Originally published by Communities @ Washington Times
SAN DIEGO, February 1, 2013 ? Say what you want about Nancy Pelosi, she got one thing right about Obama’s Affordable Care Act: We had to pass the law to find out what’s in it. Now that some have actually bitten into this Tootsie Roll Pop, they are discovering that its crunchy outside was more palatable than the chewy center.
Even labor unions, still euphoric from their love affair with Obama, are starting to see some very disturbing writing on the wall.
According to the Wall Street Journal, “Labor unions enthusiastically backed the Obama administration’s health-care overhaul when it was up for debate. Now that the law is rolling out, some are turning sour.
“Union leaders say many of the law’s requirements will drive up the costs for their health-care plans and make unionized workers less competitive. Among other things, the law eliminates the caps on medical benefits and prescription drugs used as cost-containment measures in many health-care plans. It also allows children to stay on their parents’ plans until they turn 26.”
Labor Unions are not the only ones finding out how expensive this “affordable” care is turning out to be. Many have seen their insurance premiums rise faster than a thermometer in the Sahara. As premiums go up, fewer businesses will wish to offer health care to their employees. But by law, big businesses with many employees have to offer health care.
To get around this, companies are hiring fewer full-time workers and more part-time workers. This is not only bad for the workers and our economy, it very specifically shortens the life of insurance companies. As fewer businesses buy health care, insurance companies are on a steady road to decline. Once they go out of business, a single payer government system is all that will remain, probably what Obama had in mind all along even though he promised this would never happen.
In his televised speech to congress in September 2009, Obama said, “Still, given all the misinformation that’s been spread over the past few months, I realize … I realize that many Americans have grown nervous about reform. So tonight I want to address some of the key controversies that are out there. First, if you are among the hundreds of millions of Americans who already have health insurance through your job, or Medicare, or Medicaid, or the VA, nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or the doctor you have. Let me – let me repeat this: nothing in our plan requires you to change what you have.”
He went on to say, “My health care proposal has also been attacked by some as a government takeover of the entire health care system. Now let me be clear. Let me be clear. It would only be an option for those who don’t have insurance. No one would be forced to choose it and it would not impact those of you who already have insurance.”
Obama’s statement may have been technically true. Assuming impossible government regulations do not force private sector insurance companies out of business, everybody can keep their same doctor and insurance. But that is quite an assumption. Say what you want about Obama, he is not stupid. He knew the fiscal impact of his new law and for this reason, his statement before Congress was deceptive even if it passed some legal litmus test.
Meanwhile, Obama has also fudged on another health care promise. In that very same speech before Congress, he talked about abortion.
“And one more misunderstanding I want to clear up: Under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place.”
It seems that forcing Christian institutions to provide contraceptives, including the controversial “Morning After Pill,” doesn’t count as abortion provided by the Affordable Health Care Act.
Many other surprises are on their way as the new health car law comes into full force. In fact, it is little more than an excuse for further government intrusion into our lives. It forces people to choose between compromised values or legal repercussions. It also reeks of socialist wealth redistribution.
The time has come to face a sobering reality: President Obama was never interested in offering quality health care for all. Instead, he was bothered that some had good health care while others had no health care. The result is that everyone will now have the same lousy health care.
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