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Affordable Care Act - Informal Poll

I'm interested in hearing your opinion about this new law here in the U.S. Are you...

1) Totally for it.

2) For it, but would like to see some parts repealed.

3) Totally against it and would like to see the system remain the same as before the law.

4) Totally against it but would like to see something else in its place.

5) Don't care... Shut it... Next!

I think I covered all the possible categories. But if you don't like them, let me know what you think. Personally, I'm #4.

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Permalink Reply by Jessica Berman on May 28, 2012 at 10:24pm

I'd pick another option in the poll - I'm for it but doesn't go far enough. It needs a public option for one. The insurance and medical lobbies blocked it because Medicare keeps costs much lower. Every time I hear people talk about how terrible it would be for government healthcare I ask if they want to get rid of Medicare for themselves or their parents and nobody says "yes" . People against health reform say the U.S. has the best system but forget that the government is by far the largest healthcare insurer in the country. The same people talk about Death Panels under reform but the only ones are in conservative states. The Governor of Arizona has already allowed numerous deaths of people needing transplants and the worst states for health are mostly very red.

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Permalink Reply by Susan Stanko on May 29, 2012 at 8:21am

I'm with you.

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Permalink Reply by Jim DePaulo on June 1, 2012 at 7:58pm

I agree. It's a start but needs to be expanded into a public option plan. With the wingnut reptilicans I'm amazed Obama got what we got. Prisoners get better health care than most Americans get...except in the for profit prisons.

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Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on May 29, 2012 at 9:00am

ONE!!!

I would prefer to see a public option as well, but I'm not holding my breath.

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Permalink Reply by Wiley Coyote on June 1, 2012 at 2:11pm

I'm for it, but would like to see a public option.

It's long over due.

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Permalink Reply by booklover on June 3, 2012 at 9:23am

Me too Wiley Coyote.~ Melinda

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Permalink Reply by Pat on June 1, 2012 at 9:03pm

No disrespect, but you didn't hit every option.

I'm for it, as far as it goes, but it doesn't go nearly as far as it should. Don't misunderstand me, as I somewhat (qualified) like President Obama. But he caved in to the Republican toady fascists for the insurance industry. When the bill was being debated, I happened to be in a Caribbean country where the majority of tourists are from Canada (can you say Fidel Castro?). The Canadians I spoke with, being cognizant of the debate in America on health care, had one question for me. "Are Americans really that f&*king stupid to be opposed to basic health care?!" I honestly had no good answer.

A public option, along the lines of the Canadian model, is the best option.

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Permalink Reply by jay H on June 2, 2012 at 7:25am

I'll got with #4 also. The Repubs are right about some things... it has Constitutional problems (though Repubs have no trouble ignoring the constitution in other areas). And the last thing we need is more inroads into the Constitution. It's not going to be sustainable. It's vast, complex, probably will reduce job creation as potential employers weigh the potential long term cost of each employee they take on.

Part of the problem is the slipping of the argument. Promoters of the bill talk about people crushed by massive medical bills from expensive things like cancer treatment, heart attack etc, but instead of addressing the high expense items they drag everything into the net (including the no copay birth control--what is the point of that).

The more sensible alternative is to provide (government assisted for low income if needed) catastrophic coverage that only kicks in for the financially catastrophic events.. the first few thousand you're on your own. This would be vastly less expensive and simpler to administer, but Congress actually eliminated that option completely.

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Permalink Reply by Marc Green on June 2, 2012 at 4:11pm

My apologies for not seeing that there certainly would be the position of #1 not going far enough. [Guess it shows my own bias LOL ] WOW!!! And so many whom agree!

I guess the main reason I'm #4 is because the very presence of Insurance Companies within Health Care is what drives costs up. They have to get paid, and for what? They don't actually provide any value to the industry. Rather, they are a leech on Health Care. This Affordable Care Act will only stabilize high costs and not make anything any more affordable for anyone. (Do a few calculations on how much a $50 premium payment each month and a $30 copay will add to someone's expenses who only makes the Federal Minimum Wage of $7.25 an hour)

If we wanted to actually bring Healthcare costs down, we would OUTLAW Medical Insurance (except emergency). This would bring doctors, specialists and laboratories back to a truly free market of competition. And the Insurance companies' people would be forced to find some other means of generating income. Maybe they'd learn how to actually work for a living.

At the very least, it should be against the law to associate Health Insurance with your place of employment. Gees, this is such the burden on companies. It's a post WWII benefits incentive that has become ingrained in our society. Time to fix it by putting it back in the private lives of individuals.

I can't wait to here the Court's decision later this month !!!

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Permalink Reply by Susan Stanko on June 2, 2012 at 4:22pm

In other words you don't see health care as a basic human right?

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Permalink Reply by Marc Green on June 2, 2012 at 7:29pm

That is correct. I do not see health care as a basic human right. I don't see how it can be equated with other Constitutionally recognized Rights. If you or anyone would point me in that direction, I would certainly be interested.