Our local newspaper, like many around the country, have a more or less constant stream of letters to the editor where one person writes in to say "ObamaCare Sucks!" for one reason or another, and a few days later someone writes in to say it's great, because it really helped ME (or someone I know).
Are people really this stupid?
Consider a hypothetical law which imposed a tax surcharge of $1,000 per year on everyone whose Social Security number ended in a even number, and sent a check for $1,000 to everyone whose SS number ended in an odd number. Make it $5,000.
Let's say that despite the grumbling of half the population the law stays in effect for five years, then some Congressperson says, "This law is really stupid, so let's repeal it."
Well, by the time the Odds have been receiving this money for five years, many of them will have come to DEPEND ON IT. Maybe they use it for FOOD, maybe they use it to pay MEDICAL BILLS, maybe they use it to put their kids in DAYCARE so that Mom can have a job and be a productive member of society.
The Odds will form lobbying and public interest organizations to protest the repeal of this law. Their lawyers will claim that repeal is UNCONSTITUTONAL! "This repeal will be TAKING FOOD OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES, PUTTING GRANNY OUT ON THE STREET, FORCING HARD-WORKING AMERICANS ONTO WELFARE!"
And so it is with ObamaCare. It benefits a lot of people, but that alone is not sufficient reason to justify it. Does it make any sense? Is it Constitutional? Are it's economic models realistic or sustainable?
This law is an example of the OPPOSITE of bi-partisanship. It passed without a single Republican vote and with essentially no Republican input. It ignores many possibly beneficial aspects that could have made it viable (e.g., interstate competition among insurers, tort reform, standardized coverages).
And so we have people whining now that WE CAN'T repeal it now because there are a lot of people who benefit by it. See above.
So what?
Let's do it over, and this time do it right.
For a REAL example of a law that mimics the hypothetical above, consider Ethanol. Stupid, stupid law, that makes innocent people all over the country pay so that a couple thousand farmers can reap an undeserved windfall. Disgraceful and ongoing.
Are people really this stupid?
Consider a hypothetical law which imposed a tax surcharge of $1,000 per year on everyone whose Social Security number ended in a even number, and sent a check for $1,000 to everyone whose SS number ended in an odd number. Make it $5,000.
Let's say that despite the grumbling of half the population the law stays in effect for five years, then some Congressperson says, "This law is really stupid, so let's repeal it."
Well, by the time the Odds have been receiving this money for five years, many of them will have come to DEPEND ON IT. Maybe they use it for FOOD, maybe they use it to pay MEDICAL BILLS, maybe they use it to put their kids in DAYCARE so that Mom can have a job and be a productive member of society.
The Odds will form lobbying and public interest organizations to protest the repeal of this law. Their lawyers will claim that repeal is UNCONSTITUTONAL! "This repeal will be TAKING FOOD OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES, PUTTING GRANNY OUT ON THE STREET, FORCING HARD-WORKING AMERICANS ONTO WELFARE!"
And so it is with ObamaCare. It benefits a lot of people, but that alone is not sufficient reason to justify it. Does it make any sense? Is it Constitutional? Are it's economic models realistic or sustainable?
This law is an example of the OPPOSITE of bi-partisanship. It passed without a single Republican vote and with essentially no Republican input. It ignores many possibly beneficial aspects that could have made it viable (e.g., interstate competition among insurers, tort reform, standardized coverages).
And so we have people whining now that WE CAN'T repeal it now because there are a lot of people who benefit by it. See above.
So what?
Let's do it over, and this time do it right.
For a REAL example of a law that mimics the hypothetical above, consider Ethanol. Stupid, stupid law, that makes innocent people all over the country pay so that a couple thousand farmers can reap an undeserved windfall. Disgraceful and ongoing.
