ACA Check

[DemocratSinceBirth]

How do the denizens of this august board feel it is being perceived by the public?

If the perception is more negative than positive what can be done to change it?

The immediate fate of the president and the Democratic party is inextricably linked to its success or failure.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

[dogman]

1. I don't think the majority of people know much about ACA at all.

Most people will not see immediate changes since the majority will not be affected by it. However the constant criticism by the media will create a negative effect since that is all most will know about it.

[wercal]

2. It is being percieved in soundbytes

Most of the target demographic for sign up are completely unaware of the law. They remember it was passed a few years ago, thought they would get free healthcare but somehow they didn't, and they forgot about it. Now they hear a lot about it on the news...but don't pay attention. In two years, come tax time, their refund will be smaller...but they won't know why. In short, its been met with a big yawn by most...despite the chatter on political boards, etc.

I don't think the fate of either party rests with ACA. If it fails, blame can be diverted to 1) insurance companies 2) The wealthy who don't want to pay more taxes to support it, as it will cost increasingly more 3) Doctors who won't take ACA patients

People will line up on the same side of the political fence that they usually do, and it will be a ratings hit for the cable news outlets as the chattering class bickers back and forth.

[Wait Wut]

3. Bright Red City, Arizona

They're a little obsessed here. It's fun to watch. I see FB posts from RW friends that are full of misleading info. I've posted some facts and helpful info, but they go unnoticed. One friend was grateful, however. She's losing her Medicaid in a couple of months and this will save her. Oh, and she wasn't covered on MC, just her kids. It's been a little confusing for her, but she sends me messages and I point her to answers, etc. She's pretty damned excited.

Negativity will change on its own. It's going to take a year or two before the most annoying bugs are worked out. Once everything becomes more streamlined and part of our everyday lives, like SS, people will be threatening to impeach the next Democratic President if he/she doesn't 'keep the government out of their ACA'.

Third statement, not altogether true. When it succeeds, you'll see every Republican in the country try to latch on to that success. It's failures will be temporary, Democrats will fix it, Republicans will attempt to take credit, people will roll their eyes.

[bhikkhu]

4. Given the general oblivious attutude toward the 46 million uninsured

perceptions are probably not going to be well educated. People hear what they want to hear, and a good scandal drives conversation more than anything else.

Note how the 1.5 million who enrolled in Medicare last month hardly earned an inch of article most places...