Healthcare, the ACA and Obama's Legacy

Credit is due to the Republicans holding town halls around the country. But that's about all we the people can offer, because, while they had the fortitude to hold the town halls, they had no grit in answering their constituents' questions.

Take, for example, this week's Ron Johnson call. It was pretty pathetic. When asked explicitly what the Republicans will do to lower the costs of health insurance premiums, all listeners heard was deflection. "Obamacare has failed to lower the costs, and we have to fix it by letting it go away by allowing the free market to operate. Americans should be able to shop for insurance and if they want catastrophic insurance, that should be available." 

When the Senator was pushed for the actual plan to carry this out, it became increasingly more apparent that there actually is none. Republicans want us to return to the time before the ACA.

Now, if you're one that can't quite remember what health insurance was like 15 years ago, here's a quick recap: some 40 million Americans had no health insurance. Millions of others only had insurance that kicked in under life threatening circumstances and millions of others had coverage with exorbitant copays and massive deductibles. Tens of millions of people relied solely on ER visits for healthcare. 

Way back in 1980, this was such a problem in the country that Ronald Reagan, a fiscal conservative, signed the EMTALA act that paid hospitals with federal dollars for taking care of anyone who showed up ill. The struggle with medical bills and insurance got so bad that in a presidential debate in 2011, while the Republican candidates were arguing about what to do with uninsured sick people in the hospital, Ron Paul suggested that no one should take care of that person, the audience cheered; when asked whether that meant Mr. Paul would let the uninsured patient die, the audience yelled, "Yeah!"

That's the country we were living in. 

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), the act derogatorily referred to by Republicans as Obamacare, was supposed to function as a marketplace for insurance! While this seems unbeknownst to MCs like Ron Johnson, the ACA's structure was based on the Massachusetts health care act signed into law by Mitt Romney. That's true! That's the same Republican Mitt Romney who ran for president against B. Obama. The ACA was actually a fiscally conservative plan.  

The reasons that health insurance premiums are rising get complicated quickly, but it's not because of the ACA marketplace. The Kaiser Foundation indicates that premium costs are rising at lower rates than prior to the ACA.

Check it out:

The graph shows that prior to the ACA's introduction in 2014, premiums were rising by double digits. Premiums were growing faster prior to the ACA. Strangely to the chagrin of Republicans, Obamacare has been slowing the growth of premiums.

Surprise, surprise, surprise!

So, back to the town halls. This was the common theme around the country: Obamacare has failed, trust Republicans to fix this, and, oh yeah, by the way, they have no plan. Republicans have done nothing over the last 15 years. Not even Concepts of a plan.

To make it even worse, President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill defunds EMTALA taking the USA back to pre-1980 conditions.

Don't be deceived. Donald J. Trump and his minions, the Republicans, on this issue do not care about the American people. 

Democrats are right to hold out for the extension of the subsidies. Let's hope we get it. And let's hope Republicans wake up and stop kowtowing to the megalomaniacs in the White House.

Senator Ron Johnson, Have you no Integrity?

Senator Johnson,

I understand that you might be intimidated by the Party's power and the President's yardstick, but I dare to remind you what duties Congress must uphold: to raise revenue, to create and pass legislation, to act as the checks and balances to the executive and judicial branches. 

Unfortunately, for whatever reasons, it seems you and your colleagues have chosen not to exercise your duties. This nonsense at the White House's east wing exemplifies this blatant lack of oversight. Many are attempting to categorize the outrage and disgust that has been expressed as mere tempest in a teapot. I beg to differ. The very idea that multi-billionaires have funded this palatial demonstration of the President's unhinged fantasy of the purpose of the people's house suggests that an unfair advantage in future business proceedings could possibly be at stake. This befouls the nature of American free enterprise and conjures up the notions of cronyism and oligarchy and grift. This whole demolition and construction project reeks of anti-American values.

Is it not finally the time for Congress, for you, Senator, to stand up to this misguided administration? Have you no pride in your position, sir? What benefit do you receive by kowtowing to a President who clearly does not have the American people in mind when spending hundreds of millions of dollars on an ill-perceived, unvetted, building project while also kicking people off SNAP and health insurance? 

Our nation was never meant to be regal. Our front door was never meant to represent the castles of olden empires or the palaces we saw in Iraq built by Saddam or the golden facades on display all over the middle east. America has always represented something unique - something different. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" - this is on our welcome mat. 

The whole thing stinks to high heaven: we can't raise taxes on the uber-wealthy, but we can accept massive donations to build a 90,000 square foot ballroom for Trump...that's pretty putrid fecal matter...

Will you hold the executive branch responsible for this degradation? Will you, please, sir, stand up and act like a Senator, a representative of the people? Are many of your constituents in favor of the President's reckless and impetuous behavior or do my concerns echo the anxiety felt by many others? If my letter is but one of many, perhaps this is a sign that the Senate needs to come together to carry out its duties.  

Sincerely, 

Your humble constituent

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Does ICE have authorization to arrest US citizens?

No, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) does not have the legal authority to arrest or detain U.S. citizens, as their authority is limited to non-citizens. However, mistaken arrests of U.S. citizens by ICE have occurred, so it is important for citizens to assert their status, ask to speak with a lawyer, request the officer's name and badge number, and be prepared to provide proof of citizenship if questioned or detained. 

Understanding ICE Authority

• Civil vs. Criminal Matters: ICE's primary role is enforcing civil immigration laws. 
• Constitutional Protections: As a U.S. citizen, you are protected by the Constitution, which ICE cannot violate. 
• Misidentification: While legally prohibited from arresting citizens, ICE has been known to erroneously detain U.S. citizens. 
• What to Do if an ICE Agent Interacts With You
• Assert Your Citizenship: State clearly that you are a U.S. citizen. 
• Ask to Speak to a Lawyer: You have the right to legal counsel. 
• Request Identification: Ask for the agent's name and badge number and record the information. 
• Do Not Consent to Searches: You can decline a search of your person or property. 
• Be Prepared to Prove Citizenship: While you don't carry a passport all the time, have something like a birth certificate or other documentation ready to quickly prove your status.

Seeking Help

• If ICE detains or questions you in error, consult a lawyer about filing a lawsuit, as the agency and its officers may be liable for damages.
• If you are a U.S. citizen, you cannot be deported.

Sources:

• https://iamerica.org/know-your-rights/
• https://goldman.house.gov/media/press-releases/goldman-warren-padilla-kelly-and-correa-demand-investigations-ices-detention#:~:text=ICE%20policy%20makes%20clear%20that%2C%20%E2%80%9C%5Ba%5Ds%20a,times%20appearing%20to%20use%20violent%20physical%20force.
• https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/LSB/HTML/LSB10362.web.html

And so it goes, the devil's at the helm

Wickedness incarnate:

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked Thursday about Trump’s promise to work with Office of Management and Budget Director (and Project 2025 architect) Russ Vought to ax so-called “Democrat Agencies” in the government. “Is that real?” a Fox News host asked Leavitt. “Or is that a negotiating tactic?”

“Oh it’s very real. And the Democrats should know that they put the White House and the president in this position,” Leavitt replied. “And if they don’t want further harm on their constituents back home, then they need to reopen the government. It’s very simple: Pass the clean continuing resolution, and all of this goes away.”

It's putrid and disgusting that an administration would behave this way. We should all be equally disgusted that she said this while flaunting the cross of Christianity:

These are not Christian ideals. No Christian should support these tactics. Awful. 

Fire Karoline Leavitt. What the hell is a Democrat Agency?