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Forum Post: Red Alert: House Recess Unleashes GOP Terrorist Jihad

Posted 10 years ago on Aug. 5, 2013, 6:52 p.m. EST by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Saboteurs in the Potato Salad ~ GOP JIHAD '13/'14!!!

By TIMOTHY EGAN

Just now, a cell of several hundred people has been dispatched into the American summer, to picnics, town halls, radio stations, hospitals and Little League playing fields, with a mission to derail the economic recovery and drum up support for sabotaging federal law. They’re not terrorists, nor are they agents of a foreign government. This is your United States Congress, the Republican House, on recess for the next five weeks.

They even have a master plan, a 31-page kit put together by the House Republican Conference, for every member to follow while back home with the folks. It’s called “Fighting Washington for all Americans,” and includes a prototype op-ed piece, with a political version of the line usually reserved for dumping lovers: “This isn’t about me. It’s about you.”

Here’s a sample suggestion, from Page 28, of how to stage a phony public meeting with business owners:

“Confirm the theme(s) prior to the event and make sure the participants will be 100 percent on message. (Note: while they do not have to be Republicans, they need to be able to discuss the negative effects of Obamacare on their employees.)”

And what if I have a child with cancer, and the insurance company plans to dump him if Republicans stop Obamacare in its tracks? Can I attend? Or what if I’m counting on buying into the new health care exchanges in my state, saving hundreds of dollars on my insurance bill?

The kit has an answer: planting supporters, with prescreened softball questions, will ensure that such things never get asked. More important, this tactic will assure that any meeting with the dreaded public will go “in the direction that is most beneficial to the member,” as the blueprint states. I thought this wasn’t about you.

Oh, and Republicans should be sure to “engage with all demographics,” the memo insists. It’s very specific about what that means: Asians, Latinos and women. Blacks aren’t mentioned. Lost cause. But millennials are included, because nothing works with young people like inauthenticity.

The planning kit’s instructions on how Republicans are to talk about the economy call to mind old Soviet bromides about record wheat harvests. The most loathed Congress in the history of polling has this message: “We’re working to spur economic growth and create more jobs.”

They’re not, of course. Not by any measure. Just the opposite. Their brinkmanship on the budget will probably cost 750,000 jobs this year, and about 900,000 next year, by the estimate of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

In truth, the biggest drag on a recovering economy is this Congress. The chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, his candor increasing as his term winds down, said as much in his last appearances on the Hill. He faulted members for austerity and inaction.

But those obstructions were cotton candy in the spokes of a trike compared to what Republicans are planning when they return from five weeks of Potemkin politics. Unable to stop the Affordable Care Act by the normal rules of a democracy — e.g., the Supreme Court, or winning a national election — a core group of leading Republicans now plan to sabotage the law.

If the president doesn’t agree to halt operating funds for his signature achievement on the eve of its implementation, Republicans may shut down the government, throwing thousands of people out of work and disrupting a huge part of the economy. This could leave millions of the uninsured in the dark, and create chaos at hospitals and businesses.

As a further blackmailing tactic, Republicans are also threatening to stop paying the bills on things that they already agreed to pay for — the basic services of government. They would shutter national parks, defund federal law enforcement, slow Social Security payments. Fun stuff.

You won’t hear it from the saboteurs, but this economy is truly getting better. Over seven million new jobs have been created in the last 40 months, and this year is shaping up to be the best one for private-sector job growth since 1999. The stock market is at a record high. The housing market is robust again. The federal deficit is falling at the fastest rate in 60 years. And in June, the government actually ran a $116 billion surplus — that is, took in that much more than it spent.

But there are at least four million long-term unemployed Americans. The Great Recession did permanent damage to their lives and their families. Wages are stagnant; the cost of living is not. The price of college, the best elevator to the middle class, is cruelly high, forcing a generation of young people to carry oppressive debt for the first decade or so of their adult lives. If there was even a modest effort by Republicans to meet the president halfway on helping people with the big things in life, this Congress would not be polling at a level reserved for disbarred lawyers. Instead, those barren lawmakers have chosen to stage fake meetings with fake citizens, all to keep the government from performing any meaningful duties. How low can they go? Watch. But keep a safe distance.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/01/saboteurs-in-the-potato-salad/

Republicans Against Reality

By PAUL KRUGMAN | Published: August 4, 2013

Last week House Republicans voted for the 40th time to repeal Obamacare. Like the previous 39 votes, this action will have no effect whatsoever. But it was a stand-in for what Republicans really want to do: repeal reality, and the laws of arithmetic in particular. The sad truth is that the modern G.O.P. is lost in fantasy, unable to participate in actual governing.

Just to be clear, I’m not talking about policy substance. I may believe that Republicans have their priorities all wrong, but that’s not the issue here. Instead, I’m talking about their apparent inability to accept very basic reality constraints, like the fact that you can’t cut overall spending without cutting spending on particular programs, or the fact that voting to repeal legislation doesn’t change the law when the other party controls the Senate and the White House.

Am I exaggerating? Consider what went down in Congress last week. [NO!!!]

CONTINUED: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/05/opinion/krugman-republicans-against-reality.html?_r=0

Governor to launch new purge of Florida voter rolls

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, pictured, will soon launch a new hunt for noncitizens on Florida's voter roll, a move that's sure to provoke new cries of a voter "purge" as Scot ramps up his own re-election effort. Devon Ravine / AP file

BY STEVE BOUSQUET and MICHAEL VAN SICKLER

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Rick Scott will soon launch a new hunt for noncitizens on Florida’s voter roll, a move that’s sure to provoke new cries of a voter “purge” as Scott ramps up his own re-election effort.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/08/04/v-fullstory/3538862/governor-to-launch-new-purge-of.html#storylink=cpy

Maher Implores 'Super-Rich' Liberals to 'Get in the Game' Post-Citizens United

From this Friday evening's New Rules segment, Bill Maher had some suggestions for "super-rich" liberals about what to do to combat the likes of the "Koch brother from another mother" who has turned North Carolina into wingnut land, Art Pope.

MAHER: New Rule, it's time for America to get off the sidelines and support a proud people in a region where religious freedom, women's rights and democracy itself hang in the balance. I'm talking of course about North Carolina. […]

Maher went on to remind the audience about the damage that Citizens United has done, where it's allowed someone like Pope to buy an entire state and told the audience what he thinks should be done about it. MAHER: In the post-Citizens United world, it's no longer our ideas vs. their ideas or even our base vs. their base. It's our super-rich vs. their super-rich and theirs are winning. Which means ours have got to get in the game.

CONTINUED: VIDEO: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/maher-implores-super-rich-liberals-get-gam

45 Comments

45 Comments


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[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

What Republicans Did Instead of Creating Jobs This Summer

Tried to hurt poor people, women, and above all repeal Obamacare.

By Bill Scher | August 7, 2013

The August congressional recess is here, and many members of Congress will head home and touch base with their constituents. Some will have town halls. Others might conclude: better not.

Especially if you’re a House Republican. Because then you might have to answer: What have you been doing instead of trying to create jobs?

Two months ago, MSNBC’s Ari Melber tallied up all 183 bills the House Republican leadership put on the floor, and found only one had anything to do with creating jobs.And that was a bill to force the President to approve a single oil pipeline project that would create a few thousand jobs.

What’s happened since?

No jobs bills have been voted on that were serious attempts at reaching the president’s desk.

The most significant “jobs” bill was another attack at the President’s energy policies, this one challenging the President’s temerity to have tighter regulations on coastal oil drilling since the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill. House Republicans claimed their bill expanding coastal drilling would create 1.2 million jobs … over an unspecified time period. And that flimsy statistic came from an oil industry-backed “institute.”

So House Republicans yet again didn’t try very hard to create any jobs. Surely they must have been busy with more pressing matters, right?

Judge for yourself. Which of these was more important than working with Democrats to create jobs?

  • Voting for the 40th time to repeal ObamaCare.

  • Voting to ban nearly all abortions after 20 weeks following conception, an explicitly unconstitutional standard that punishes women who need abortions for medical reasons.

  • After failing to pass legislation to cut food stamp funding by $20 billion – five times greater than in the Senate version – proposing new legislation to cut food stamps by $40 billion.

  • Voting to send major regulations – which are issued when the executive branch implements laws enacted by Congress – back to Congress for another vote, effectively nullifying the power of the executive branch to implement laws as designed by our nation’s founders.

Yes, those are the kind of junk bills that made it out of the House, only to be properly ignored by the Senate. That’s why we now have the “least productive Congress ever“ despite the lingering jobs crisis. That’s what your Republican leadership has been spending its time on, instead of trying to find a middle ground with Democrats on how to create more jobs.

To those Republicans who dare hold a town hall this month to explain this sorry record to their constitutions: Good luck with that.

[-] -2 points by summerbummer (-33) 10 years ago

And what has peaceprize done when not golfing?

screwed around on guns and immigration. Not much job building there, either

[-] 0 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

Stupidity or Dishonesty? Both!

For one: Reversed the free-fall economy Criminals Against Humanity RepubliCons left the country in when Americans legitimately elected (D & Black) POTUS Obama!

[-] 0 points by TropicalDepression (-45) 10 years ago

If either party wanted to fix the economy they would address the banks.

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

Because most People don't Vote, the banks (Big $) control most of our government and media.

That puts any pro-democracy/pro-people politician in a very shitty disadvantage!

How is this news ??????????????????

[-] 1 points by TropicalDepression (-45) 10 years ago

Do you see those who dont vote as generally more or less informed than those who do vote?

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

Democracy REQUIRES Participation!

If Americans don't Vote they forfeit/surrender their sovereignty!

Of course there's an information gap ~ it's disinformation!

AGAIN: How is this news ??????????????????

[-] 0 points by TropicalDepression (-45) 10 years ago

No one said its news. Its a discussion on why you think more people voting would solve things.

"Of course there's an information gap ~ it's disinformation!"

Which way does that gap go? Are you saying those who vote are more informed or less? OR perhaps about the same?

[-] -1 points by TropicalDepression (-45) 10 years ago

What would you like me to do with that msm dribble?

[-] 0 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

Do you believe that Randi Rhodes is MSM?

And do you believe certain articles from MSM can't be truthful?

[-] -1 points by TropicalDepression (-45) 10 years ago

RR is def MSM.

Certain MSM can be useful, yes.

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

You're sorely, embarrassingly, mistaken, and I would say blatantly dishonest!

Try finding Randi Rhodes on or even mentioned by MSM.

If Randi Rhodes was Main Stream Media, most of the country's fascist RepubliCons would not hold office. Nor would the RepubliCons in Congress be holding the country hostage and blackmailing the POTUS!!!

[-] -1 points by TropicalDepression (-45) 10 years ago

Blatantly dishonest?

Well I dont hear them mentioning your name either, go figure.

Love the nicknames, very impressive. Where's the theme song to go with it all?

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

You're the fool who said Randi Rhodes was mainstream, when she's not. Which is *blatantly dishonest!"

Nor am I MSM, so....

Instead of all the dishonesty, which is all the Reich has, why don't you come out and promote/espouse what you believe is the final solution, the path to glory! Just tell us, instead of always criticizing DEMOCRACY!!!

The REAL way we solve our problems!!!!

Crickets!

Unite and Win! Folks. Vote 2014!

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

One has not said what they think, YOU!

[-] -1 points by TropicalDepression (-45) 10 years ago

I was just curious as to why you thought that.

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

As I am that you don't know why! Are you very young and unschooled or another very dishonest troll?

[-] -1 points by TropicalDepression (-45) 10 years ago

It takes more than 132 million people voicing their opinions for a few crumbs here and there?

If discussion makes you so uncomfortable that you need to go on the offensive, then perhaps politics isn't your forte?

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

Please clarify your 132m notion. Are you saying resistance is futile?

Honesty is offensive? Only to the Right!

Honesty to RepubliCons is like holly water, garlic, crucifixes and sunlight to Vampires!

Are you acting like a Vampire?

[-] -1 points by TropicalDepression (-45) 10 years ago

Resistance is the only thing there ever was. It depends how its executed.

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

News Flash: The Revolution and Civil Wars are long gone! Lessons learned!

We have DEMOCRACY to settle our shit!!

Get with it!! Participate!!

UNITE and WIN!!

[-] -2 points by buccaneer (-2) from Jersey City, NJ 10 years ago

If only we could get a Democrat President in there.. I think our problems could be solved

Oh yeah...err ....that's right we have had a Democrap in the White House for the past 5 years, I forgot

"President Obama's Betrayal of Civil Liberties Is Complete"

http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2013/06/06/president-obamas-betrayal-civil-liberties-complete/

YES WE SCAN!

[-] 2 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

(D) President John F. Kennedy's Civil Rights Address

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BEhKgoA86U

[-] -1 points by buccaneer (-2) from Jersey City, NJ 10 years ago

That video/link was unavailable

For years after the Kennedy's assassination, a 10" x 12" (?) picture of Kennedy hung on the wall of my family home

It was a picture that I bought at the local Woolworths if I remember correctly

Like most people my age, i remember that terrible day well. It was a Friday. I was sick so I didn't go to school that day. I went to the hardware store with my Dad though, and he came out to the car and told my Mom and I Kennedy had been shot

Anyway a lot has changed in the 50 years (Nov 22nd this year) since Kennedy was President, and it has not been good as we both know

The fact is Smith that the Democrats and Republicans THEN... are not the same people that they are NOW

There were liberal Republicans in the 60s that today would be far to the left of the over-whelming majority of most Democrats

When the Republicans started shifting to the right, which arguably began in the Goldwater years, and which accelerated during the Reagan years, they dragged the Democrats with them

So that now, neither party answers to the interests of the people

By continuing on with the left vs right battle, we can be assured that we will stay where we are at

Because they are both to the right, one blatantly so, and the other insidiously so

[-] 2 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

That Video Link works fine, just clicked it and played it! Is this going to be an ongoing Con 101 game, where you just lie and distort every little thing (Pettifogging)? So old.

During the last 50 years, things didn't just change, a 1%-Corporate Tyrannical COUP took place on America and We ~ the 99% ~ People!

Reading your anecdotal story of bygone typicalities I swear I could smell the Alzheimer's ravaged corpse of Ronnie fucking Raygun: shoe polish and paraldehyde. He was the oblivious figurehead for the RW-1%-RepubliCon-Born Again/Friedman/Norquist/Calvinist Blitzkrieg/Shock Doctrine/Class War on: America, the New Deal, the Middle Class, Organized Labor (Unions), Environmentalism (Louis Powell Memo VS Earth Day), Alternative Fuels and resources (solar panels, hemp, wind, hydrogen, etc.), Ending Pollution and Fossil Fuel dependence (ALEC VS Climate Change, burning lakes and tap water, FF Externalities WE pay for), Truth Ethics and Standards in Broadcasting (the Fairness Doctrine VS 24/365/every city RW Hate 'n Lie Radio, the "RepubliCon Network" renamed Fox Lies, 1% Media Monopoly consolidation and BIAS, weekly CMA "Specials," Dancing-Skating-Singing With Talent-American-Idol-Stars, PBS & NPR neutered-defanged-declawed-broken, Progressive Radio chased and replaced by 24/365 Sports), Social-Progressive-Liberal thought (ALEC, Rand, Heritage, Koch Bros, Chambers of Commerce, NRA, K Street, etc.), Union Made in America (offshoring, downscaling, stock options, unbridled greed, economical treason), Justice Regulations and Laws (Tort and Legislative reforms, Tax Evasion, Asset Havens, Legalized Fraud and Antitrust business practices), and the thing they hate the most, Democracy (Citizens United, PACs, pervasive RW propaganda, merging Church and State, disenfranchisement, Voter Suppression, Prison Industry with record inmates, Election Fraud, Exclusionary Soaring Election Costs, World's Lowest Voter Turnout, World's Highest Corporate/Big $ Turnout).

Somewhere along the way, the GOP moved out of the realm of political party into the realm of Religious Cult (like Nazis) ~ and their Charlie Manson (Hitler) is the greed-addled few in the 1% of the 1% ~ but they didn't have far to go.

The Coup was gradual, so everybody adapted if they could, everybody knew we had a "rat race" and a "dog eat dog" world to contend with. Sometimes it plateaued, but soon it kept escalating. Median wages stagnated, middleclass jobs dwindled and got replaced by more and more low wage jobs, while executive wages rose.

Tax revenues diminished, so did services. RW propaganda made government the common knowledge "culprit" and voting for it akin to aiding and abetting a wanted criminal.

The GOP persuaded the Religious Right (and other confused, misinformed and desperate souls) that they and only they could honor their "Values" (and cut their taxes). So they mashed religious freedom, guns, War on Drugs, War on Commies then Liberals then Iranians then Muslims, and the coup de grace: Abortion, and made it the RepubliCon Platform!! Of course they never mentioned that the real platform was the redistribution of all our and then the world's wealth to their 1% masters, cuz who'd vote for that? Not that Votes really mattered having mastered the art of election fraud, but they had to get some real Votes, beyond their 20% zombie base who will Vote Con no matter what.

Now, money has been a part of politics from the beginning, and in today's expensive media market, the prostitute will beat the altruist every time.

This left Dems in the awkward position of having to enter this corrupt, money-grubbing mix if they wanted to be viable contenders. Or yell from the outside how unfair it was, to zero media coverage and a short public memory. Those who refused to play soon found out, like Ralph Nader, that you can't effect change from the sidelines. Even if you managed to stay in the game and clean, you get dirty wrestling filthy pigs so, with the awesome power of 1%-owned "liberal" MSM, Cons could magnify the smallest mud stain into the largest betrayal/scandal in the current political news cycle. Therefore Dems, like minorities, had to meet a much higher level of expectation than their Con rivals AND take the evil money in order to fight the good fight another day. Publicly Funded Elections anybody??

The following will explain better:

What's the Matter With Kansas: http://www.tcfrank.com/books/whats-the-matter-with-kansas/ | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What%27s_the_Matter_with_Kansas%3F )

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

The Best Democracy Money Can Buy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Best_Democracy_Money_Can_Buy

Do Not Ask What Good We Do: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_Not_Ask_What_Good_We_Do:_Inside_the_U.S._House_of_Representatives

Specious complaints from Obama/Dem expats and independents of betrayal, disappointment and both parties same are lame or dishonest, deliberate or accidental; but coincidentally only help Cons. And sound a lot like this guy "Professor Milo": http://www.randirhodes.com/articles/headlines-393046/call-of-the-week-professor-milo-11577485/

[-] 2 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

Of course you do realize the 1% owned GOP is blatantly and openly sabotaging, blackmailing and holding the country hostage right before our eyes so that they (and fools like you) can say that the Black POTUS, Dems and the American People are making No Progress! While they continue to redistribute our wealth to the top 1% and undermine our democratic remedies to do something about it!

No, I'll bet all you see is the dream that you too will be part of the top 1%.

[-] -2 points by PerseidsGirl (-35) 10 years ago

Willy/bensdad/ericweiss, et al...you CRACK ME UP with the "1% GOP" nonsense. You know there is a very large population of 1% Dems. Together, those TWO GROUPS of 1%'ers are stickin it to us, but you only fuss about 1/2 of them. What a USEFUL IDIOT you be.

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

I call them DINOs, and they are just Cons in Dem clothing.

Did you know there are Cons and Con Trolls and Zombies who dishonestly pretend to be all down with OWS who are only just here to poison and sabotage any possible progressive organization or achievement? They like to advocate against political involvement (Voting) or advocate for going whole hog for a Third Party with no possible chance of obtaining office (Unicorn Chasing), and denigrate the black POTUS and/or Dems. Really just devious and deceptive troll crap. All because the 1% GOP (the RepubliCon Cult worships the 1%) can't tell the truth or break honest about their agenda or allegiance and get anywhere in our government! Who wants Fascist Dictatorship??

[-] 1 points by TropicalDepression (-45) 10 years ago

How many "democrats" does it take to vote for war, vote for nuking cities, vote for more wars, vote for poisoning food, vote for repealing banking regulations, vote for increasing regulations on the little guys, ...

Basically bow down to the corporations and trample all over the people's rights? For decade after decade after decade?

Before you simply refer to them all as what they are: Corporatists?

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

VIDEO: GOP Congressman Calls For Government Shutdown Unless Congress ‘Defunds Obamacare This Year’

By Scott Keyes on August 14, 2013 at 2:06 pm

EL DORADO HILLS, California — Rank-and-file GOP congressmen are continuing to clamor for a shutdown of the federal government in order to defund Obamacare. The latest to add his name to the list is Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA).

During a town hall meeting in a tony suburb outside Sacramento on Tuesday, McClintock brought up the upcoming continuing resolution, which is necessary to keep government open but which many conservatives are targeting as a venue for another showdown over Obamacare. McClintock told the audience that he will vote against the continuing resolution — and thus for a government shutdown — unless the bill “defunds Obamacare this year.”

McCLINTOCK: We approach the end of the fiscal year on September 30th and the authorization for the federal government to spend money expires, we face the prospect of a government shutdown if something doesn’t happen, and that something is a continuing resolution which essentially puts aside all of that painstaking work on the appropriations bills, has gone into months and months of deliberations, and they simply kick the can down the road for another year. I told the House leadership, I will cut you a lot of slack on the appropriations bills. I understand they have to be reconciled with the Senate, this is a compromising process, they have to be approved by the president. But I am not going to vote for any more continuing resolutions that simply kick that can down the road. Now, I’ll make one exception to that, and that is if we can get a provision in the continuing resolution that defunds Obamacare this year.

Watch it:

The push to shut down the government unless Obamacare is defunded has been spearheaded by two of the most conservative senators in Washington, Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT), but it has gained support from more than a dozen of their Republican colleagues.

Shutting down the government over Obamacare would be so disastrous for Republicans that even the reliably-conservative National Review and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who has done more than anyone to block President Obama’s initiatives, have been forced to push back against the movement.

The real victims of a shutdown, as Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) eloquently explained to constituents last week, would be ordinary Americans. Troops who rely on the government for their paychecks. Veterans who need health care. Medicare and Social Security recipients. Even those who rely on Meals on Wheels could see service interrupted more than it has been already following sequestration.

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/08/14/2467951/tom-mcclintock-shutdown/

[-] 1 points by TropicalDepression (-45) 10 years ago

Together they both managed to give corporations a free pass and yet are still going to force- yes force- the poor into purchasing it.

If you are denying corporatism, Obamacare may not be the best tool for that. Forced corporatism at its finest.

[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 10 years ago

public health buildings would be better

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

You Righties, you really think people are as ignorant and black&white as you. That's what happens when you believe instead of think, or it could be the "Splitting" disorder. So if you Rodeo Clowns let Hillary Care pass in '94, you'd be screaming how it was unfair to the Healthcare Insurance Industry.

The Affordable Care Act (OC) is a great start that enables millions of people to get healthcare who wouldn't under the old Laissez Faire system ~ which other countries pointed to as the worst and THE example of what to avoid! And they were right! And so was Anthony Weiner when he said: The GOP is "a wholly owned subsidiary of the insurance industry."

11 facts about the Affordable Care Act (OC)

By Ezra Klein, Published: June 24, 2012

In the past week, both Alec MacGillis and Sabrina Tavernise have written articles touching on how little the uninsured actually know about the Affordable Care Act. Given that polling shows the law remains unpopular even as its component parts — with the notable exception of the individual mandate — are very popular, it seems they’re not alone. So here’s a refresher on some of the law’s most significant policies and consequences:

1.) By 2022, the Congressional Budget Office estimates (pdf) the Affordable Care Act will have extended coverage to 33 million Americans who would otherwise be uninsured. Here’s the graph:

2.) Families making less than 133 percent of the poverty line — that’s about $29,000 for a family of four — will be covered through Medicaid. Between 133 percent and 400 percent of the poverty line — $88,000 for a family of four – families will get tax credits on a sliding scale to help pay for private insurance.

3.) For families making less than 400 percent of the poverty line, premiums are capped. So, between 150% and 200% of the poverty line, for instance, families won’t have to pay more than 6.3 percent of their income in premiums. Between 300 percent and 400 percent, they won’t have to pay more than 9.5 percent. This calculator from the Kaiser Family Foundation will let you see the subsidies and the caps for different families at different income levels.

4.) When the individual mandate is fully phased-in, those who can afford coverage — which is defined as insurance costing less than 8 percent of their annual income — but choose to forgo it will have to pay either $695 or 2.5 percent of the annual income, whichever is greater.

5.) Small businesses that have fewer than 10 employees, average wages beneath $25,000, and that provide insurance for their workers will get a 50 percent tax credit on their contribution. The tax credit reaches up to small businesses with up to 50 employees and average wages of $50,000, though it gets smaller as the business get bigger and richer. The credit lasts for two years, though many think Congress will be pressured to extend it, which would raise the long-term cost of the legislation.

6.) Insurance companies are not allowed to discriminated based on preexisting conditions. They are allowed to discriminate based “on age (limited to 3 to 1 ratio), premium rating area, family composition, and tobacco use (limited to 1.5. to 1 ratio).”

7.) Starting in 2018, the law imposes a 35 percent tax on employer-provided health plans that exceed $10,200 for individual coverage and $27,500 for family coverage. The idea is a kind of roundabout second-best to capping the tax code’s (currently unlimited) deduction for employer-provided heath insurance. The policy idea is to give employers that much more reason to avoid expensive insurance policies and thus give insurers that much more reason to hold costs down.

8.) The law requires insurers to spend between 80 and 85 percent of every premium dollar on medical care (as opposed to administration, advertising, etc). If insurers exceed this threshold, they have to rebate the excess to their customers. This policy is already in effect, and insurers are expected to rebate $1.1 billion this year.

9.) The law is expected to spend a bit over $1 trillion in the next 10 years. The law’s spending cuts — many of which fall on Medicare — and tax increases are expected to either save or raise a bit more than that, which is why the Congressional Budget Office estimates that it will slightly reduce the deficit. (There’s been some confusion on this point lately, but no, the CBO has not changed its mind about this.) As time goes on, the savings are projected to grow more quickly than the spending, and CBO expects that the law will cut the deficit by around a trillion dollars in its second decade. Here’s its graph, which covers the period between 2012 and 2021:

The ACA's taxes and spending cuts make it a slight deficit reduce in its first decade. (CBO)

10.) In recent years, health-care costs have slowed dramatically. Much of this is likely due to the recession. Some of it may just be chance. But there’s also evidence that the law has accelerated changes in the way the medical system delivers care, as providers prepare for the law’s efforts to move from fee-for-service to quality-based payments.

11.) The law’s long-term success at controlling costs will likely hinge on its efforts to change the way health care is delivered, most of which have gotten very little attention. They include everything from encouraging Accountable Care Organizations to spreading medical homes to penalizing hospitals with high rates of preventable infections to creating an independent board able to quickly implement new reforms through the Medicare system. A partial list of these efforts can be found here.

Full Article and Graphs: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/06/24/11-facts-about-the-affordable-care-act/

Like all Progressive/Dem social services-reforms (try and name a conservative/RepubliCon social service), they are fought tooth and nail by the Right Wing/1%-Cons with mountains of lies, slander, ALEC, Dark Corporate $ and RW dirty tricks; they start small and build, like SS; and after it's accepted and enjoyed by the public, Cons claim support from the beginning.

[-] 0 points by TropicalDepression (-45) 10 years ago

First off, if you support Democrats you are further to the right than I, so lose the "You Righties" nonsense.

Here is a graph on the poverty line and what the percentage increases are for each family size.

You consider "extending it to millions" by forcing them to buy it a good, liberal thing.

Its fascism at its best. Did you consider home insurance mandates as "extending coverage to millions"? Because anyone with a brain realized it was the banks screwing everyone, just like this is the ins companies screwing everyone.

And of course they will pay for it with taxes on us and cutting senior care, instead of hitting the war machine or the elites.

Divide and conquer. Millions of alleged liberals defending this garbage. If Bush proposed this piece of garbage, you would be screaming at the top of your lungs, as you should be.

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

I'm sorry, I missed your awesome and wildly better alternative to the ACA!

What was it again???

[-] -1 points by summerbummer (-33) 10 years ago

Why must you keep reminding us we have a BLACK POTUS? That semi truth (he's only 1/2 black) sure seems important to the the left. It's totally irrelevant in my book. And if all you can come up with is slowing the freefall after 4 yrs....that's pretty sad.

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

You really must live in a cave:

http://www.eurweb.com/2013/08/earl-ofari-hutchinson-the-rncs-losing-battle-against-its-racists/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-rodeo-clown-incident-illustrates-nations-continued-racial-divide/2013/08/15/8da23cf0-05b8-11e3-88d6-d5795fab4637_story.html

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/its-conservative-media-not-liberals-who-want-to-talk-about-the-obama-rodeo-clown/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/earl-ofari-hutchinson/method-to-racist-madness-_b_3749451.html

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/joe-scarborough-talkers-on-radio-tv-tell-voters-if-youre-not-white-not-welcome-in-gop/

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/steve-king-missouri-rodeo-clown-not-about-race

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/15/opinion/racial-profiling-lives-on.html?_r=0

Morgan Freeman: Republican anti-Obama goals are "screw the country...it is a racist thing" http://piersmorgan.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/23/morgan-freeman-republicans-anti-obama-goals-are-screw-the-country-it-is-a-racist-thing/

RepubliCons: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151607986671275&set=a.180479986274.135777.177486166274&type=1&theater

And hear is a perfect example of specious Obama Bashers (YOU): http://occupywallst.org/forum/betrayed-by-obama-caller-gets-schooled-by-radio-ho/

That's how and why Racist 1%-Cons through Congress, the Roberts SCOTUS, and (R) States (like NC) have and are Sabotaging, Blackmailing, Hostage Taking, largely turned progress to regress and consequently harming and killing Americans, our government and the 99%.

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago
[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

The Town Hall Outrage Over Obamacare Has Begun

The Tea Party made its name with its outraged appearances against healthcare reform at Congressmembers' town hall meetings during the August recess in 2009. With one of the first major milestones of that reform (lovingly dubbed "Obamacare") approaching on October 1, Tea Party advocates pledged to reignite that outrage. As two members of Congress can attest, pushback from conservative activists has begun. One of those members handled it better than the other.

Talking Points Memo found video of the exchange between North Carolina Rep. Robert Pittenger and a few of the people who came to his town hall meeting on Monday. In 2009, the demand was that members of Congress oppose any reform. In 2013, the demand is apparently that they defund the program — something which the Republican House has tried dozens of times. Pittenger is asked flatly: Will you vote to defund Obamacare? His response, replayed about six times in the clip: "No."

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/08/town-hall-outrage-over-obamacare-has-begun/68052/

[-] 1 points by bensdad (8977) 10 years ago

Seriously - can you imagine what Lincoln or TR or Ike would have to say about the Rs liars & lemmings?
If I wasn't so angry - I'd be sad

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

Remember during the rebellion against Apartheid in South Africa that particularly nasty form of public shaming and punishment was adopted (involving putting a tire around a person and burning it) called "Necklacing"? We have to Necklace today's RepubliCon Cultists (and DINO cells) with their outrageous ~ and widely unreported ~ anti-American transgressions and treacheries so much so that no bible, flag, gun, 1% worship/delusion or Unicorn Chaser Both-Sameness can hide their Treason!

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago
[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

Seven Outrageous Stories about the 1%'s GOP Right!

It may be the dog days of summer, but the right wing never rests. Here’s seven of the most outrageous stories from just this week.

1.) Mostly-white suburb fighting to prevent mostly-black bus-riders from entering their community: A lily-white Ohio suburb is doing everything it can, including risking millions in federal highway funding, to keep mostly minority bus-riders from a nearby city from entering their community. (Continued:)

2.) Texas police pull over multiple women and search their vaginas for drugs: A pair of videos posted online show police probing the genitals and anal regions of three women they claim to suspect of possessing marijuana. The searches almost certainly violated the Constitution. (Continued:)

3.) Congressman offers crack political advice to Speaker Boehner: Obamacare’s tanning bed tax is racist against white people: Obamacare’s 10% tax on tanning bed services is racist against white people because darker-skinned people don’t need to tan. At least, that’s what Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) wants to tell people to turn them against health reform. (Continued:)

4.) Fox News commentator calls Wendy Davis an Abortion Barbie: Erick Erickson mocked the Texas lawmaker, a graduate of Harvard Law School, for mixing up her facts by relegating her to a doll. (Continued:)

5.) Heritage Foundation President Jim DeMint says young people will be “hung” by Obamacare: In reality, 36.2 percent of those eligible for the law’s tax credits will be between the ages of 18 and 34. (Continued:)

6.) GOP gubernatorial candidate fired government attorney for allegedly criticizing him online: According to the complaint filed in federal court, Cuccinelli and his chief deputy fired an attorney in the Office of the Attorney General after she was falsely accused of posting a blog comment labeling Cuccinelli an “egomaniac” who “is NEVER in the AG’s office and solely uses the position for self-promotion.” (Continued:)

7.) Why the Republican National Committee is freaking out over pop culture’s obsession with Hillary Clinton: RNC Chair Reince Priebus has threatened to pull Republican primary debates from NBC and CNN if they don’t drop planned Hillary Clinton projects. He’s not necessarily right to be scared of the results. But if I were him, I’d want to minimize those debates anyway. (Continued:)

Full Article: http://thinkprogress.org/progress-report/outrageous/

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