The health care law that has been in existence in MA since 2006 is the only really clear road map we have of Obamacare. The road is going to a rocky one. The statistics of what is going on there are quite stunning and more than a little scary.
One of the latest examples of why we, as a nation, are in big trouble is that small businesses are electing to pay the fine as opposed to offering benefits to their employees. Sadly, the government penalties are even less than what MA requires. Most of these businesses that are doing this are lower wage jobs, so people will indeed qualify for state funded insurance.
The rates for insurance in MA have skyrocketed since the law has taken effect. They now have the highest rates in the country, and a full 50% of the uninsured are still uninsured. People as well have chosen to pay the fines instead of the very rates for insurance. Insurance companies are also finding that people have chosen to pay for the insurance when a medical problem arises, then drops it as soon as the company has laid thousands more than the fees that they have taken in. No business can survive with this model. Therefore, they have to raise their rates even higher in order to stay profitable. As with Obamacare, MA requires a level of liquidity for the insurance companies. The state is also not paying their mandated payments to many of the hospitals, putting them on the verge of bankruptcy, forcing them to sue the state for the money that is owed to them. They have operating expenses that must be met.
Romney has said on many occasions that he was fooled and this is not the package that he was hoping for. The reality remains he signed it into law. That is fact that he cannot get around, and the republicans in this country cannot accept that lame excuse. It is too bad that he didn't push for the same type of market based solutions that Governor Mitch Daniels did. A success story in lowering costs by using market based solutions and giving people more choice and more control over the costs and decisions of their health care.
The Washington Post also had an interesting article on this same topic. Read it here
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5 comments:
If the Republicans don't give us a truly Conservative/Libertarian/Constitutional candidate they will not win. Somebody like Michelle Bachman or Paul Ryan. If we get Romney or someone like him, one of the old Neo-Con club members, a whole bunch of us will just sit it out. Not because we want another Obama term but because we will not vote for Progressive lite any longer.
My guess is they'll nominate Romney.
I don't see Romney getting the nomination. Romney care is not sitting well with the right. Heck, even some on the left are complaining about it.
Personally, I think it is going to be someone that isn't really on the radar right now. Pence maybe.
I like Romney a LOT; think he's very smart and has certainly made a success out of some things. However, I don't see him in Prez slot either. The Mass health care one reason, fact that he's got 5 handsome sons and not one served in the Armed Forces a fact, and also, and HATE to say this, but he's a Mormon, and lots of people are pretty leery of that fact.
Respect the Mormons a lot, such a fine family oriented religion, but some of their beliefs are kind of out there. I know because someone once felt they could "challenge" me to continue to learn more when i was patiently sitting there listening because I didn't have the guts to say 'enjoy listening to you, but I have no temptation to change anything about my faith'. Which I finally could say, and guess what? I never heard from my 'little friend and her 2 buddies' again!
We've had so many fine Mormon friends, and have enjoyed every single one of them every moment we were together. However, the story of the founder finding gold tablets of the 10 commandments on a hillside in New Jersey or something like that (it was 20 years ago) just strikes me as not possible when every single sign we've ever found of biblical history has been in the mid-East.
SandraC
According to http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/07/15/mitt-romney-tops-money-list-for-likely-2012-gop-presidential-hop/ Romney is outraising Palin by 2 to 1 in campaign contributions. Everyone else is behind her. While Romney may not be the choice of the people, right now he's the choice of the machine.
And as we all know, the machine candidate normally gets the nod. Remember Dole and McCain?
"...And as we all know, the machine candidate normally gets the nod..."
Anyone remember Dede Scozzafava? Charlie Crist? We all know "The Machine" has had it's head handed to it a couple times of late. I can but hope it gets this one right - because the status quo in the next Presidential election is NOT acceptable.
Mitt Romney seems like a decent enough person, but he's not "The Guy". I don't even know who "The Guy" (outside of Gov. Christie who I think will pass) is today, but IMHO, it's not Mitt.
-LTB
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