Obamacare … It’s the law; enough is enough it’s time to move on

Today I listened to Limbaugh rant and rave about the Supreme Court’s decision upholding Obamacare. I listened to several other conservative talk shows as well all singing the same song.

In the space of a few minutes I heard that you better get your hip replacement now or you won’t be able to have it, I heard about a 3.8% tax if you sell your home and that Congress should have the same health care system as the rest of us (tell me what system that is if you know). I heard about rationing and death panels and all the other nonsense. Callers to these shows were even worse displaying a level of ignorance and disseminating misinformation with gusto.

What I didn’t hear was a proposal for a viable alternative that would expand coverage and really make health care affordable (not that Obamacare does). That’s not entirely true, Hannity talked the same nonsense about free market competition solving the problem (not sure who is competing for what though). Boy, do I long for some intelligence in the conservative community, where is William F Buckley when you need him?

Anyone who has been reading this blog knows I am no liberal or enthusiastic about Obamacare. It contains many flaws, will cost way more than predicted and does not address the fundamental problems with our system beyond scores of demonstration projects for Medicare. However, valid criticism must be based on facts and that is not happening in much of the right-wing zone.

Look through the posts under the Healthcare and Government categories on this blog and you will see how I have tried to get the facts exposed although I must admit getting the facts out there doesn’t mean people pay any attention.

Nobody is repealing Obamacare so we better move on and work seriously to fix what needs to be fixed, get an honest assessment of the costs and look for real ways to change what needs to be changed in the US health care system, and yes that means what care we receive, when we receive it, how much we receive and what we pay for it.

There is a lot of work to be done.

Then we have the White House view of Obamacare. A view that focuses not on the need to change the system but rather on perceived new benefits. This is the real danger of Obamacare, the idea of more for everyone with little regard to the cost and consequences. The free and easy use of “affordable” without substance and the ongoing shots taken at insurance companies are red flags of major concern.

E-mail from the White House:

Let’s take a look at what today’s ruling means for the middle class:

Insurance companies no longer have unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny you coverage, or charge women more than men.

Soon, no American will ever again be denied care or charged more due to a pre-existing condition, like cancer or even asthma.

Preventive care will still be covered free of charge by insurance companies–including mammograms for women and wellness visits for seniors.

By August, millions of Americans will receive a rebate because their insurance company spent too much of their premium on administrative costs or CEO bonuses.

5.3 million seniors will continue to save $600 a year on their prescription drugs.

Efforts to strengthen and protect Medicare by cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse will remain in place.

6.6 million young adults will still be able to stay on their family’s plan until they’re 26.

A major impact of the Court’s decision is the 129 million people with pre-existing conditions and millions of middle class families who will have the security of affordable health coverage.

We should also remember that under today’s ruling, having health insurance is and will continue to be a choice. If you can’t afford insurance or you’re a small business that wants to provide affordable insurance to your employees, you’ll get tax credits that make coverage affordable. But if you can afford insurance and you choose not to purchase it, the taxpayers will no longer subsidize your care for free.

To gain insight into the mindset of the people running things today, consider this statement  from the above White House e-mail:“Efforts to strengthen and protect Medicare by cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse will remain in place.”  Since when do managers and administrators need a law to crack down on waste and fraud?  This problem has been brought to governments attention for the last twenty-years.