# Is Trump essentially calling the Republican bluff (ACA repeal) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 13, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060 "2017-01-13T18:15:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/21 "2017-01-13T22:41:24Z")
Or they could repeal the parts that wingnuts don’t like but which are absolutely essential to its functioning, like the mandate (which is apparently un-American) and the subsidies (which are too much like communism or something, especially when black people get them) while retaining the prohibition on pre-existing conditions and coverage of young adults under their parents’ plans. They might also want to remove the prohibitions on useless crap plans that don’t actually cover anything. The result will be the complete destruction of the principle of even nominal universality and the removal of broad risk-sharing; insurers will jack up prices to the sky while lowering benefits, and the whole thing will collapse in a steaming heap. Then Republicans can blame Obama for introducing a system that was doomed from the start, just like they always said, and scratch the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/22 "2017-01-13T22:55:59Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Well, he’s not a DC player. He has no campaign contributors who want a huge return on their investment, no friends to placate, and he has election _pledges_ to deliver. > > It’s a beautiful position to be in; he can leverage anything he wants from any angle. The flip side of that is that Trump has no powerful interest bloc behind him to induce, seduce or scare Congress into giving a damn what he says. Instead, every interest group will fight anything that Trump tweets that might upset what they’ve spent decades and millions of dollars to put together. It’s called “being an outsider.” We voted for it, and now we’re going to see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/23 "2017-01-13T22:56:30Z")
Is a repeal and replace plan passable? How many Democrats would support it? If you only have Republican votes there are some who want a substantive program providing coverage to those who have Obamacare now and want to continue health insurance (perhaps with large tax credits… varying with income). This would be expensive and the budget cutters wouldn’t vote for it. If you just have a cheap plan (keep the college student coverage addition and a few other things) but will result in millions losing health insurance coverage those who want a substantive plan wouldn’t vote it. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/24 "2017-01-13T23:09:05Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Then Republicans can blame Obama for introducing a system that was doomed from the start, just like they always said, and scratch the whole thing. One thing is certain; Blaming Obama is absolutely going to happen. It is the only thing that the Republicans can agree on, and it is pretty much their only healthcare plan; Wreck the ACA, then blame Obama. I guess from Trump’s point of view, as long as they don’t blame him, and he can see a way to make a profit, it’s all good. Too bad about the dead people though… but remember, it’s all Obama’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/25 "2017-01-14T01:34:40Z")
He said it. His voters want it. So he’s playing to that while continuing to be clueless of reality. Those realities include working out how to manage a transition from one system to the next and coming up with a plan that can avoid a Senate filibuster. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/26 "2017-01-14T02:52:20Z")
> [@DinoR](#): > > He said it. His voters want it. So he’s playing to that while continuing to be clueless of reality. Those realities include working out how to manage a transition from one system to the next and coming up with a plan that can avoid a Senate filibuster. The GOP is doing it through budget reconciliation. No filibuster allowed. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/27 "2017-01-14T03:12:53Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > NOW, though… The Republicans have to put up or shut up. They’ve had 8 years to come up with a workable alternate plan. It seems to me that Trump is essentially calling their bluff, and telling them to get their shit together and put in place the healthcare plan that THEY SHOULD HAVE PREPARED YEARS AGO. And the Republican leadership is currently having an “oh shit” moment. > > I think this is sort of a “Only Nixon could go to China” situation. Only Trump can show that the Republican policy on healthcare is an empty vessel of opposition - they have spent time railing against the ACA, but have no real alternative in place. I can’t see this as a possibility. It would require two things, both of which are unbelievable. The first is that Trump is capable of masterminding this kind of subterfuge. The second is that Trump has a core ideology that he would work this hard to advance. I think the reality is that Trump is politically inexperienced. He’s missed what more seasoned candidates know; you get votes by promising to do things you know you would lost votes over if you actually delivered. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/28 "2017-01-14T07:29:36Z")
Republicans were fine with America’s healthcare system before the ACA. They called it the best in the world. I don’t see any reason why they would replace it with anything. “Repeal and replace” is just a phrase that sounds good because alliteration is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/29 "2017-01-14T13:56:12Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > Republicans were fine with America’s healthcare system before the ACA. They called it the best in the world. I don’t see any reason why they would replace it with anything. “Repeal and replace” is just a phrase that sounds good because alliteration is awesome. “Cut and run” is another fitting moniker I’ve heard used. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/30 "2017-01-14T14:49:37Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > The GOP is doing it through budget reconciliation. No filibuster allowed. Can’t replace without getting past the filibuster. This is the GOP rock/hard place. They can blow it up without Democratic support, but require Democratic support to replace it. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/31 "2017-01-14T14:53:31Z")
“Any jackass can kick a barn down, but it took a carpenter to build it.” - Sam Rayburn, House Speaker ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/32 "2017-01-14T14:54:53Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Or they could repeal the parts that wingnuts don’t like but which are absolutely essential to its functioning, like the mandate (which is apparently un-American) and the subsidies (which are too much like communism or something, especially when black people get them) while retaining the prohibition on pre-existing conditions and coverage of young adults under their parents’ plans. They might also want to remove the prohibitions on useless crap plans that don’t actually cover anything. > > The result will be the complete destruction of the principle of even nominal universality and the removal of broad risk-sharing; insurers will jack up prices to the sky while lowering benefits, and the whole thing will collapse in a steaming heap. Then Republicans can blame Obama for introducing a system that was doomed from the start, just like they always said, and scratch the whole thing. I think this is likely **wolfpup.** As much a I would like Obama to receive credit for trying to move the health care system into the 21st (or 20th) century, we should ALL (especially the media) stop calling it ObamaCare. This just sticks in the craw of many of the people that voted for Trump. I think we know why. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/33 "2017-01-14T14:58:03Z")
Why not single payer, like every other civilized country has? Pay for it by bringing tax rates back to Reagan era levels. It would be a benefit to businesses now providing health insurance to their associates. It would solve the ‘mandate’ problem. It would give the government even more leverage with drug manufacturers and health care providers and put the doofus insurance companies out of business. Who has the dollars and sense studies of this? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/34 "2017-01-14T15:37:27Z")
> [@crucible](#): > > … Who has the dollars and sense studies of this? Insurance companies. I have great insurance (through work), but it is still FUBAR. I’m trying to get payment sorted out for two simple x-rays from September. It’s co-pay stuff, peanuts to me. But I never received a bill. If they ding my credit rating, I’m going to be very, very pissed off. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/35 "2017-01-14T16:38:07Z")
> [@crucible](#): > > Why not single payer, like every other civilized country has? Pay for it by bringing tax rates back to Reagan era levels. It would be a benefit to businesses now providing health insurance to their associates. It would solve the ‘mandate’ problem. It would give the government even more leverage with drug manufacturers and health care providers and put the doofus insurance companies out of business. Who has the dollars and sense studies of this? does Canada, for example, have health insurance companies? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/36 "2017-01-14T16:40:41Z")
Sure, but they’re puny little critters, nibbling on nuts and berrys. Not big healthy carnivores like we got. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/37 "2017-01-14T17:15:03Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > “Cut and run” is another fitting moniker I’ve heard used. From Obamacare to “I don’t care.” ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/38 "2017-01-14T17:32:02Z")
> [@crucible](#): > > Why not single payer, like every other civilized country has? Pay for it by bringing tax rates back to Reagan era levels. It would be a benefit to businesses now providing health insurance to their associates. It would solve the ‘mandate’ problem. It would give the government even more leverage with drug manufacturers and health care providers and put the doofus insurance companies out of business. Who has the dollars and sense studies of this? True single payer is pretty rare - but universal coverage is like every other civilized country. Tightly regulated (often non-profit) insurance, pharma & healthcare companies are more common than single government payer. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/39 "2017-01-14T17:54:40Z")
“Non-profit”? Blasphemy! Go wash your mouth out with money! ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060/40 "2017-01-14T18:07:39Z")
> [@crucible](#): > > does Canada, for example, have health insurance companies? We do. The two big things they cover that are not universally covered by the gov’t are: - Dental services - Drugs plans There’s been talk up here on and off of switching to universal drug coverage. There are other things such as home health care (i.e. nursing), glasses, etc. that are also not covered by the gov’t. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-essentially-calling-the-republican-bluff-aca-repeal/777060.md?page=3)