The Affordable Care Act is going to survive.
The 2010 health care law has slowly but surely moved out of the line of fire. President Trump barely mentioned it in his State of the Union address Tuesday night. At their annual retreat this week in West Virginia, top Republicans signaled that the repeal dream is likely over.
After Doug Jones won the Alabama special Senate election in December, the bare Republican Senate majority has no viable path left for a more substantial repeal plan; the math in a 51-seat majority is too daunting. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) remain opposed to taking up repeal. Senate leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has already said that Republicans would probably move on from health care.
So the party’s long-held promise to repeal Obamacare root and branch appears to be actually, finally dead. Of course, that hasn’t stopped Trump claiming, after his party’s tax overhaul passed in December with a repeal of the law’s individual mandate, that Republicans “have essentially repealed Obamacare.” But he’s wrong about that.
Repealing the individual mandate is a legitimate blow to the Obamacare marketplaces, but doing so won’t unravel the markets entirely. They will function worse than they did before, and premiums will likely rise.
But millions of people who receive generous tax subsidies to buy coverage will not feel the brunt of those cost increases. The law’s rules prohibiting health insurers from discriminating against preexisting conditions remain on the books. Finally, and most importantly, Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion, which covered upward of 15 million people, remains untouched.
Well there's an island of good news in this sea of insanity at least.
Still, as pointed out in the article, the Affordable Care Act has been badly damaged, and it needs to be repaired and fine tuned.
Neither of those things will happen with a Republican majority in the House and Senate, so we desperately need to turn out the vote in 2018, and then again in 2020.
And whatever we do we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted with bullshit purity tests and Democratic infighting.
We are often our own worst enemies, but right now there are far more dangerous adversaries with which to deal.
"Still, as pointed out in the article, the Affordable Care Act has been badly damaged, and it needs to be repaired and fine tuned"
ReplyDeleteNo. The entire medical monopoly needs to be completely dismantled.
Dow Plunges 666!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-01/asia-stocks-to-slide-as-tech-stumbles-bonds-drop-markets-wrap
"Friday showed that joblessness among black Americans ROSE to a nine-month high of 7.7 percent in January from 6.8 percent in December, which was the lowest in data back to 1972." "The administration is monitoring whether January’s figures are a one-month blip or the start of a longer-term trend, which would be concerning,"
Will ~IT~matter?
ReplyDeletehttps://news.vice.com/en_us/article/8xd9ap/trumps-pentagon-just-lowered-the-bar-on-when-the-us-should-use-nukes
"introducing a new policy that increases the likeliness of a limited conflict transforming into a full-scale war that would put millions of lives at risk.
The Department of Defense is set to release its much-anticipated Nuclear Posture Review on Friday afternoon, and while it shares similarities to the Obama administration’s 2010 report, experts say it marks a more aggressive approach to nuclear weapons use."
"Acton noted that, under the new guidelines, the Trump administration could technically decide to respond to a cyberattack with nuclear weapons, a decision that could turn a smaller war into World War III.
“There is a distinct increase in the role of nuclear weapons,” Acton said. “In particular, the Trump NPR gives the U.S. the option of responding to non-nuclear strategic attacks with nuclear weapons.”"
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/02/politics/pentagon-nuclear-posture-review-russian-drone/index.html
Delete"US says Russia 'developing' undersea nuclear-armed torpedo""according to some experts, the plan translates Trump's urge to "greatly expand and strengthen" the arsenal into policy.
"The Trump administration's call for new nuclear weapons is a major shift in US policy," Mount said when asked the proposal for low-yield nuclear weapons.
"Programs for new nuclear weapons would follow our adversaries into a world where nuclear competition is commonplace. The programs would crowd out other military priorities, alarm allies, and have huge diplomatic cost -- for minimal deterrence benefit," "
I think the media is manufacturing the negative hype as to the Democrats and the fact they aren't getting along and don't agree. I call bullshit!
ReplyDeleteI don't know one Democrat where I live that are fighting amongst themselves.
We just want to vote out Republicans and Donald Trump! Plain and simple!!
Massive work to get out the Democratic voters will be the priority around the country for 2018 and 2020.
The media has to create controversy, or who would tune in? Long gone are the days of true investigative journalism; now just a bunch of panels screaming over each other. Who needs it?
DeleteOldest trick in the book...make the people think there is no hope or so tired of it all that apathy reigns.
I've been wondering how long it would take to see the Dow drop drastically - under the dictatorship of Trump. Today's news didn't surprise me at all!
ReplyDeleteWell this fall is definitely due to Obama :)
DeleteI have worked in patient care and have been a patient, I have family at all stages and level. USA Health must be socialized completely. NO profits. Americans must own the facilities, research, technology, pharma etc. We the people must own it. Right now it is for profit in most cases. Basic insurance has co pays deductables high pharma cost etc. Our tax dollars must include our healthcare from birth to death. Eliminate the shell game from for profit insurance. It encourages sick for profit instead of cure and care. We should begin with DNA research on mutations and genes. It begins at birth or before. Know what you are predisposed or inherited. It is simple science. We are in the last category in healthcare now. We use to lead. Lets change it. Give us all a fighting chance for life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We are America.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.timescall.com/boulder-county-schools/ci_31637306/student-assaulted-pledge-allegiance
ReplyDelete"“personnel matter.”
The investigation is ongoing and the teacher, 20-year veteran of the school district Karen Smith, was put on paid administrative leave. The school district sent out a letter from the principal and two assistant principals informing parents"
"And whatever we do we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted with bullshit purity tests and Democratic infighting."
ReplyDeleteThere you go again. We've left the Democratic Party little man.
OT?"It’s a story that, in the immortal words of SNL’s Stefon, has everything: a lecherous plus-size billionaire turned president; a renowned adult-film actress; NFL quarterbacks; reality-TV offers; hotel hanky-panky; three-way sex invites; shady lawyers; hush money; a model-wife scorned; and, last but certainly not least, Shark Week."
ReplyDelete"there’s been something deeply unsettling about the tabloid-ready imbroglio as well.
America has long been a hypocrite when it comes to pornography. Everyone looks at it.
{even teddy the 'KINK' cruZZer.}
"all while his wife Melania was at home with their four-month-old son, Barron, candidate Trump signed off on a GOP platform that branded porn a “menace” and a “public-health crisis,” despite the fact that red states watch it the most."
"Kimmel shot back: “Well, we’ll have to do a full examination and figure that out.” He painted a picture of Trump watching their interview at home, lying in his bed surrounded by cheeseburger wrappers, thinking, “Oh no, Stormy! Why are you on that talk show when you could be here in bed with me, having the most fantastic love-making of your entire life.” Daniels handled the gross image like a pro, brushing it off with a joke." " you see, whenever there’s any sort of “sex scandal” in America, it’s all too often the woman who is blamed and SHAMED"
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-shaming-of-stormy-daniels?ref=home
https://www.dailydot.com/irl/which-state-watched-most-porn-2016/
"In the U.S., an average visit to the porn streaming site lasts 10:15, putting US third worldwide behind the Philippines and South Africa."
"Dier told the Daily Beast that she did have sympathy and compassion for McGowan’s breakdown, but believes the essential reason her words triggered the actress and author was her own transphobia.
Delete“Her trauma was caused by men,” Dier said. “And I feel personally that maybe she has a traumatic response because she really does see us as men.”
So what would Dier, who — like McGowan — is a survivor of sexual abuse, have done differently?
“What I would have liked to have said to her, when she told me she was followed home, I would have told her that when she’s followed home, what she’s afraid of is being sexually assaulted. Well, I’m afraid of being sexually assaulted followed by being murdered.”
"“I do believe the entire exchange could have happened in a more loving and compassionate way,” said Grey. “This was a moment for two women from different backgrounds to have a teaching moment. I think Andi had an opportunity there to truly ask and confront Rose, but the approach, to me, came off very hostile.
"I understand the passion and hurt. So let's have a discussion and figure out how we can all come together to stop the abuse, the murder, etc. Let's not make statements that are offensive of each other. Let's celebrate each other and uplift.""
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trans-activist-who-confronted-rose-mcgowan-would-do-it-again-but-better?ref=home
" POLITICO reported that Shapiro allegedly asked a female staffer to "take one for the team" by sleeping with a donor and sent pornography to male colleagues. "
Delete"Six board members resigned Thursday after the board decided there wasn't enough evidence to fire Pacelle."
"board member Erika Brunson resigned after she was quoted in POLITICO saying women should "get tougher, don't go around whining, saying you’ve been sexually harassed.” Brunson told The New York Times on Thursday: “Which red-blooded male hasn’t sexually harassed somebody? Women should be able to take care of themselves.”"<FUCKUBITCH
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/02/humane-society-sexual-harassment-allegations-323455
There are a LOT of women, especially those of us who've been in the work world for decades who agree with Brunson, while at the same time applaud the times up movement.
DeleteThey don't need to repeal it. They'll kill it with a death by a thousand (budget) cuts.
ReplyDeleteThe mandate is gone. They'll chip away at the rest until it's just not viable or sustainable.
It's what they do.
It's how they've destroyed our public school system.
OT?
ReplyDelete"The man who sold ammunition to the Las Vegas gunman has been charged with making armor-piercing bullets.
Bullets found inside the shooter's hotel room contained fingerprints of the ammunition dealer.
The dealer said he noticed nothing suspicious when he sold 720 rounds of ammunition to the shooter."
http://www.businessinsider.com/douglas-haig-las-vegas-shooting-bullets-2018-2
Why does the public need armor piercing bullets?
DeleteJust another 2nd amendment loophole courtesy of Putin's NRA.
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/02/man-sold-armor-piercing-bullet-las-vegas-gunman-charged-conspiracy/
ReplyDelete"Douglas Haig, 55, of Mesa, Arizona, became the first person arrested and charged in connection with the Oct. 1 massacre, which ranks as the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
The gunman, Stephen Paddock, who strafed a crowd of concert-goers from his high-rise suite at the Mandalay Bay hotel, killed himself before police stormed his room."