One of these things is not like the other

[ProSense]

One of these things is not like the other

By Steve Benen

When conservatives began pushing the comparison between the war in Iraq and the Affordable Care Act, I thought it might be some kind of perverse attempt at humor. Alas, they were serious -- National Journal ran this odd piece this week.

In fact, the legacy of the Iraq war to Republicans during the Bush administration offers a useful reference to how the implementation of Obama's health care law could play out politically for his party. <...>

In both examples, the presidential sales pitch ended up being overhyped, with promises made that couldn't realistically be achieved.

Hmm.

The Bush administration lied, manipulated intelligence, and created a public appetite for an unnecessary invasion. On the other hand, the public demand for reforming our dysfunctional health care system existed before President Obama was even elected, and the Obama administration built on that demand with honest assessments.

The Bush administration launched a war that cost thousands of lives. The Obama administration passed a health care law that will save lives.

The Bush administration's invasion of Iraq was paid for entirely through deficit financing, asking future generations to pick up the tab. The Affordable Care Act is fully paid for and dramatically reduces the deficit in coming years.

- more -

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/03/18039158-one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other

Iraq war = health care reform

...only in the desperate minds of depraved conservative hacks, but hey, I'm up for the challenge using real numbers...

Iraq war:

Iraqi Security Forces (post-Saddam) Killed: 16,623
Coalition Forces Killed: 4,805 (4,487 U.S.)
Contractors Killed: 1,554
Awakening Councils Killed: 1,002+
Iraqi combatant dead (invasion period): 7,600–11,000
Insurgents (post-Saddam) Killed: 21,221–26,405 (2003-2011)
Civilian casualties: up to about 1 million

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War

Affordable Care Act:

That includes:

• Some 6.6 million people ages 19 through 25 who have been able to stay on their parents' insurance plans and more than than 3 million young adults getting health insurance.
  
  
• 17 million getting some kind of free preventive service, like flu shots, and 34 million Medicare recipients getting free preventive services in 2012;
  
  
• 17 million children with pre-existing conditions being protected against being uninsured;
  
  
• More than 107,000 adults with pre-existing conditions finally having insurance under the federally run insurance program;
  
  
• 21 million received care from expanded community health centers, 3 million more than previously served;
  
  
• $1.1 billion in rebates, an average of $151 per family paid by insurers that failed to meet the benchmark of 80 to 85 percent of premium revenues on medical claims or quality improvements;
  
  
• Since 2010, more than 6.3 million older or disabled people have saved more than $6.3 billion on prescription drugs;

- more -

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/03/25/1196892/-An-Affordable-Care-Act-report-card-three-years-in

STUDY: Obamacare Has Given 3.4 Million Young Americans Access To Health Insurance
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022759368

[haikugal]

1. Thanks! K&R

[freshwest]

2. Excellent piece by Benen. Thanks, ProSense!