FORBES: Don't Buy The GOP Narrative That Obamacare Is A Tax On Middle Class

[Capt Bringdown]

Once you filter those potential back end savings through the giant government bureaucracy that's going to be required to implement this all, I don't see much of a reason to be optimistic that this bill will do much of anything to slow down the growth in healthcare costs.

As I understand it, costs have not come down in Massachusetts, where this Heritage Foundation/Romney/Obama bill originated from. So yeah, I doubt this bill will bring down costs. The goal is to transfer wealth to the investment class. Affordable Health care for all is a reachable goal, as other nations have proven, but we've got to take care of the 1% first in the good ole USA.

As for the "giant government bureaucracy" I guess YMMV with the giant private private bureaucracy. My family experiences have not been so great. My father died at the hands of these capitalist monsters.

[boutons_deux]

When Gecko does it, it's a mandate. When Barry does it, it's a tax.

Romney: Heath Mandate Is A Tax For Obama, Not A Tax For Me

In agreeing with the Court that it cons uted a tax and not a penalty, Romney could be vulnerable to criticism that the Massachusetts health care law he championed — which was the basis for Obama’s effort — also represented a tax. But Romney appears to be calculating that voters will care far more about the Court’s findings about the federal law than his state effort.

…In a portion of the interview released by Romney’s campaign, he insisted that a similar levy imposed on those who chose not to buy insurance by the Massachusetts healthcare law he signed as governor was not a tax.

“The chief justice, in his opinion, made it very clear that at the state level, states have the power to put in place mandates. They don’t need to require them to be called taxes in order for them to be cons utional. And as a result, Massachusetts’ mandate was a mandate, was a penalty, was described that way by the Legislature and by me, and so it stays as it was,” he said.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012...-a-tax-for-me/

[boutons_deux]

Tax or penalty? Romney's evolving statements irritate conservatives

The Wall Street Journal, whose opinion pages are a highly regarded barometer of conservative thought, published an editorial Thursday that excoriated the Romney campaign for its “unforced error” on the tax issue and concluded that “the campaign looks confused in addition to being politically dumb.”

It was the latest sign of conservative unhappiness with the Romney campaign, which faces the difficult task of pivoting into the general election after a primary campaign fought well to the right of the general electorate.

Some of the complaints have been stinging. William Kristol, editor of the conservative Weekly Standard, went so far as to compare Romney with two other Massachusetts politicians who unsuccessfully ran for president: Sen. John F. Kerry and former Gov. Michael Dukakis.

Ouch.

“So,” Kristol wrote after invoking the dreaded Democratic names, “speaking of losing candidates from Massachusetts: Is it too much to ask Mitt Romney to get off autopilot and actually think about the race he's running?”

That may have been enough for some supporters, including those for whom the entire debate is esoteric and, let’s face it, a little boring. But to the Journal editorial page, it was a reflection of a campaign in trouble.

“This latest mistake is of a piece with the campaign's insular staff and strategy that are slowly squandering an historic opportunity. Mr. Obama is being hurt by an economic recovery that is weakening for the third time in three years. But Mr. Romney hasn't been able to take advantage, and if anything he is losing ground.

“The Romney campaign thinks it can play it safe and coast to the White House by saying the economy stinks and it's Mr. Obama's fault. We're on its email list and the main daily message from the campaign is that ‘Obama isn't working.’ Thanks, guys, but Americans already know that. What they want to hear from the challenger is some understanding of why the President's policies aren't working and how Mr. Romney's policies will do better.”

http://mobile.latimes.com/p.p?m=b&a=...%3D0%26DPL%3D3

[boutons_deux]

Obamacare Is A Major Tax Cut For Middle Class Families




http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012...lass-families/

[CosmicCowboy]

Obamacare Is A Major Tax Cut For Middle Class Families




http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012...lass-families/

LOL Thinkprogress

I notice they didn't mention that those "tax credits" will be paid directly to the insurance companies.

[boutons_deux]

If Barry hadn't yielded to the health care systems' extortion, there would be no ACA.

The point above is that Human-Americans are better off with ACA, and most of them will THINK that is PROGRESS

[CosmicCowboy]

If Barry hadn't yielded to the health care systems' extortion, there would be no ACA.

The point above is that Human-Americans are better off with ACA, and most of them will THINK that is PROGRESS

When they realize that they are going to have to fork over 10% of their income in premiums for insurance that only covers 70% of the cost they aren't gonna be so happy.

[boutons_deux]

that's better than nothing, which is what they have now.

Separate from ACA, employees with employer plans are paying more for less coverage, if not actually losing it comletely. And when they lose their jobs, they will have ACA there. That'll make them so happy.

[boutons_deux]

As RickyBobby refuse to implement health insurance exchanges and expand Medicaid:

Texas Has The Worst Health Care Services In The Nation, Agency Says



A scorecard issued by a federal agency has ranked Texas health care services and delivery as among the worst in the nation.

The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality issued the ratings as part of a national review of state health care programs.

In nine out of 12 categories Texas rated weak or very weak. The only area where Texas ranked good was in maternal and child health care measures. A spokeswoman for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Texas offers one of the most limited health care programs in the nation for the disabled and the poor, and more than 25 percent of Texans do not have health insurance of any kind, the highest in the nation.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...tml?ref=topbar

[CosmicCowboy]

As RickyBobby refuse to implement health insurance exchanges and expand Medicaid:

Texas Has The Worst Health Care Services In The Nation, Agency Says



A scorecard issued by a federal agency has ranked Texas health care services and delivery as among the worst in the nation.

The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality issued the ratings as part of a national review of state health care programs.

In nine out of 12 categories Texas rated weak or very weak. The only area where Texas ranked good was in maternal and child health care measures. A spokeswoman for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Texas offers one of the most limited health care programs in the nation for the disabled and the poor, and more than 25 percent of Texans do not have health insurance of any kind, the highest in the nation.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...tml?ref=topbar

Well, duhhh. We also have the largest pool of uninsured illegal immigrants.

[boutons_deux]

and TXans exploit/cheat/underpay those illegal immigrants to TXans' max profit.

[coyotes_geek]

LOL Thinkprogress

I notice they didn't mention that those "tax credits" will be paid directly to the insurance companies.

I also like how they say it's a big tax cut for the middle class, point out the 16 million people who will get the credits, but then don't bother to tell you how big the middle class actually is, or how many of those 16 million people will be lower class. An inquiring mind might also wonder where the $686 billion to fund those tax credits is going to come from and ponder the likelihood of those costs finding their way down to middle class taxpayers.

No suprise though. It's thinkprogress. They're known for putting out dishonest crap like this.

lol thinkprogress, lol boutons

[TeyshaBlue]

As RickyBobby refuse to implement health insurance exchanges and expand Medicaid:

Texas Has The Worst Health Care Services In The Nation, Agency Says



A scorecard issued by a federal agency has ranked Texas health care services and delivery as among the worst in the nation.

The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality issued the ratings as part of a national review of state health care programs.

In nine out of 12 categories Texas rated weak or very weak. The only area where Texas ranked good was in maternal and child health care measures. A spokeswoman for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Texas offers one of the most limited health care programs in the nation for the disabled and the poor, and more than 25 percent of Texans do not have health insurance of any kind, the highest in the nation.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...tml?ref=topbar

If you bother to actually read the report, it states nothing at all regarding ranking. But, reading is hard. It's easier to have your thinking done by blogs.

lol bot.

lol low info blogs.

http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhqr11/nhqr11.pdf

[boutons_deux]

If you bother to actually read the report, it states nothing at all regarding ranking. But, reading is hard. It's easier to have your thinking done by blogs.

lol bot.

lol low info blogs.

http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhqr11/nhqr11.pdf

http://statesnapshots.ahrq.gov/snaps...ate=TX&level=0

and

"The only area where Texas ranked good was in maternal and child health care measures."

.... which, in the (TX) Repugs War on (poor) Women (and contraception), maternal health care clinics all over TX are being gutted or closed.

[TeyshaBlue]

There are catagories where Tx has zero data sets. Yet these cats. are averaged into the overall metric?

Somebody help me out here. That and the newborn/women care metrics are almost certainly outliers and based on 3 - 7 year old data.

I guess it's an ok, approximate big picture graphic, but the info levels, again, are quite low until you start digging in the data tables and contextural factors. Once you've done that, it seems even shabbier.

[TeyshaBlue]

In addition, the “31 out of a possible 100 points” metic is bull when the top of the measurement is 67. When you drill into the data tables, you see that Tx is avg to above avg on outcomes. It was scored down substantially due to not performing as many “healthcare measures” .
It does measure spending fairly well, but that’s meaningless when outcomes are de-emphasized.

[boutons_deux]

TX Repugs have basically destroyed free health clinics, contraceptive handouts, with one estimate saying that TX abortions will jump from 80K/year to 100K.

[CosmicCowboy]

TX Repugs have basically destroyed free health clinics, contraceptive handouts, with one estimate saying that TX abortions will jump from 80K/year to 100K.

I estimate they will stay the same.

My estimate is worth just as much as yours.

Nothing.

[scott]

America complains about rising cost of health care while simultaneous complaining about things like Transfat bans.

This is what we're really dealing with. DON'T TAKE MY LIBERTIES! BUT ALSO DON'T MAKE ME PAY FOR THEM!!!

[TeyshaBlue]

TX Repugs have basically destroyed free health clinics, contraceptive handouts, with one estimate saying that TX abortions will jump from 80K/year to 100K.


Wait a sec. Defunding healthclinics = increased abortions?

And no, free health clinics have not been destroyed. Hyperbole much? Oh wait. I forgot who I was talking to.

[TeyshaBlue]

America complains about rising cost of health care while simultaneous complaining about things like Transfat bans.

This is what we're really dealing with. DON'T TAKE MY LIBERTIES! BUT ALSO DON'T MAKE ME PAY FOR THEM!!!

You can have my butter when you pull it from my cold, dead hands!

[scott]

You can have my butter when you pull it from my cold, dead hands!

Your cold, diabetic fat fingers you mean?

[boutons_deux]

TX Repugs have basically destroyed free health clinics, contraceptive handouts, with one estimate saying that TX abortions will jump from 80K/year to 100K.


Wait a sec. Defunding healthclinics = increased abortions?

And no, free health clinics have not been destroyed. Hyperbole much? Oh wait. I forgot who I was talking to.

yes, those health clinics gave out free counseling and contraceptives. Less pills and condoms obviously means, at very least, more unwanted pregnancies and abortions.

[TeyshaBlue]

Your cold, diabetic fat fingers you mean?

That's a given.

[boutons_deux]

Judge Halts Defunding of Planned Parenthood in Texas

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor...efunding_.html

"Some 130,000 low-income Texas women who get free exams and contraceptives through Medicaid could lose those benefits as a result of the dispute.
The program provides free birth control and annual exams to women of reproductive age who do not qualify for the regular Medicaid program for the poor. The federal government pays 90 percent of the cost and Texas puts up about $4 million a year."

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...n-dispute?lite


Texas RR Groups Push War on Contraception

http://tfninsider.org/2012/02/14/tex...contraception/