The flawed roll-out of the federal health exchange website has been a bonanza for Republicans, who have been evangelical in their opposition to the Affordable Care Act. But let’s give credit and blame where they are due.
Credit the president for owning up to his promise, albeit late, to allow existing health policies to remain in effect.
Credit Democrats who support the ACA, because it offers health coverage to millions of previously uninsured people, makes discrimination based on preexisting health conditions illegal, and creates minimum acceptable standards for health care insurance plans.
Blame the ACA web team for doing a terrible job implementing and testing the federal website.
Blame or credit (depending on your point of view) Republicans for inventing “Obamacare” in the first place (i.e., the Massachusetts health care model.)
Blame Republican governors for not cooperating with the feds, even after most of the ACA was pronounced legal and constitutional.
Blame Republican governors and insurance commissioners for refusing to set up state exchanges.
Blame Republican governors for refusing cash from the federal government and not expanding Medicare, thus leaving thousands of their own constituents without adequate health care.
Blame Republican state legislators for impeding federal “navigators” from assisting those people who want to enroll.
Blame Republican legislators for ignoring our country’s pressing issues in favor of repeatedly holding meaningless votes to repeal the ACA.
See a trend here? The obvious point is that Republicans only have one interest — obstruction. They root for failure. It is very sad that they will never share the success stories associated with the ACA, and worse, you’ll never see Republicans work together with Democrats to make this landmark legislation work to the benefit of all Americans. Shame on them.
Larry Wechsler
Edmonds
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