisely zero Republican votes in Congress. It was entirely a Democratic product.
  - tristor 2y ago
    John McCain, a Republican, famously voted to save the ACA during a time when the Republicans had a Congressional majority, even though his health was failing. He died shortly after the vote.
    - lapcat 2y ago
      I was talking about the 2010 passage of the ACA, not the 2017 repeal attempt. The 2010 legislation was written by Democrats. Moreover, since as you mention, the Republican repeal attempt failed, it can't truly be said that Republicans have "gutted" the ACA. It is true that for some (dumb) reason the ACA gave significant power to the states, which has been abused by Republican governors and legislatures, but that was entirely the choice of the Democrats who wrote the ACA.

by lapcat 2y ago

lofenfew 2y ago

The affordable care act is the most reasonable path from the current american system to a system on par with other first world countries. This especially given the sort of republican opposition it's liable to face. It's current form is due in substantial part to the republicans gutting it, so you can't really blame the dems for it not working very well.

lapcat 2y ago
The Affordable Care Act received precisely zero Republican votes in Congress. It was entirely a Democratic product.
- tristor 2y ago
  John McCain, a Republican, famously voted to save the ACA during a time when the Republicans had a Congressional majority, even though his health was failing. He died shortly after the vote.
  - lapcat 2y ago
    I was talking about the 2010 passage of the ACA, not the 2017 repeal attempt. The 2010 legislation was written by Democrats. Moreover, since as you mention, the Republican repeal attempt failed, it can't truly be said that Republicans have "gutted" the ACA. It is true that for some (dumb) reason the ACA gave significant power to the states, which has been abused by Republican governors and legislatures, but that was entirely the choice of the Democrats who wrote the ACA.