The Face of Obamacare

As Congress, the Senate, and the President continue so called negotiations over the government slowdown of 17% (1) and whether to raise the debt limit to suposedly pay debt for which the government already has the cash to pay, Obamacare seems to have gone missing.  I am not sure if we have to call the FBI, CIA, or even the park service because it seems a crime has been committed.  Perhaps we might see the face of Obamacare on a milk carton soon. 

Of course this would be impossible because Obamacare is not a person and does not have a face because it is a government program, but the fact that it does not seem to be a topic of negotiations any longer makes it appear the GOP has surrendered when it comes to stopping this failed program.  People continue to see their hours cut by their employers in an effort to prevent themselves from being required to provide insurance for their employees.  Insurance premiums are not going to decrease but are slated to become more costly since providers will now be required to cover pre-existing conditions.  This means more people forced into government run insurance exchanges that still do not work as well as having their incomes reduced or even facing the possibility of losing their job. 

This past weekend I saw the real face of Obamacare.  I was at church and a friend approached me and told me that she had received a letter from her insurance provider, telling her that her insurance is being canceled.  The letter advised her to log onto the government exchange but when she did, she was unable to set up an account.  As I looked into the eyes of my friend, I saw a look of desperation on her face as she faced the reality she would no longer have health insurance. 

The main reason for her desperation stems from the fact that my friend has diabetes.  Earlier this year she was in the emergency room (ER) because she had broken her toe.  For a person with diabetes, any injury to their feet can be serious which is why they generally need medical care at an ER.  She now faces the real possibility that she will be required to pay for her expensive insulin,  glucose meter supplies, and doctor visits out of pocket not to mention how much another visit to the ER or even being admitted to the hospital could cost. 

Another friend of mine at church faces the real possibility of losing her insurance because her employer is looking into cutting everyone’s hours below 30 hours and dropping her coverage.  This not only means a loss of insurance and the risk of being stuck with expensive out of pocket medical expenses but also a loss of 25% percent of income with a reduction of hours from 40 hours to less than 30 hours.  I also saw a look of desperation on her and her husband’s face as they faced the real possibility of not being able to pay their bills because of their loss of income. 

This past weekend we saw a glimpse of what can occur when a government entitlement program has a computer glitch.  The food stamp system went down due to a problem while the system was undergoing maintenance.  The glitch removed limits from recipients EBT cards allowing them to make unlimited purchases using the cards.  This prompted patrons of a Walmart in Springhill LA to clear off the shelves.  (2)  Now imagine you are on your way to the hospital with a potentially life-threatening emergency or worse yet in the operating room when the computer connected to the national healthcare database goes down.  Will they still be able to treat you or will they tell you to go home until the system comes back up.  Looking at how well the system is working since the roll out on October 1, I am not holding my breath that things will work as they should.

I fear the Republicans in the House are letting the opportunity to stop the failed program of Obamacare slip away.  Instead, these squishy Republicans focus on an unfounded fear that the government will default on its debt.  As I explained in great detail in my post of October 12, 2013 entitled Don’t Blink, there is no reason for our nation to default on its debt as we have more than enough cash flow to make our debt payments.  If we default on our debt payments, it will be due to President Obama’s violating his constitutional mandate to make the nation’s debt payments first before spending money on anything else.  (3)

It is time for the leadership of the GOP to stop sniping each other while Nero Obama fiddles in the White House as the nation burns.  This whole shutdown occurred because Republicans agreed to fund the entire government except for Obamacare which has now proven to be a failure.  Instead of sticking to their guns and continuing to demand defunding or delaying this failed program, the GOP has allowed itself to become sidetracked because they fear default. 

The GOP leadership must refocus and end this failed program.  Real people are being hurt due to losing their health insurance coverage and seeing their incomes cut.  By delaying or defunding Obamacare, the GOP can be known as the party that helped desperate people like my two friends.  By defunding or delaying this program, people like my friends will once again be able to get affordable coverage through their employers.  They will not have to face the possibility of seeing their incomes slashed by 25% as their employers attempt to avoid a fine assessed by the government. 

We are about to enter the third week of the government slowdown.  I still have not heard reports of where anyone has lost their life due to the slowdown, and I hope I never do.  However, my two friends, and many others like them, are facing the possibility of not receiving health care for a life threatening disease or losing their homes due to not being able to make their mortgage payments due to the mandates in Obamacare.  I urge leaders to do the right and humane thing and end this destructive program, Obamacare. 

Once again Political Avengers, it is time to light up the phones and email servers.  Use the link in the upper right portion of this page to find your Senators and Representative and let them know to reject any proposal that does not include a defunding or delay of Obamacare. 

1. Foxnews.com. Estimate shows 17 percent of government is actually shut down. www.foxnews.com. [Online] Fox News, October 07, 2013. [Cited: October 11, 2013.] http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/10/07/reports-show-less-than-20-percent-fed-government-is-really-shut-down/.

2. Rayman, Noah. A Walmart Shopping Frenzy After Food Stamp Cards Malfunction. nation.time.com. [Online] Time U.S., October 14, 2013. [Cited: October 15, 2013.] http://nation.time.com/2013/10/14/a-walmart-shopping-frenzy-after-food-stamp-cards-malfunction/.

3. Palin, Sarah. OBAMA ON VERGE OF ‘IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES’. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, October 14, 2013. [Cited: October 15, 2013.] http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/10/14/Palin-on-Obama-s-Impeachable-Offenses.