THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY

[HairOfTheDog]

Health Care Reform??

What a mess. For 8 years, the Republicans have been crying about the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare.

However, they appear to have done little to nothing in terms of finding a better way to ensure that as many Americans as possible have access to affordable healthcare during all those years, despite having stomped their feet about repealing and replacing it ad naseum and attracting votes from Republicans based on that promise.

So, they've thrown something together in attempt to appease the base. It's called the American Health Care Act. It gets rid of the individual and business mandates to purchase health care coverage or pay a penalty, which some refer to as an 'entitlement tax'. It also cuts federal medicare and medicaid funding for seniors, the disabled, and the poor, but gives states $100 billion to come up with state programs to cover those demographics. And, it increases the amount individuals can contribute to health savings account.

Some conservative Republicans who don't have their heads up their assess and their noses in President Trump's crotch aren't going for it. While subsidies would be repealed in the new bill, they would be replaced by monthly tax credits. The credits, worth between $2,000 and $14,000 a year, could be used by low-and-middle-income families who don’t get work- or government-sponsored insurance to buy state-certified plans.

The credits would be based on age and family size, unlike the income-based version under ObamaCare. Conservatives have objected that that feature simply swaps one entitlement program for another; another entitlement the government cannot afford, they say (we still haven't been told exactly how it's to be paid for).

Senator Rand Paul and other fiscally conservative elected officials have labeled the proposal "Obamacare Lite". And, they point out, they've seen no evidence that the plan would lower health care costs and premiums -- without lower costs, the replacement for Obamacare would be a failure.

Not coincidentally at all, in my opinion, none of the changes that could leave millions uninsured again, including those with pre-existing conditions (the new bill says insurers can't turn them down, but doesn't mandate "affordable" like Obamacare does) would go into effect until after mid-term Congressional elections in 2018. The halt to medicare and medicaid wouldn't take effect until after the presidential election of 2020.

Talk about delaying what was promised to be "repealed and replaced immediately!" and displaying little confidence in voter satisfaction with the new plan.

This is important shit for millions of Americans. I hope the Republicans can find a way to come up with something that actually benefits the American people, not just the wealthy and insurance company profits. Accessible/affordable health care for all should not be a partisan issue, in my view.

Oh, and the American Health Care Act bill throws in a nice little rider -- it defunds Planned Parenthood for a year.

This sloppy bill deserves to fail. I hope it does.

Ref:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03/...-bill.html

[Duchess]

They've had YEARS to come up with a better plan and this is what it is. Ahahahaha!

I listened to several Republicans talk about this plan yesterday, it mainly consisted of them saying what a disaster ACA is, over and over again. Whatta disaster, whatta failure, it's in a death spiral, blahblahfuckingblah. Damn shame that those who support trump can't be forced to accept it. I'd love to see them all stuck with this plan.

[Carsman]

Seems the Donald is even having trouble in Russia these days:

Following the November election, the Russian media was predominantly positive when reporting news on the new POTUS.

However recent headlines were more negative when Kremlin-backed news outlets publicized problems in the U.S.
Citing "Sessions Scandal: 'U.S. Headed to Constitutional Crisis.'"

Meanwhile, Trump had been mentioned more than 200,000 times in Russian media in January, but those numbers began to drop the following month.

The Russian media tone also shifted from generally positive to more negative.

[aussiefriend]

Carsman, If you are not married and stuff.....I would not be adverse to flirting with you online. I am not for any political candiate, I think they are both grubby. I do think however, you shower regularly. The ball is in your court. i am hard to catch. So lets see what your got.

Addit I am not left or right I am cynical.

[BigMark]

Tan fowl, tan bovine.

[SIXFOOTERsez]

They've had YEARS to come up with a better plan and this is what it is. Ahahahaha!

I listened to several Republicans talk about this plan yesterday, it mainly consisted of them saying what a disaster ACA is, over and over again. Whatta disaster, whatta failure, it's in a death spiral, blahblahfuckingblah. Damn shame that those who support trump can't be forced to accept it. I'd love to see them all stuck with this plan.

Bullshit, 1 year ago hardly anyone thought Trump would win. He is the new plan, not the old guard republicans, they are almost as bad as the gems albeit not quite as delusional. Trump put together a campaign and made it work, he won the election and inside of 90 days he has a plan to R&R ACA. Its a first draft, it took barry a couple years to but that abomination in place and its taken the last ew years to become the obvious, undeniable failure that it is. Give Trump some time, he has already done more FOR this country than barry did in 8 years.

[aussiefriend]

i know i am australian and we look on you for guidance. Do mind if we sit with one out? you guys dont seem do know your @rse from your head. Please don't take this the wrong way.

We still think we have a lot to exchange in the therapeutic exchange between clinician and client and even then its somewhat precarious and dubious. but yeh the mental health services in Tasmania is fucked. Don't take my word for it, contact the spirits who have contracted corruption under this regime.

If you want up to date what the fuck is going on there Aussie, i'm your gal. if you have a vagina you are in. But i cant give you much more details with evidence that can make me famous and them poor without a job. But to be fair, marketing is my pi. ie. I will fuck you up and kick your small balls invalid. its a gift from God only works when people are being corruupt and invalid. See you in court im a play hard ball and win. Loosers. what a bunch of low iq no hopers bring it on!

[aussiefriend]

Tan fowl, tan bovine.

Believe it not I am actually trying to connect with you. I cannot understand you. If you are being hostile, I will clobber you. If you are being nancy pancy, I can chat.

[Maggot]

I've always thought that Obamacare was pulled from Clintons ass. They had been working on it for a few years and it was the most complete scheme they could come up with. It had to be done fast as the Senate votes would be gone at some point. I imagine that the dems are reading the pubs offer more than they read their own at the time. I wonder if the stack of paper is taller or shorter than the obamacare mess.
Only because men are more visually stimulated than women.

[HairOfTheDog]

They've had YEARS to come up with a better plan and this is what it is. Ahahahaha!

I listened to several Republicans talk about this plan yesterday, it mainly consisted of them saying what a disaster ACA is, over and over again. Whatta disaster, whatta failure, it's in a death spiral, blahblahfuckingblah. Damn shame that those who support trump can't be forced to accept it. I'd love to see them all stuck with this plan.

Bullshit, 1 year ago hardly anyone thought Trump would win. He is the new plan, not the old guard republicans, they are almost as bad as the gems albeit not quite as delusional. Trump put together a campaign and made it work, he won the election and inside of 90 days he has a plan to R&R ACA. Its a first draft, it took barry a couple years to but that abomination in place and its taken the last ew years to become the obvious, undeniable failure that it is. Give Trump some time, he has already done more FOR this country than barry did in 8 years.

Give him time, huh?

Well, who campaigned on the promise that he was gonna rip up Obamacare on day 1, which would be easy, and replace it with a beautiful plan that would ensure EVERYONE is covered for cheaper? Your man Trump, that's who.

Who then said, "er, this healthcare stuff is kinda complicated after all and changes won't happen in my first 100 days as I'd indicated?" Yeah, your man Trump again, that's who.

Now, you've got a plan that keeps much of Obamacare, swaps tax credits for subsidies, doesn't specify how those tax credits are gonna be paid for (could it be taxpayers will be paying for the credits going to those who choose to have large families, ya think?), and allows insurance companies to charge people 30% more if they don't maintain continuous coverage. That's a higher cost, less flexibility, and more an infringement on personal choice/freedom than knowing I'm going to pay $650 or 2.5% of my income for choosing to go out-of-pocket for awhile.

Since it's shiite, and a lot of Republican congresspersons know it's shiite and won't vote for it, a defunding of Planned Parenthood was tossed in as a carrot. "Well, we know this isn't what President Trump promised, but here's a carrot for ya, conservative elected officials. Oh, and we're gonna attempt to cover your assess and President Trump's ass by making sure the key components that impact people negatively won't go into effect until after the midterm elections of 2018 and the 2020 presidential election."

[HairOfTheDog]

The Republicans were unanimous in their insistence that Obamacare was shoved down their throats, was indicative of America going socialist or communist, and that they could do it better. They've had 8 years and they do not agree on how it could be done better, with more than a few now vying for 'improvements to Obamacare' rather than repeal and replace and more than a few others insisting that this Obamacare-lite plan doesn't go far enough.

So, please, the hollow promise of a fast, beautiful, radical change in healthcare came from candidate and newly-elected President Trump himself, over and over and over.

Anyway, we have no choice but to wait and watch people from the same party battle it out and hope they can agree on something that doesn't end up hurting more than helping as compared to Obamacare. That doesn't mean we, as vested parties, should refrain from critique in the meantime or that people who are benefiting from Obamacare shouldn't keep showing up at Town Halls to voice their concerns -- that's not gonna happen in this democracy. Get used to it.

[Duchess]

Give Trump some time, he has already done more FOR this country than barry did in 8 years.

What? What has he done that has accomplished more in 40-some days than Obama did in 8 years?

[Duchess]

I look for something positive to say about this President and his administration every single day. It's not my nature to be so negative.

[HairOfTheDog]

I look for something positive to say about this President and his administration every single day. It's not my nature to be so negative.

I can think of a few good things, off the top of my head...

Trump has truly shaken up the establishment, some of whom sorely needed it.

And, though his efforts so far have been sloppy, he is trying to keep some of his main campaign promises.

Additionally, Trump's exorbitant taxpayer-funded Secret Service and weekly travel/golf expenses have stifled those who incessantly whined that the Obamas were bankrupting America with their occasional getaways.

[Duchess]

Additionally, Trump's exorbitant taxpayer-funded Secret Service and weekly travel/golf expenses have stifled those who incessantly whined that the Obamas were bankrupting America with their occasional getaways.

Good one! I agree and I fully support this. Thanks, fuckface, thank you for silencing most people who spent 8 years bitching & complaining about Obama's vacations and golf playing and every begrudged moment he spent doing it. Thank you for spending in a few weeks what it took Obama a year to spend on security, I so much appreciate the way you stuffed that in their complaining pipes and told them to smoke it. Thanks for using your unsecured Android, that shut those bitches up about their Hillary email complaints too.

...and thank you, HotD for bringing this to my attention. I feel certain that from now on I'll be able to find the silver lining every morning when I look for it. I couldn't be more sincere in saying that. I'm already looking forward to tomorrow morning.

[Carsman]

Carsman, If you are not married and stuff.....I would not be adverse to flirting with you online. I am not for any political candiate, I think they are both grubby. I do think however, you shower regularly. The ball is in your court. i am hard to catch. So lets see what your got.

Addit I am not left or right I am cynical.

Well now, thanks aussie, I'm all for it, but my wife wouldn't like it very much, she's funny like that you know!

And yes, I shower regularly, "almost every day".

[aussiefriend]

^Disclaimer: i don't even remember posting that! Well done for me posting blind drunk with any swear words. Cringing now about to check if i posted anymore.

[Maggot]

Don't let her get away cars.

[Duchess]

[SIXFOOTERsez]

Give Trump some time, he has already done more FOR this country than barry did in 8 years.

What? What has he done that has accomplished more in 40-some days than Obama did in 8 years?

Well lemme see..Here are a few:
Ended catch and release
started deporting illegal criminals
killed dodd/frank...I don't agree with all that though
killed trans pac
Kept a shit load of jobs here that would be gone today
dropped the deficit a touch
Put a hold on federal hiring other than military
Taken some of the wind out of the medias sails
Got the pipeline deals done

So with all that I am prepared to let him keep running with his plan
Barry didn't do one positive thing for this country other than the car makers bailout. A lot of people objected to that but its One thing he did that I agreed with
His ACA plan was complete bullshit, racism was resurrected to new heights and we had people waging war on the police.
Oh and he managed to confuse half the country on which restroom to use