Thursday, September 26, 2013

A Good Republican Program

The Congress passed it; the President signed it; the Supreme Court upheld it; and the people need it.

The Affordable Care Act (ie. Obamacare) is one of the most important in our nation’s history. Yet for all the misinformation and misdirected negativity from the Republican leadership, the most ironic fact is that it was their idea in the first place.

It is no mystery that Obamacare was closely modeled after Romneycare: a private-sector, free-market solution that encourages individuals to take more responsibility for their personal lives. Before that, the individual mandate was proposed by Republican Congressional leaders as an alternative to President Clinton’s single-payer option. Before that, President Reagan ensured access to healthcare regardless of one’s ability to pay via the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.

Yet for some reason, Republican leaders today are doing everything in their power to defund this law. They are even willing to shut down the government over it. We deserve better. 

 “Competition is a good thing”, and with the Affordable Care Act, the uninsured, under-insured, and insured will now have the choice of multiple insurance companies who will be competing for their business. This, in turn, will lead to lower premiums, lower costs, greater efficiency, better care, and an improved industry.

With just 5 days until the open enrollment process begins, it is crucial that people educate themselves and find out how the Affordable Care Act help them.