Lies About Your Health Care
Warning: This is a political post. You may not be interested in politics, but your life may depend on the following words.
Around the country, Republicans are on the campaign trail. And a lot of them are, bizarrely for Republicans, defending Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Even Trump is stating, vigorously, that he supports pre-existing conditions being protected.
They are all lying.
The White House legal team has filed a lawsuit in Federal court to strip pre-existing conditions. This is active as I write these words.
And here is this summation by electoral-vote.com:
Republicans Are Starting to Pretend They Are Democrats
A number of Republican candidates have got the word that a lot of voters don’t care so much about tax cuts, immigration, or other Republican talking points. They care about health care and they don’t like what the GOP has to say on the subject. So they are switching platforms and starting to spout Democratic talking points and say how much they care about health care, especially preserving the rights of people with pre-existing conditions to get affordable health care.
For example, in Missouri, Attorney General Josh Hawley (R) once filed a lawsuit claiming that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. Now he is running an ad announcing that one of his young sons has a rare chronic disease and how important he thinks it is for insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions. Clearly, this is a time for prayer: He is praying that the voters have forgotten that he has long opposed his current position. Needless to say, his opponent, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) is reminding them of it.
Now to Pennsylvania, where Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA) is trying the same stunt. He put up an emotional ad in which he talks about his young grandson who has cancer. He now feels that people with pre-existing conditions need to be protected. The ad doesn’t bother to mention the dozens of times he voted in the House to repeal the ACA.
In Wisconsin, long-time opponent of the ACA Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) put up a video telling viewers that his wife has diabetes, his mother is a breast cancer survivor, and his brother has a heart condition. Videos can’t be too long or viewers get bored, so he didn’t have time in the film to mention that Wisconsin is suing to overturn the ACA.
Now Arizona. In this week’s debate between Reps. Kyrsten Sinema (D) and Martha McSally (R), Sinema accused McSally of fighting to overturn the ACA. McSally angrily called that a lie. In the heat of the campaign, she must have forgotten her impassioned call last May to repeal the ACA, just before one of the numerous votes in the House in which she supported repeal.
The list goes on and on. The Republicans are hoping that Democratic voters will have long forgotten their past hatred for the ACA (and in many cases their votes or lawsuits). In a vacuum, that might just work. However, in a campaign, their opponents often have video footage that contradicts their new-found interest in Obamacare.
[I love electoral-vote.com com, and read it every morning. It offers a nice summation of the previous days political events. And it does so brilliantly.]
The GOP Congress tried an astonishing SEVENTY times to repeal the ACA during the Obama presidency. But, even though they now fully control all three branches of government, they failed again in 2017.
They failed.
During his election campaign, Trump stated hundreds of times that he would repeal the ACA and replace it with something “better”. The crowds cheered and cheered.
But Trump didn’t repeal the ACA. And he hasn’t come up with anything better.
He lied.
And any Republican that is now telling you that they love the ACA and absolutely believe in protecting pre-existing conditions?
They are lying to you.
This week, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell stated that if the GOP retains the Senate, they will make another push to repeal the ACA. And you can bet that every Republican member of the Senate will vote lock-step to support this 71st attempt, no matter their words today on the campaign trail.
And why are Republicans lying to the America people so blatantly? Because they are watching the numbers, which show overwhelming support for the ACA, and its pre-existing conditions protection. So, they will lie to you today to get your vote. Then fuck you over a few months down the road.
In the 1930s, the Democratic party created Social Security. The Republicans fought this. Furiously.
in 1965, the Democratic party created Medicare and Medicaid. The Republicans fought this. Furiously.
In the 1990s, First Lady Hillary Clinton fought a courageous battle to assure that all Americans had affordable health care. The Republicans fought her every step of the way and the effort failed. Bruised, Hillary nonetheless dusted herself off and then successfully created a program of affordable health care for eight million children.
In 2018, also just last week, Mitch McConnell stated that the astronomical increase in the national deficit was caused by Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
This is a lie.
The stunning increase in the national deficit (now at $898 billion, up $224 billion from a year ago) was caused by the massive 2017 tax cut the Republicans gave to corporations and the very very very rich. And they all said this would not increase the deficit.
They all lied.
The federal deficit will soon be out-of-control. And McConnell’s plan to bring the deficit down? Destroy Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. That is why he is publicly blaming these programs for the ballooning deficit.
Which is a lie.
It is obvious: The Democratic party, by their own actions and votes spanning nine decades, cares about every American having affordable health care, and money for their retirement. The Republican party, by its own actions and votes spanning nine decades, does not want affordable health care for all Americans, and is still trying to kill Social Security.
In less than three weeks you have an opportunity to vote.
I will be voting for the party which wants to help me.
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Personally, as a Canadian, I( find it beyond retarded that America doesn’t have Universal Health Care, but hey, profit is more important, I guess.
Agreed, Glenn.
And our health care costs are WAY higher than yours, and our life expectancy is LOWER!
America also has the “worst overall child mortality rate compared with those of 19 other wealthy nations”.
I used to be a godless, liberal Democrat too, but I woke up to those lies and changed my ignorant ways. Despite your gawdy decorating, I enjoyed your amusing house and cat posts, but your self-righteous, misinformed and insulting political rants are just too much to stomach. Best of luck to you all the same. Bye
Godless is good. At least we believe in facts, not some fable [speaking of ignorant].
Hi, GIA.
Would you mind letting me know what in my post is “misinformed”?
And when did Democrats become godless? I must have missed that note!
I am also guessing that you don’t mind being lied to. In just one example, Trump is telling people at his rallies that he absolutely supports protecting people with pre-existing conditions….while the White House legal team is furiously trying to strike this down in Federal court.
GIA, I also see from your comment history that you have been leaving comments since 2017. And really lovely comments! I can also see how much you enjoy the kitty posts! So, I will miss hearing from you.
Big hug,
Ross
Oh, Darling Ross. Don’t bother. Republican kool-aid has been drunk (smells like tax cuts for someone in an upper bracket). And I bet that “GIA”, not “Gia”, is some privileged white guy, not a woman.
Sincerely,
God-filled (wafer every Sunday! 😉 ) Democrat, JCF.
Thank you Ross! I totally support everything you say.
I live in New Rochelle, NY, a diverse liberal community 20 minutes from NYC.
You live in Kansas. The “Heartland” although that phrase kills me. Believe me NY has heart. And brains.
I am surrounded by liberal thinkers.
But you have a special mission. To speak out to your fellow midwesterners and tell them the truth.
Republicans lie! Donald Trump is a liar. In NY we have known him for 40!years. He lies and he does not pay his bills.
The Republicans don’t care about our health care. Or jobs that pay a decent wage, or families, or women or diversity.
They ONLY care about keeping as much money for themselves as possible.
Unfortunately they seem to consistently have better PR than we do under our big tent.
The Republicans bullies are co-opting the Democratic message of support for healthcare, diversity, working people.
We need a strong, clear consistent message. And a strong clear messenger.
Pls keep writing these posts. You are a talented writer and an honest, brave and talented man.
We all need to vote like our lives depended on it, because they do.
Thank you Ross!
Yes, Karen, I am surrounded by Republicans!
And I have given up trying to converse with them because they truly are allergic to facts.
When I ask why they hate Liberals I get quick responses. But, when I ask if they have fact-checked anything they believe, I get a blank stare in return.
Nor have I ever talked with a Republican that fact-checked anything about their own party. They believe, deeply, in every party line fed to them. If I challenge anything they say with something easily proved, I normally get this kind of response: “Fake news! That’s just fake news!” Or they attack me. Just like GIA did, above.
I never experience this with Liberals. If a Liberal says something I think is incorrect, they are always OK being shown new information, even if said information contradicts them. I normally get this kind of response: “Wow! I didn’t know that! Thanks!”
And, that is my experience. It’s all so surreal. And terrifying.
And I forgot to mention that Republicans don’t care about the environment or believe in science.
Agreed, Karen. The Republican party has been 100% clear that they are anti-environment and anti-science.
Republicans do however support fiscal responsibility…but only when a Democrat is in the White House. When they are in charge? They are wildly fiscally irresponsible, as evidenced by the 7% increase in government spending just this year, and a $224 billion increase in the federal deficit. If this had happened under Obama, Republicans would be screaming 24/7.
Bill Clinton inherited a collapsed economy after 12 years of Republican presidents. He fixed that, and created the longest surplus in my lifetime. This is what George W inherited. Then he destroyed the economy. And Obama inherited this mess. He then hugely reduced the Republican-created deficit, created the longest-ever period of job growth, and a massive increase in the stock market. Trump inherited this. Then in his first year he created 400,000 fewer jobs than Obama had in 2016. And INCREASED the deficit in 2017 and again in 2018, massively.
All correct and true Rossi
I am also terrified about our future in general.
Yes Democrats are open to ideas, and to “other.”
There is unfortunate truth to the saying “Democrats fall in love. Republicans fall in line.” They have no values whatsoever except greed and selfishness. They want to win at any cost.
We must encourage young people and disenfranchised minorities to vote.
I am sorry that you are surrounded by Republicans, but you are also surrounded by a loving online community.
But. We have so much work to do! Stay strong and thank you for continuing to lead by example.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man’s oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Steal from the poor and give to the rich that’s the republican way. As GIA just showed us it’s their way or the highway. Doesn’t matter the lies they tell, doesn’t matter who they hurt. Godless! My God walks beside me every day. Ross they just can’t admit they made a mistake.
Dawn, your comment brings back memories of my Dad. When I was about 10 years old, I asked him the difference between Republicans and Democrats he said Republicans steal from the poor and give to the rich and Democrats steal from the rich and give to the poor. From then on I liked the Democrats, I have learned a lot more about both parties since then and still like the Democrats better.
🙂
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I think I love you!
You are sweet! BIG hug, Marti!
I’m with you, Ross – we were ready with legislation to expand our state’s medicare but our republican governor vetoed it. Healthcare is not a privilege, it’s a right. 🌻
Hi Ross!! The problem I see with the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), is it’s not affordable. I’m single. My premiums are $758.00 per month with a $9843.00 deductible. I have to pay EVERYTHING outta pocket until I hit $9843.00. After that, I pay 20% of all medical bills until I reach $12,509.00. It was way cheaper in 2010, but in 2015…..? Cancelled it…got a job with wonderful employer plan. I don’t know if Medicare for all is the right way. I hate the thought of an even smaller paycheck and higher taxes on certain items so that all is “free”. I also wonder why so many older Canadians find it necessary to dip into their life savings to come to the U.S. for health care…..
Morning, Sherry!
I am also single, and 61. My premiums are $450, so I am confused why your are so high.
Three years ago, a good friend discovered he had cancer. Luckily, it was caught early and he is fine today. He told me: “Ross, I would be dead today without the ACA as I could not have afforded the treatments.” Last year, another good friend told me a similar story.
Also, I am unaware of why any Canadian would deplete their savings to come to the US for health care when health care is free in Canada. I do know that Trump made such a claim last week but this isn’t supported by, well, reality. It is true that Canadians already in the US on a vacation will avail themselves of US health care (like if they are in a traffic accident or have a heart attack) but I know of no reliable source stating that many Canadians are racing across the border to spend their life savings on US health care.
Hi again, Ross!!
My premium was only $250 with $4500 deductible in 2010. By 2015, it had skyrocketed. I was in the ‘Silver’ plan, the ‘Bronze’ wasn’t much less. Now I pay $125/mo. $500 deductible per year.
Here’s a HuffPost article about Canadians coming to the US.
Thank you, Sherry.
I am still confused as to why you would have been paying $780 when I pay $450.
Thanks for the fascinating article. I stand corrected about Canadians. The article though makes it clear: if a Canadian wants X done quickly, that may not happen in Canada. Thus, some Canadians ARE willing to spend a small fortune to have something done quickly in the US. Which make sense!
I don’t know why it’s so high? Thought it was because of my income, but I’m sure you make way more than me.
When I cancelled my ACA policy, I was “fined” over $3000.00—to repay the subsidies that supposedly ‘lowered’ my premium. The IRS runs the ACA, so they kept my refund–for 2 years.
It’s not just elective and cosmetic procedures that force Canadians to go abroad. When cancer is suspected, but you have to wait 9 months for an MRI or PET scan?? This is usually happening among the older and elderly, because they’re, well, old.
[From Ross: My research came up with this: Canadians could expect to wait 3.7 weeks for a computed tomography (CT) scan, 11.1 weeks (just under 3 months) for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and 4.0 weeks for an ultrasound. But, I am not sure why we are discussing Canadian health care.]
Another Republican thought here: There is NO global warming! It’s a hoax!
Yet, you don’t need to look far to see how the weather is changing.
Also, we have the most expensive health care in the world, but far from the longest life span. Look at all our GMO food, forced on us by the super-rich, Republican-voting corporations (like Monsanto/Bayer). Most other countries do not allow GMO food.
All of this is more Republican lies & deception.
Speaking of lies, about a month ago, I read an article stating that tRump was up to 4700 proven lies in his presidency. Surely, he’s over 5000 by now😱
Hi, E. J.!
Yes, Trump IS now over 5,000 lies.
Read here.
And weep.
Also keep in mind that whatever Republicans are saying NOW to get votes, McConnell has already committed to trying to repeal ACA again after midterms.
There is actual video of him saying this, but Republicans still will call it “fake news”. They’re brain-washed beyond saving.
Here.
Thanks for the post Ross, how dare McConnell blame the deficit on Social Security and Medicare when he knows damn well it’s because of the huge tax breaks for the wealthy that didn’t have the effect he was hoping for or at least all the wonderful things that he/they said would happen (but knew these things could never happen). Vote them out in November!
Hi, Cindy!
McDonnell knew he was lying about the benefits his tax plan would create.
He knew he was lying.
For what I understand, the Republicans WANT to create an out-if-control deficit. Then they can use this as the excuse to get rid of ALL social programs including (but not limited to) Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Evil is as evil does.
And anybody voting R this November will be voting to support evil.
My premiums also went up a lot under the ACA. From around $250(with dental)/mo, %1750 deductible to over $600(no dental)/mo, $7000 deductible for much shittier coverage. If you don’t qualify for a subsidy, you might as well not bother with insurance. I got into a medical bill sharing charity and best thing ever. Not ever going back to traditional insurance with all it’s rules and limitations. I really don’t want govt in my health care.
And no, Republicans don’t want to get rid of ALL the social programs. That would be political suicide. They do need to be reformed as they are circling the drain.
Thank you for the link to https://electoral-vote.com/
Concise, quick overview of the day w/ links to dig deeper. Much appreciated!
Oh! I am thrilled you like the site!
I also like the subtle snark in many of the posts! I often smile.