The Obamacare Fiasco

I have returned from my long absence and a lot has happened. I am in the process of writing a book about the people who opposed the New Deal from the right and I have made good headway so far. Anyway, I have been of the belief that if Obamacare is to be anywhere near as bad as Republicans claimed, Republicans need not worry about their electoral future. So far it looks like I'm right. Republicans now have an advantage in polling (although the American people still largely are viewing them under a "lesser of two evils" lens) and will be making probably some good gains in the 2014 midterms. Anyway, on to Obamacare!

Let's face it...Obamacare is a disaster. The botched website was only the tip of the iceberg and a bad omen for the law's implementation. The leftist pundits such as Krugman, Chait, and others have tried their best to spin it, but with premiums rising and plans being cancelled...this spells bad news for the President and the American people. After all, it is his signature law and in this sense it can be compared to Iraq. Yes, Iraq was a war and not a healthcare law, but the fate of Bush's legacy hinged on Iraq and Obama's legacy here hinges on Obamacare.

Many people now face higher premiums and an unfortunate number face cancellations of their plans because they were insufficient for Obamacare's minimum required plans. This is what happens when you game the market...unintended consequences.  Also, how could they not see that premiums would rise from this law? When insurance companies are forced to accept anyone who comes to their door and prohibit rate discrimination based on pre-existing conditions the costs for the insurance company rise and they need to make up the difference by charging higher premiums. I similarly don't see how this fiasco with cancellations couldn't be seen. People should be allowed to buy crappy plans that only cover emergency visits at low prices...not be forced to buy what the government thinks is a sufficient minimum plan. Any pundit who says otherwise is of the belief that government knows what's good for these people and that they do not.

I hope the next President is a Republican who repeals this law and replaces it with a better one that is more free market-oriented and focused on reducing premiums.