This is ancient history now, but remember back in 1993, with Hillarycare?
Remember that back in 1993-1995, the Democrats had both houses of Congress with a near veto-proof majority?
Remember that when Hillarycare finally withered away and died, the Republicans were blamed for it?
Remember that it was actually a Democrat congressman, a member of that vast majority, from Alphonse Capote Gore's home state who administered the coup de grace?
Okay, I know this isn't the forum for this, but, heck, I'm on my second glass of wine, and I'm going to say what I want in my own thread.
I blame the Republicans for this whole Obamacare mess.
Hillarycare was resoundingly defeated by the voters, who returned the House and the Senate to the Republicans for the first time since the Jurassic era, or somesuch, by such an overwhelming margin that it wasn't funny.
Their FIRST order of business ought to have been tackling the healthcare mess. Because it is a mess.
I feel that I'm something of an expert on this, as I have had to access the healthcare system for serious conditions numerous times. When I had cancer at age 30, we had the most wonderful coverage you can imagine. In the year that I had three surgeries, including one major surgery, obstetric care, normal newborn care, normal well-child care, and all of the unforeseen things that can happen to a normal family with two small children, we paid $5.00 out of pocket, and that was because I forgot to pack a pair of slippers when I went to the hospital.
Furthermore, our premium was very affordable. Low premiums plus no worries about medical bills meant I could be a stay-at-home mom, we could buy a house, have two cars, etc. Life was good.
I often thought about how much more difficult things would have been if we had had to take into account thousands of $$ in medical bills while we were trying to budget. Or, worse, having to prioritize cancer treatment vs. the other expenses normal young families have. I shudder to think what the decisions would have been, had they been based on affordability rather than necessity.
So, anyway, with a huge majority in both houses of Congress, the Republicans could have come up with solid, market-based solutions that would have provided adequate, affordable coverage for everyone. Ideally, IMHO, it would have included a co-pay for EVERYONE, regardless of income, because EVERYONE should have to weigh whether that sliver in the finger is really bad enough to justify an ER visity. It would also have included tort reform. Had they come up with a workable plan that would have solved the crisis, there never would have been an Obama. The Republicans would probably have had a solid majority for a hundred years.
Anyway, my glass is empty, so I think I will go refill it.