G.O.P. to Americans With Health Problems: Drop Dead

[KarenInWA]

Opinion
G.O.P. to Americans With Health Problems: Drop Dead
Paul Krugman
By Paul Krugman
Opinion Columnist

Polls suggest that the public considers health care the most important issue in the midterm elections. This immediately raises the question: Do voters understand what’s at stake? In particular, do they realize that if Republicans hold Congress, they will strip away protections for the 52 million Americans — more than a quarter of nonelderly adults — who have pre-existing conditions that, before passage of the Affordable Care Act, could have led insurers to deny them coverage?

In fact, the Trump administration is already trying to take away those protections via the courts. It probably won’t succeed. But it might, in which case an estimated 17 million Americans would lose their health coverage.

And even if the lawsuit fails, the administration’s support for an incredibly flimsy legal challenge — one so indefensible that three career Justice Department lawyers withdrew from the case — is a clear signal of Republican priorities: G.O.P. to Americans with health problems: Drop dead.

By the way, some people seem surprised by the administration’s moves here, since Donald Trump has promised many times to protect people with pre-existing conditions. But remember: The campaign against the Affordable Care Act has been based on lies every step of the way.

First there were lies about what was actually in the act. Remember “death panels”?

Then there were lies about the law’s effects. For a while, the Koch brothers-financed group Americans for Prosperity was running ads featuring supposedly real stories of Americans facing terrible hardships because of the A.C.A. But none — none — of these stories stood up to fact-checking. So the ads became vaguer and vaguer, and eventually featured actors pretending to be A.C.A. victims rather than featuring real victims, who were apparently too hard to find.

But the most enduring lie from A.C.A. opponents — not just Trump, but all of them — is their claim that they want to protect Americans with pre-existing conditions. They don’t, and they never did.

You can see why they claim otherwise. A huge majority of voters, including 59 percent of Republicans, want to maintain rules that prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage based on someone’s medical history. So there is a powerful incentive to pretend that you’ll protect people with past health problems.

But the falseness of the pretense has always been obvious.

This falsity was obvious on sheer logical grounds even before Republicans began proposing supposed replacements for Obamacare. If you’re going to guarantee coverage regardless of medical history, you have to induce people to sign up for insurance while they’re still healthy, so that insurers have a manageable risk pool. That means some combination of subsidies to make insurance affordable and penalties for going uninsured — in other words, it requires a system that looks a lot like the Affordable Care Act.

So demands that the A.C.A. be scrapped always meant taking away coverage from the people who need it most; Obamacare opponents just hoped people wouldn’t notice that fact. And the truth is that they mostly got away with it until last year, when Republicans had to offer specific health care legislation.

At that point the game was up. It immediately became clear that every Republican alternative to Obamacare would, in fact, hang Americans with pre-existing conditions out to dry. And the public backlash against that revelation is basically the reason the G.O.P.’s repeal effort failed. But it only failed narrowly. And if Republicans still hold Congress next year, anyone who has a history of medical problems and doesn’t get health insurance from his or her employer will lose coverage.

In fact, even getting a job with insurance coverage might not be enough: If the Trump-supported lawsuit succeeds, employers could refuse to cover new employees’ pre-existing conditions.

What may seem puzzling about all this is the cruelty. O.K., Donald Trump is obviously a man utterly lacking in empathy. But don’t other Republicans feel a bit bad about the prospect of taking health care away from millions of Americans who have done nothing wrong besides having past medical problems?

Actually, no. Consider Rick Scott, the governor of Florida (and current Senate candidate), whose attorney general has joined the lawsuit to eliminate protection for pre-existing conditions. While refusing to say whether he supports the suit, Scott declared, “We’ve got to reward people for caring for themselves.” Right, because if you get cancer, or arthritis, or multiple sclerosis — all among the pre-existing conditions for which people used to be denied coverage — it must be your own fault.

By the way, a note to older Florida voters: You may think that none of this matters to you, because you’re covered by Medicare. If so, think again: If Republicans win in November, they’ll be coming after Medicare next, to offset the cost of their tax cut. Who says so? They do.

So, as I said, voters need to understand the stakes in these midterms. They will determine whether people with medical problems get the health care they need.


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https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/14/opinion/pre-existing-conditions-health-care-republicans.html

[KarenInWA]

I know the above is an opinion piece, but this is exactly what I feared on that fateful election day back in 2016. Do I bother to continue saving for my retirement? What's the point?? 

KarenInWA

[Bill Peckham]

Big picture The Boomer generation - of which I am at the very tail end - has spent a great deal of the public and civic equity that previous generations created and invested in to build. Infrastructure, Education, and National Confidence have all been eroded due to neglect and Boomer selfish unwillingness to pay their way. Not paying their way is a hallmark of the Boomer generation, look at the debt that will be added this year (and next and next...) to our national balance sheet - over a trillion a year in an economy that has been at or very near full employment for the last couple years.

The sides were chosen in the early 60s - conformist v nonconformist - and they have been going at each other to our Nation's great detriment ever since. Thankfully the poisonous boomer generation is giving way to much more sober and impressive generations. They have seen the poisonous fruit of a 60 year old fight that each side have lost track of what it all started over. Boomers should step aside and accept that our generation dropped the ball in many important ways.

Going back to 2008 RE: health insurance/provision of healthcare, is just the latest version of not supporting infrastructure that was built and supported by our parents and grandparents. The latest version of boomers not wanting to pay their way because at the root selfishness. America has no reason to be a selfish country.

We in this country, even our poorest citizens, live in unimaginable safety and freedom from the point of view of basically everyone who has ever lived. If you, standing tall, represents everyone who has ever lived, the few people who have had more freedom and safety as you and I would be the dandruff on your scalp.

Yet the boomers lived and continue to live a life of grievance and selfish victimhood. What a waste.

[Bill Peckham]

I know the above is an opinion piece, but this is exactly what I feared on that fateful election day back in 2016. Do I bother to continue saving for my retirement? What's the point?? 

KarenInWA

You don't have outrun the bear. You have to outrun the people you are with - our new everyone for themselves policy will leave wealthy states wealthier and poor states poorer. The bear will be busy down south.

[Michael Murphy]

I have a tee shirt that says if you are old and eating cat food out of a can thank a republican. Every other Presidunce has destroyed the American economy.  First regan- bush from 1980 to 1992 the Republicans slashed taxes and strangely raised spending resulting in the 1990 recession that caused the economy to contract leading to massive layoffs.  The result Clinton was elected , he spent 8 years rebuilding the economy raising taxes and reducing the national debt.  Next G Bush the lesser is elected once more tax cuts trickle down BS the result the worst economic down turn since the Great Depression. During his last year in office Bush had to borrow a trillion dollars for a economic bailout caused by 7 previous years borrowing to pay for more tax cuts.  Obama spent 8 years rebuilding the economy and once more Republicans are cutting taxes.  In about 6 years I predict another complete collapse.  Why increased spending tax cuts that will require more goverment borrowing.  Money in reality is a commodity, as the republicans borrow more and more to keep the triple down lie alive they will drain spare cash out of the economy making infostructue work come to a grinding halt.  It’s happened twice before.  It’s all lies built on lies, we will protect Americans with prexisting conditions and then do every thing to eliminate the protection. 

[MooseMom]

My republican congressman held a town hall (finally) in April of last year.  The GOP's health insurance plans had just been made public, and of course there was a lot of angst about the pre-existing condition pillar.  Our congressman stood there, in front of all of us, and declared that he would not back any legislation that would undermine care for this population.

He lied to our faces.  When the vote came, he voted FOR the new bill.

He will now most likely lose his seat.  His midterm challenger is a young woman who is a nurse...with a pre-existing cardiac condition.

I would very much like to hear President Trump address the American electorate to let us know what he is going to do to protect us.  He promised we would all have the best health care, the most affordable health care.  He is going to have to fight Congress.

[MooseMom]

Not to worry, Bill Peckham.  Trump is a boomer, and he has promised to revive American infrastructure!!

[Bill Peckham]

Not to worry, Bill Peckham.  Trump is a boomer, and he has promised to revive American infrastructure!!

Rather than see Obama to Trump through an identity frame, think of it through a generational frame. Bush pure boomer: face difficult problems, make them worse and then step away. Obama post boomer, spends eight years picking up the pieces, the same way his generation and the generations to come are going to have to pick up the pieces and deal with what the boomer generation is and has wrought.

[MooseMom]

Just to be clear, I was being sarcastic.

I'm currently reading David Frum's (conservative Republican) "Trumpocracy:  The Corruption of The American Republic", and it has my wheels spinning and my head exploding.  I don't claim to be coherent at the moment.

[Michael Murphy]

Adolph Hitler won his one election by using “Make Germany Great again”  now we are becoming victims of the “Make America Great Again Movement’  lead by the wanna be dictator trump.  No rights are safe no lives protected have a medical condition unless you are rich no treatment for you.  Parents are caught at the border their children are seized and sent to a concentration camp where 1500 are being kept in a former big box store in which no congressman or Senator is allowed into to check conditions. 
Going to start a trade war with everyone causing tariffs to be raised on many American industries forcing hundreds of thousands out of work. New York State is probably going to indict trump and entire family for a clear case of tax fraud by the trump foundation.
 Good God the trumpets are leading this country down the slippery slope of wrack and ruin as they blindly follow the criminal they have chosen as Presidunce, a Presidunce leading this country into the same type of bankruptcy that he lead his companies to multiple times.  Canada is looking better and better.

[Simon Dog]

Funny, "Dictator Trump" does not want to disarm the citizens but the Democrats do.  The first thing a dictator does is either disarm the citizenry, or make sure that only trusted segments of the population are armed.   No dictator lets the ordinary subjects keep their weapons.  Ever.

As to separating children - it's not different than when parents are arrested for a crime in the US.   They are not kept with their children.    But, they should work to have more "dorm/summer camp" housing than "prison" for these kids who are not of legal age and did not choose to commit a crime, as did their parents.

It is important to not forget that attempting to enter the US illegally is a crime and, as such, persons doing so should be treated as criminals.  Bail, or no-bail pre-trial release, should be granted based on the historical tendency of persons in similar situations and backgrounds to show up for their hearings.

In total, there are more losers than winners in a trade war .... though a few in protected industries win big.

[MooseMom]

Funny, "Dictator Trump" does not want to disarm the citizens but the Democrats do.  The first thing a dictator does is either disarm the citizenry, or make sure that only trusted segments of the population are armed.   No dictator lets the ordinary subjects keep their weapons.  Ever.

I know you love guns, but this statement is untrue.  The truth is here:
http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/11/23/ten-ways-to-tell-if-your-president-is-a-dictator/

As to separating children - it's not different than when parents are arrested for a crime in the US.   They are not kept with their children.    But, they should work to have more "dorm/summer camp" housing than "prison" for these kids who are not of legal age and did not choose to commit a crime, as did their parents.

Oh my God.  What is happening is "no different" to what happens when, like, Paul Manafort is put behind bars?  Are his kids rounded up and sent to a derelict Walmart?  This policy of taking children away from their parents is NOT the law, and neither is it decreed to be such in the Bible.

[kickingandscreaming]

And most of the migrants are here seeking asylum.  This is NOT a crime.  It is an international RIGHT to seek asylum.  These are NOT Criminals.

[Bill Peckham]

WHERE ARE THE GIRLS?!?


WHERE ARE THE YOUNGEST CHILDREN?!?

[Simon Dog]

And most of the migrants are here seeking asylum.  This is NOT a crime.  It is an international RIGHT to seek asylum.  These are NOT Criminals.

This is true of the ones who present themselves at the border and declare such.

The ones who sneak over the border and only claim asylum when caught are criminals and should be treated as such.

[Paul]

The ones who sneak over the border and only claim asylum when caught are criminals and should be treated as such.

I'm still wondering where that wall you were promised has got to!

[Paul]

The ones who sneak over the border.......

Yeah, those damned Canadians!

[Michael Murphy]

Actually crossing the border currently is a misdemeanor not a felony, this crap of seizing children and putting them in a republican  concentration camp is the equivalent of stopping some one for speeding and taking their children and locking them up in a local Walmart.  This policy is indefensible but the Presidunce doesn’t care about any one but his rich friends that’s why he is trying to kill health care coverage so the people needing medical treatment can just die.  The Republicans railed about death committees during the ada creation now there will be no death committees every one with a expensive disease can just die. 

[Rerun]

Ten Thousand of the "children" were sent by themselves by THEIR Parents!!!  Those kids are better taken care of here in "cages" then they ever were!  At least they are getting food and a bath and a bed.

Hey did you here America has free Day Care/Night Care!  OMG 

Don't come to America illegally.  Come through the door. 

[MooseMom]

The ones who sneak over the border and only claim asylum when caught are criminals and should be treated as such.

Exactly, like how the treasonous Paul Manafort is in the VIP unit of a Virginia jail.

[Michael Murphy]

Since the children are locked up in a corprate owned facility that’s has not allowed any over site by senators or congressman how do we know they are better off.  The pictures I have seen many children sleeping on the floor on thin mattresses and Mylar blankets.  Or hundred kids in a chain link cage.  Clearly trump supporter have no heart if they think this is humane.  If it’s not bad why no visits by reporters or congressmen

[iolaire]

Since the children are locked up in a corprate owned facility that’s has not allowed any over site by senators or congressman how do we know they are better off.  The pictures I have seen many children sleeping on the floor on thin mattresses and Mylar blankets.  Or hundred kids in a chain link cage.  Clearly trump supporter have no heart if they think this is humane.  If it’s not bad why no visits by reporters or congressmen

"You could easily end up in a situation where the gap between a parent's deportation and a child's deportation is years," Sandweg said.

https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/immigration-border-crisis/former-ice-director-some-migrant-family-separations-are-permanent-n884391

edited to add
"This is why family unity was critical for us. With the numbers of families crossing ticking up, [the] Obama administration was concerned about children being left behind," said Sandweg.

[cassandra]

Did I just read this in Global Citizen Digest?


  ..... the US is the only country in the world not to have ratified the UN  Convention on the Rights of the         Child.

    WOW

[Paul]

the US is the only country in the world not to have ratified the UN  Convention on the Rights of the Child

Well those are the waters into which a ship will sail, if it has an asshole at the helm.

[Bill Peckham]

WHERE ARE THE GIRLS?!?

WHERE ARE THE YOUNGEST CHILDREN?!?

@jacobsoboroff 3:30PM 6/19


"Just heard from @HHSGov again:

Of the 11,786 minors currently in the unaccompanied alien children program, 3,280 are female and 8,506 are male.

We still don’t have photos of or acces to any girls or toddlers.https://twitter.com/jacobsoboroff/status/1009199610437435397

Just heard from @HHSGov again:

Of the 11,786 minors currently in the unaccompanied alien children program, 3,280 are female and 8,506 are male.

We still don’t have photos of or acces to any girls or toddlers."