The Soapbox

Joined: 06/03/2005 Posts: 31012
Likes: 52339

What's this?

I realize this is not a helpful answer and highlights a problem

with a two party system, but the problem is that the fix is not easy. It requires hard, unpopular decisions. Namely that if we're going to provide coverage to everyone, including people with pre-existing conditions, we have to get EVERYONE into the risk pools, and everyone PAYING into the risk pools, be it via premiums or via a meaningful, enforceable penalty.

So from a political standpoint, you can't let the Dems pass a plan that has mostly good stuff (insurance for everyone, subsidies for many, coverage for pre-existing conditions), but very little bad stuff (meaningful penalties with teeth to force everyone into the pools). And as much as I have no use for the republican party these days, I don't blame them for not wanting to be the ones to make the hard, unpopular decisions to actually shore up the ACA. I promise you, if they did that, and even if it was a huge success, they'd get the shit beat out of them by democrats at the polls in november saying "[cue sinister music] those mean, evil republicans raised your penalty by 500%..." or something to that effect. And it would work.

What I don't understand is why the GOP even went down the path of trying to fix it. They know there are no "easy" fixes so it's really only downside for them. If there were easy fixes, the dems would have included those fixes in the original plan. The flaws with the ACA that made it initially (somewhat) popular are starting to make it less and less popular as bad risk pools are pricing more and more people out.

The answer will eventually be universal healthcare. But that will be a total mess to implement and get right so I hope we allow private pay options to co-exist if and when we do go to universal healthcare.

(In response to this post by KCHoo)

Posted: 07/18/2017 at 07:20AM

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Current Thread:

Obamacare is still a Democratic problem. -- ConnHoo 07/17/2017 11:35PM

The GOPers are the dog that caught the fire truck. -- Chuck Taylor 07/18/2017 09:30AM

While it is true that they caught the fire truck, it is not true -- Faz d. Hoo 07/18/2017 3:15PM

Actually the G.O.P.s problem here is the same as the Dems on the national -- Lazarus 07/18/2017 10:20AM

"Touch lines"? That's one of them Commie kickball terms, ain't it? -- HowieT3 07/18/2017 10:58AM

Played a lot of Rugby back in the day. ** -- Lazarus 07/18/2017 11:01AM

What was it like before Obamacare? ** -- Hoogle.com 07/18/2017 09:27AM

Much cheaper premiums with a significantly lower maximum out of pocket and -- Tuckahokie 07/18/2017 10:14AM

Hey that's great for you. meanwhile millions upon millions of people -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 10:36AM

That's rich, you, of all people, stating that another poster is clinging -- hoosdamayun 07/18/2017 12:04PM

So you agree with he said? that would make you wrong too! ** -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 12:10PM

What does it make the guy that promised premiums would go down $2500? And -- Hoodafan 07/18/2017 12:26PM

He made that "promise" on the campaign trail and the bill that was passed -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 12:39PM

It was better for a majority of Americans...not just me. That being said, -- Tuckahokie 07/18/2017 10:43AM

With as much citation to fact, one could rebut simply: "No it wasn't." ** -- southdenverhoo 07/18/2017 12:25PM

Your question is really the best response in this string ** -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 09:59AM

You MIGHT be factually correct, but in the court of public perception, -- Late 80s Hokie 07/18/2017 09:14AM

He can't be "factually" correct. His statement is 100% opinion. ** -- hoolstoptheheels 07/18/2017 09:39AM

Sorry but that's delusional thinking. I doubt many here would question my -- Hoodafan 07/18/2017 08:45AM

Ha! No argument from me here. Spot on comment, Hooda.** -- Seattle .Hoo 07/18/2017 1:08PM

You have failed me for the last time! ** -- Hokieesith 07/18/2017 10:56AM

Welcome to the Revolution, Hooda. ** -- WahooRQ 07/18/2017 09:07AM

I doubt it is a revolution -- VaTechie 07/18/2017 11:13AM

Haha! Where do I go for my cute little pink pussy hat? ** -- Hoodafan 07/18/2017 09:12AM

They're issued at the same window as the Birkenstocks. -- HowieT3 07/18/2017 11:02AM

BAAAAAM! You tell 'em hooda. Great post ** -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 09:05AM

Well said. ** -- SabreNation 07/18/2017 09:03AM

I'm guessing you're not serious, but this is exactly what R "leaders" -- Capital City Hoo 07/18/2017 08:22AM

Federal taxpayers that make income levels above the voucher thresholds are -- Tuckahokie 07/18/2017 08:11AM

Man, low income people have it so good. -- WahooMatt05 07/18/2017 08:20AM

And the cause of all of that has been explained to you repeatedly ** -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 08:19AM

I guess I need a remedial class in GOVCO Alchemy ** -- Tuckahokie 07/18/2017 08:28AM

No you just have to open your mind ** -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 08:48AM

You should really heed your own advice. It would do you wonders ** -- hoosdamayun 07/18/2017 12:06PM

Yep naming this after Obama himself was brilliant -- TomKazanski 07/18/2017 08:00AM

Only liberals, Canadians, Brits, Europeans, Israelis, Japanese, Australians -- Quaker 07/18/2017 09:38AM

I would say this is another example of willful ignorance except -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 08:01AM

Or maybe we just reset the friggin penalty and maybe the -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 07:36AM

I agree that the current situation is on democrats, however republicans -- Hoo05Dave 07/18/2017 06:53AM

The current situation is on CONGRESS. yes the dems should have pushed -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 07:37AM

Why didn't the dems push harder? Maybe it's the same reason the r's didn't -- Cold Hoober Hoo 07/18/2017 08:40AM

Equal? Not hardly. The dems should have pushed for a higher penalty -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 08:52AM

The dems had the power to do it right from the beginning. -- Cold Hoober Hoo 07/18/2017 09:54AM

No you are 100% wrong. I have said repeatedly that the dems should -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 10:03AM

Which number are you going to settle on. 30,20, >15. -- Cold Hoober Hoo 07/18/2017 10:24AM

I have no idea what that initial question was supposed to mean -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 10:30AM

Republicans have done everything to let the program wither away -- graycalhoo 07/18/2017 07:51AM

Or maybe I should say "nothing"? ** -- graycalhoo 07/18/2017 07:52AM

It's a Washington problem -- dajoka004 07/18/2017 06:09AM

The GOP is a failed state. Don is its warlord.** ** -- Shenhoo 07/18/2017 06:05AM

The Immortan Trump -- WahooRQ 07/18/2017 08:07AM

A millstone crafted by Democrats now hung around the GOP's neck ** -- Tuckahokie 07/18/2017 05:15AM

Here's an example of willful ignorance ** -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 07:38AM

Keep telling yourself that. ** -- VAGentleman05 07/18/2017 04:57AM

False ** -- CyberHoo78 07/18/2017 04:53AM

Umm, no. Healthcare solutions are an American problem. ** -- Seattle .Hoo 07/18/2017 02:28AM

Thanks man. Would be nice if more of us thought of ourselves as -- hoolstoptheheels 07/18/2017 08:42AM

Yes- but unfortunately too many can only see it as a political issue -- Capital City Hoo 07/18/2017 08:27AM

WADR aren't you and others doing the exact same thing by pre-determining -- Hoodafan 07/18/2017 09:26AM

Sort of to 004's "point" we often refer to single payer and unversal health -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 11:31AM

I haven't "pre-determined" anything. i'd love to see legislation -- Capital City Hoo 07/18/2017 10:35AM

It goes way beyond HC and infects everything. -- hoolstoptheheels 07/18/2017 08:52AM

Well said ** -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 09:06AM

Totally agree ** -- Capital City Hoo 07/18/2017 09:04AM

Strongly disagree, 'Pubs own it now and are in a damned if they do, damned -- hoodeyo 07/18/2017 02:15AM

Pubs don't own anything, if you take a dump on someone's lawn -- TomKazanski 07/18/2017 08:01AM

Unless you ask to be in charge of dump cleanup and leave it there. ** -- Hoodafan 07/18/2017 09:16AM

I assume you'll apply that same logic to Iraq, the rise of ISIS, -- hoolstoptheheels 07/18/2017 08:57AM

Sure that's Ws mess, but I would argue the vote was certainly bipartisan -- TomKazanski 07/18/2017 09:31AM

Like your posts ** -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 08:04AM

LOL ** -- Capital City Hoo 07/18/2017 08:31AM

Agreed. That was pretty much my post in response to KCHoo, -- BocaHoo91 07/18/2017 07:23AM

Which is why Washington is so broken -- dajoka004 07/18/2017 06:38AM

That's nothing new. Age old problem. -- hoolstoptheheels 07/18/2017 09:10AM

You are nuts -- Hawaii Hal 07/18/2017 12:40AM

But that isn't nuts -- hoothat 07/18/2017 01:40AM

So where is your outrage for posters, or politicans, demanding we just -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 07:45AM

He specifically picked a poster on this board? -- hoothat 07/18/2017 10:50AM

You've got some serious blinders on if you can't see that the original post -- VAGentleman05 07/18/2017 06:03AM

Maybe so -- hoothat 07/18/2017 07:37AM

I'm starting to wonder if that's not the goal here too. -- Hoodafan 07/18/2017 09:11AM

I saw that too. For better or worse, I think there is a will for that -- hoodeyo 07/18/2017 10:48AM

Could be, and I could argue should be, but the problem is that -- Hoodafan 07/18/2017 11:43AM

How's that? Repub party has complete control of the fed -- KCHoo 07/18/2017 12:23AM

The 4th Estate is Liberal -- ConnHoo 07/19/2017 09:26AM

I realize this is not a helpful answer and highlights a problem -- BocaHoo91 07/18/2017 07:20AM

I agree UHC is the end game and we'll get there eventually -- Stimp 07/18/2017 09:36AM

Couldn't GOP come up with proposal to fix Obamacare that includes the -- JohnHoo2 07/18/2017 08:40AM

Dems don't want to touch that tar baby. -- Stimp 07/18/2017 09:22AM

I mostly can't argue with your thesis; however, -- Shenhoo 07/18/2017 07:26AM

I don't know. But if they do, that would only further reinforce -- BocaHoo91 07/18/2017 12:10PM

I would only interject: there would seem to be an opportunity for -- southdenverhoo 07/18/2017 12:34PM

They do. I also mostly agree with what Boca said, but in this case -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 08:00AM

Obamacare was passed by the Dear Leader with Zero GOP support. ** -- ConnHoo 07/18/2017 12:53AM

And now GOP can't replace it with full control of Congress. So seems like -- JohnHoo2 07/18/2017 06:25AM

The GOP has the seats, but not the margin to overcome disparate groups -- Hoo05Dave 07/18/2017 07:02AM

I don't think any of them thought they had come up with a good bill -- KCHoo 07/18/2017 10:15AM

Voting against AHCA doesn't equate to support for Obamacare -- dajoka004 07/18/2017 06:47AM

It's like pulling for the Terps against Duke in hoop rock ** -- Tuckahokie 07/18/2017 06:56AM

Yes, but only if people's lives depend on the outcome and then -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 07:48AM

What a cop out! KC is right; the GOP is "in control." The main problem IMO -- Seattle .Hoo 07/18/2017 02:52AM

Why should democrats be allowed at the table? We saw what they have to -- TomKazanski 07/18/2017 08:05AM

Why should they be ALLOWED? Maybe because a couple of them represent me? ** -- Seattle .Hoo 07/18/2017 1:00PM

In your preferred country Russia, they wouldn't be. -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 08:56AM

Question -- dajoka004 07/18/2017 06:15AM

There's a lot of support for single-payer -- WahooMatt05 07/18/2017 06:49AM

Single payer doesn't work -- dajoka004 07/18/2017 08:35AM

Why do you think single payer wouldn't work? I'm not arguing against -- JSHoo 07/18/2017 12:25PM

Except in all those places where it isn't. Personally i care more about -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 08:55AM

Name the countries with true single payer ** -- dajoka004 07/18/2017 09:06AM

Okay I knew I should have let this go because you would quibble over what -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 09:21AM

So let me get this straight -- dajoka004 07/18/2017 09:52AM

No, you should read my post a couple more times before you respond like tha -- 111Balz 07/18/2017 09:59AM