Krugman: ‘Better-informed people on the Right seem, finally to be facing up to a horrible truth’

[egbertowillies]

New York Times columnist Paul Krugman has a great analysis in his piece “Republican Health Care Panic”. Before going into the most prescient statement in his piece it is essential to quote his interpretation of what the law does. Inasmuch as it has been explained in many forms, Krugman’s one paragraph puts it more succinctly than most.

Although you’d never know it from all the fulminations, with prominent Republicans routinely comparing Obamacare to slavery, the Affordable Care Act is based on three simple ideas. First, all Americans should have access to affordable insurance, even if they have pre-existing medical problems. Second, people should be induced or required to buy insurance even if they’re currently healthy, so that the risk pool remains reasonably favorable. Third, to prevent the insurance “mandate” from being too onerous, there should be subsidies to hold premiums down as a share of income. [source]

So what ‘horrible truth’ is it that better informed people on the Right seem to finally be facing up to? They are panicking as they noticed that

Health care reform, President Obama’s signature policy achievement, is probably going to work. [source]

For those that have followed the real news and widely available information, that should not have been hard. After-all, the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) has been working successfully and effectively in Massachusetts for several years now (Obamacare was modeled on many parts of Massachusetts healthcare).

Additionally, the information about the success of health insurance exchanges in states that care more about the health of their citizens than ideological politics, are coming in. The pricing from these health insurance exchanges, contrary to the myriad of lies and misinformation from Republicans have been much lower than expected.

Because of the manner in which Obamacare was implemented, much of it was stealthy inasmuch as it did much for most. As such it was easy to demonize.

For those who already have insurance, the fact that it cannot be rescinded or the fact that it no longer have caps which could actually cause one’s bankruptcy, though a huge benefit is rather stealthy. The fact that disease screenings must be covered at no additional cost on policies is likely seen only a few times a decade even though the cost savings and lifesaving potential is huge. The fact that pre-natal care must be covered at no additional cost ensures that America will no longer have one of the worst maternal death rates and worst infant death rate in the industrialized world. The fact that those with pre-existing conditions will be able to now purchase insurance at rates equivalent to everyone else is stealthy except for those it affect.

Full implementation of Obamacare begins in 2014 with health insurance exchanges open in October 2013. The truth will be out not by hot air but by reality. It is important that the news media, the blogosphere, and every other medium is ready to call out the lies and hold those attempting to sabotage the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and the well-being of American citizens accountable.

[Benton D Struckcheon]

1. The underestimation of Obama continues.

With the possible exception of Carter, he's the most intelligent, in both practical & theoretical terms, Prez we've had in our lifetimes. Carter never got the credit for what he achieved, but in the eighties, oil went almost to single digits a barrel because of his energy policies. Reagan got the undeserved credit and the benefit.
Fortunately, Obama got a second term, so the savings that will be achieved as a result of his reforms will be credited to the proper President.

[freshwest]

5. +1,000

[Brainstormy]

11. So true

if ONLY we'd listened to Carter about energy.

[bigwillq]

15. I'm impatiently waiting for oil to hit single digits.

Come on, Obama, let's do it.

[Benton D Struckcheon]

18. Hmph. It'll be a while.

China gets in the way of things like that these days.

[bigwillq]

19. It doesn't help when the good ole' DEMS

in my state raise the state gas tax again.
Gasoline prices are outrageous. I only do the basic driving; no big road trips.
Something really needs to be done about gas prices. They keep going up and up.

[DFW]

23. It costs about $8 a gallon in my neck of the woods

You people Stateside are living in a gas paradise if you think $4.50 is excessive.

[CTyankee]

2. thank you again, Dr. K! You are my hero!

You have outlined the REAL issues here and what is the problem getting this law completely operational.

It WILL succeed and sure enough, republican fears will be justified in that it will be POPULAR with the people of the U.S. and will stay until we realize that we can do better with universal health care provided through the tax base...

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. Hopefully more people will undergo preventive health measures with this

The more preventative health care the better. If insured they can get physicals, colonoscopies, PAP smears etc. This means the nation is not going to get as sick and will reduce costs. Also increase work output for the economy.

[Cha]

4. Mahalo egbertowillies!

[freshwest]

6. Indeed, among our best contributors.

[Faygo Kid]

7. They're scared to death, because it's going to be way better than now.

That's why they will pull out all the stops to kill it before it's implemented.

Far from perfect, but better than what they have, which is nothing.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

8. Doesn't matter. The Right Wing will claim EVERYONE got a tax hike,...

....and their beer drinking, meth-head followers will scream that their taxes went up and will be unwilling to listen to anyone who tells them otherwise. Especially from some "long hair" who went to college and stuff.

[Cosmocat]

20. Yep

it will NEVER seen as anything other than however the right wing screams it is.

And, there is absolutely no chance, NONE, that the so called "liberal" media will do anything to refute how the right wing frames it.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

22. They feel it's their duty to help a Right Wing guest get the word out.

[mountain grammy]

9. Yep, it just might work and take us one step closer to Medicare for all.

Screw you, you dumbass Republicans. This was actually your plan, you idiots! Get your head out of your asses and get on board. Thought I'd throw that in just in case any of you are lurking about.

[adirondacker]

10. As much as I want a single payer option, and thought that Obamacare was doomed, I'm quite content

in the progress President Obama made with this policy. It is undeniably a Huge step in the right direction for our citizens. Credit is due.

Krugman makes an excellent observation in this piece.

Thanks for posting.

[DontTreadOnMe]

12. Hats off to Krugman

nails it again.. and again.

[jmowreader]

13. The thing that will prove most beneficial to the great majority is portability

I would love it if the president would conduct a "funeral" like the one the NAACP held for the n-word, but this one for the phrase "I hate my fucking job but I can never leave because I'll never be able to get health insurance again."

There are many reasons they're going after Obamacare that they're not telling you. I really think if Obamacare would have been the mandate to buy insurance with the penalties and everything, and nothing else - especially not the profit caps - the right would have loved it and would have gleefully made ads explaining to the non-rich that if they give up their pleasures they can use the money they save for health insurance.

But requiring insurers to cover things at no additional cost, limiting them to 20 percent profit (my boss would be in hog heaven if he made 20 percent profit), and letting someone take their health insurance with them when they quit your soul-destroying company are things they just can't abide. So they start this big club of fundamentalist zealots designed to undermine the new law.

I would love to know how many teabaggers had insurance that meets Obamacare minimums on the day Obama was elected, and how many still have it. My guess is almost all of them.

[Ishoutandscream2]

21. Excellent post!

The idea of not being tied down to a shitty job because you need the health insurance is a good one. That in itself deserves a thread of its own!

[Scurrilous]

14. K & R

[Dustin DeWinde]

16. why are some on the left so eager to. believe that "this time the right will act reasonably"

They won't. In fact despite Mr Krugman's impressive clutching at straws, the right is getting more insane not less.

[emsimon33]

17. Great post. Thank you!

[johnnyrocket]

24. Shouldn't the Republicans come to the realization that all of THEIR ideas....

....are horrible and complete flops that only destroy the country, put the economy on the brink and plunge people into poverty.

Because that would be the better realization. That way the Republicans could shut up and let real ideas move things along.