# Does Obama care to explain the fear of ACA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 16, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445 "2013-10-16T23:26:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/101 "2013-10-17T19:38:59Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I STILL question why the public still seems so confused about what ACA/Obamacare means for their personal healthcare and its costs to them. In four words: “healthcare’s complicated, Republicans lied.” That accounts for the majority of the confusion. > [@](#): > > If you find that a waste of time, so be it. Discussing the issue itself isn’t a waste of time. Your refusal to acknowledge what people are saying to you makes it a waste of time. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/102 "2013-10-17T19:45:36Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > If it unfairly benefits the “undeserving” and is a ploy to win votes (meaning that people benefit from it), then this directly contradicts every single thing the Republicans have said about the EVILS of “Obamacare”. So, Republicans, pick one. Either it ‘unfairly’ benefits people, or it will destroy America. It ain’t going to do both. > > Then maybe we can discuss how ‘unfair’ it is that people get health care, and just how they are ‘undeserving’ of such a basic thing. Oh, and how that fits within the whole “Christian” and “Pro-Life” thing. Unfairly benefitting people destroys America. Jeez, get with it. See, you are rewarding people for being slackers and losers, weakening the national fiber. Also another thing I learned from the same site is that the teaparty libertarians are not particularly interested in any of that Christian Pro-Life thing. It’s the Evangelicals, a rather separate group with surprisingly little overlap sometimes. Those are the people who go on about the Gay Agenda. That’s why the dissonance, perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/103 "2013-10-17T19:58:11Z")
“Obama hasn’t explained his plan to the American people!” “What specifically about the plan is unclear to you?” “Specifically why he hasn’t explained it to the American people!” Rinse, repeat. ---
**Author:** ![Merejane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Merejane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merejane)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/104 "2013-10-17T20:25:05Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I STILL question why the public still seems so confused about what ACA/Obamacare means for their personal healthcare and its costs to them. That is puzzling. It affects me directly, so when I wanted to find out about it, I went online and read about it. There is a great deal of information online, including some of the links provided by posters in this thread, such as [this one](http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/facts/timeline/) and [this one](http://kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/8061-021.pdf). After reading about the ACA from reliable sources, I am no longer confused. Could the reason that some people are still confused be that they can’t be bothered to make the effort to access the information that is out there? What is the government supposed to do about that? Somehow beam the information into their heads? Are you personally confused about what ACA/Obamacare means for your personal healthcare and its costs to you, even after reading the links provided in this thread? (Not sure why I am even asking, as you will not answer. Oh, well.) ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/105 "2013-10-17T20:40:48Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I STILL question why the public still seems so confused about what ACA/Obamacare means for their personal healthcare and its costs to them. If you find that a waste of time, so be it. It’s your time. It has been explained to you many times in this thread, but you don’t read, read the links, or pay any attention. Instead you just keep repeating this. Consider yourself lucky I’m not a moderator, because at this point I’d give you another warning for JAQing off while ignoring the answers to your questions, and then lock the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/106 "2013-10-17T20:43:49Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I STILL question why the public still seems so confused about what ACA/Obamacare means for their personal healthcare and its costs to them. Well, for that part of the public whose approach to this topic resembles your own, the answer to that question is apparently that they’re determined to remain willfully ignorant even when abundant information and explanations are freely offered to them. Speaking of which, for the last time: How are you getting along with reading [that link](http://kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/8061-021.pdf), **doorhinge**? ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/107 "2013-10-17T20:44:58Z")
I think I can save us all a lot of time by just answering the OP’s question: ``` **No, Obama does not care to explain the fear of the ACA.** ``` See? All solved! ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/108 "2013-10-17T21:02:54Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Many seem to think it’s the responsibility of the taxpaying voters to find out what the administration is selling. Until the CIA perfects it’s mind control rays that can plant voices directly into peoples heads, there is no way that the administration can force people to learn about the ACA. Most people when presented with information about government policy, says “Booooring! I want to hear about the Kardashians instead!”. The media realizes this and prefers to report on the far more interesting sound bite controversy rather than the actual substance. This mixed with the fact that the media has decided that balanced reporting means giving equal time to those that think the earth is round and those that think it’s shaped like a burrito, means that one can regularly watch the nightly news to “keep informed” yet still remain completely ignorant. Finally attempts to get the word out about the ACA are being [actively](http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/06/28/gop_obamacare_nfl_mitch_mcconnell_warns_nfl_not_to_help_hhs_get_the_word.html) [blocked](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/08/29/gop-led-states-blocking-obamacare/) by the GOP, who would rather have people hurt than Obama care succeed. TLDR: You can lead a horse to knowledge but you can’t make him think. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/109 "2013-10-17T21:32:07Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > First off, I’m talking about the confusion cause by the lack of information provided by the creators of ACA/Obamacare. Let’s take your issue to heart. In fact, one of the architects and biggest supporters of the ACA, Senator Max Baucus of Montana, agreed with you, as [this exchange](http://www.factcheck.org/2013/08/train-wreck-ad-goes-off-the-rails/) with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius shows: > [@](#): > > Baucus: I just tell you, I just see a huge train wreck coming down. You and I have discussed this many times and I don’t see any results yet. What can you do to help all these people around the country going, “What in the world do I do and what — how do I know what to do?” > > Sebelius: Well, Mr. Chairman, as you know and we have had these discussions a number of times. We certainly take outreach and education very, very seriously. It’s one of the reasons that I think we were incredibly disappointed that our request for additional outreach and education resources were not made available in the CR [continuing budget resolution] of 2013. So Baucus was worried that there wasn’t enough education about the ACA. And the response was that the HSH asked for more money to address this. But that was shot down. So what did Republicans do? Did they agree to allow some more money to address this problem? No, they ran misleading ads saying that “the lead author of Obamacare, says it’s a huge train wreck.” Which he didn’t say - he actually said the lack of public awareness was the problem, not the ACA. So, when confronted with a problem and a way to solve the problem, Republicans made the problem worse by lying about it instead of trying to fix it. Now, let’s look at the ObamaCare Navigators - people whose job it is to help people navigate through how the ACA will impact them directly. Now, you would think that these people would be welcome since, as you claim, the law is complicated and people can use the assistance. You’d think wrong of course. And gee, [look at who is to blame](http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/09/19/obamacare-navigators-republican-states-restrict/2820327/): > [@](#): > > Oklahoma is among at least 17 Republican-controlled states that have taken steps to restrict navigators, a special category of workers created under the health law to help consumers learn about their options in the new online insurance marketplaces. Proponents of the law fear that actions will dampen enrollment. > > Some states such as Indiana are requiring navigators to pay as much as $175 for licensing that would include a state exam and a criminal background check. > > Others, such as Missouri and Georgia, have passed laws limiting what navigators can say and do. Last week, the Florida Health Department announced that local public health offices, where uninsured people often go for services, cannot have navigators on the premises. Since it has been demonstrated that the lack of information is not being caused by the proponents of the ACA but the opponents, I am sure that you will stop blaming the wrong people for this. And it would be nice if you started to hold those who are responsible accountable. I mean, if you really want to be fair about this and not just a partisan shill. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/110 "2013-10-17T22:06:36Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > **Does Obama care to explain the fear of ACA?** Obama’s not here, man. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/111 "2013-10-17T22:13:16Z")
> [@A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](#): > > We are getting screwed by people who know they are smart enough to control the masses of you who are too stupid to know what just happened. The other people are too weak to fight the good fight for those who work hard. It’s amazing you dingbats are only now waking up to see it. > > I hope the states and counties that begged to be saved go up in flames when reality hits full throttle. You are talking about the **red** states/counties, of course. They are the ones that usually need saving. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/112 "2013-10-17T22:29:38Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > So what you’re telling me is that the more we learn about Obamacare, the _less_ it’s going to cost, since the price has apparently dropped by a factor of 20 between June 2012 and August 2013. We need to keep talking about this! At this rate, Obamacare could become a positive revenue source sometime this decade! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/113 "2013-10-17T22:34:22Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Obama’s not here, man. You know, I just don’t see why not. This is a Chicago-based board. It’s his stomping grounds, his home riding, the heart of his political empire. Why the hell isn’t that man a Charter Member? It’s title certainly more prestigious than “President of the United States”. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/114 "2013-10-18T02:49:27Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I STILL question why the public still seems so confused about what ACA/Obamacare means for their personal healthcare and its costs to them. It probably doesn’t help that there are people out there actively spreading half-and-less-truths about it. ---
**Author:** ![mbetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@mbetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbetter)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/115 "2013-10-18T03:36:11Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I blame the people who created ACA/Obamacare and who have failed to provide adequate explaination of the who, what, why, and wherefores of this very complicated system for the failure of people to understand what they are being asked to support. When a politician says, “Trust me”, that’s a pretty good time to ask a whole lot of questions. Unless you object to people asking questions. > > Maybe when the signup system eventually(?) works, people will have a better understanding what they are getting and what it will cost. Vague generalities about why ACA/Obamacare is good for you isn’t very convincing except to the choir. Can you read? Why do you not read it yourself? ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/116 "2013-10-18T03:56:55Z")
That this didn’t start in GQ means the OP wasn’t looking for an answer as to what ACA is all about. He’s asking us why he shouldn’t be as upset as he is about the law. He really wants to see if we can deprogram him. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/117 "2013-10-18T04:28:13Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > According to whom? You? Perhaps if you provided a reliable cite to back up your assertion it might carry some weight. Or not. [California Signups exceed 28,000 first week](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-08/california-tops-28-000-in-health-exchange-enrollment.html) Same link - New York had 40,000 sign up. And we’re nowhere near the cutoff date. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/118 "2013-10-18T14:16:14Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Now we see that the “signup” is next to impossible understand/accomplish also. The “signup” is brought to you by the same people who planned ACA/Obamacare. One failure after another. If the technical problems of the web site roll-out are evidence of underlying problems with the law itself, then if those problems are fixed, would that then be evidence that the law is actually a good thing? Or does it make more sense to think that the success/failure of the site has no bearing on the actual quality of the law, and whether it will deliver or not? Does it make more sense to harp on and on about the debacle that is [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov), or to realize that the law isn’t going away any time soon, not while Obama is president, and to instead work to get the web site problems fixed, get people enrolled, and then judge the ACA on its merits? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/119 "2013-10-18T16:10:05Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Obama’s not here, man. Well you never know what might pop up on his radar screen with so many friends from Chicago answering for him, which I do appreciate the many replies. Some of you really care about ACA and believe in it I see. Some of you make the people against ACA, and of course President Obama himself, look like wacko’s. Are there no individual’s here against ACA/obamacare that can provide an intelligent argument without prejudice of President Obama himself including his other policies? I have a fear about ACA that the real problem is going to be the same old problem with medicare? Cheating! People will cheat just to get drugs for symptoms they don’t even have. Powerful drugs will now be available for the younger generation. The same young generation that President Obama said would have to pay for the health care plan, because they don’t have enough health reasons wrong with them meaning their co-pay will be smaller than senior citizen’s. A certain part of our society is bad and they will take advantage of every little detail that they can even to trading drugs for marijuana. Doctors who are barely doctors getting $200 per patent, massage therapist getting paid for in home visits. I want to be for ACA I really do … I’m getting up there on age and sooner or later I will need what it has to offer, but until then I am against it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445/120 "2013-10-18T16:14:53Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > I want to be for ACA I really do … I’m getting up there on age and sooner or later I will need what it has to offer, but until then I am against it. What makes you think you don’t need it now? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445.md?page=7)