Actually, your story is similar to what I speculated – somebody else drew a conclusion for him, he took a moment from what he was doing to echo it, and now you’re framing the discussion in this self-serving way that “even a fifth grader” can get this." There are five year olds holding up signs at Occupy Wall Street, clearly penned by their parents, and it would be as honest to say, “even this kindergartener can get this.” It would have been more honest and way less irritating to leave the kid out of it. I have no problem with your OP – I agree with both the premise and the conclusion – I just found it self-serving and condescending to frame it the way you did.
And I doubt my kid will ever mow your kid’s lawn. He’ll be too busy mowing mine.
An effort that would *not *loudly ring the bad-faith bell (something that, as you must know, and should know painfully, is a chronic problem), might have included “A better way to accomplish its ends would have been (fill in the blank, and it’s about damn time the anti’s did)”, or, perhaps, “There should not have been an attempt to meet the goals of this act, because it would be better to (fill in the blank, similarly) instead.”
Can you offer anything along those lines, or is this *really *just what it appears?
The insurance expense spiral exists whether or not Obama is president and whether or not CLASS is what we’re talking about. Like with death panels and so many other anti-Obamacare talking points, the spiral isn’t a problem with Obamacare, it’s an issue with any health insurance plan.
I don’t know why you struggle with the possibility that the flaw in the plan was so apparent that he couldn’t independently grasp it.
He was paying more attention to the CNN story than I was, but I did not hear the CNN story draw any conclusions for him. At best, it reported on the conclusion that the White House reached.
Why do you assume his response was wedded to whatever someone told him?
The price of healthcare is wrapped into products we make. You are paying all the damn time. There is no escaping, but you can fool yourself that you are not paying if you wish to.
Since you confirmed that it was (he simply agreed with some talking head on TV), it doesn’t matter why I assumed it. I assumed it because he’s a fifth grader. Fifth graders, however brilliant we think they are, are not inclined to grasp classic assessment spirals or to read insurance policy in the first place. You’ve basically prevented any serious discussion with this self-serving and somewhat deluded framing as “a fifth grader gets it!”
It was not “some talking head,” but a factual report of the fact that the administration had conceded those flaws exist.
And since this flaw is precisely the one documented in the grasshopper and ant fable, it is unclear to me what additional analysis he was incapable of performing. The program could not provide benefits unless everyone chose to contribute. It it that simple.
My kid is, in fact, brilliant. This is documented by test and IQ scores.
Also, the kid knows that his dad is completely anti-Obama and of course, would want to curry favor.
So why not make your own arguments as to the details and merits of what happened, for those of us less brainy than your fifth grader, who have difficulty passing judgement on a complex piece of legislation after hearing a five second soundbite?
A 5th grader who watches and listens to the news would have known that 3 years ago this was rushed through the legislative process without a proper vetting process.
And here we are 3 years later watching the vetting process. Duh.
An appealing theory, but in fact he also believes we SHOULD pay for everyone’s health care from taxes because it is Jesus’ command (what you do for the least of my brothers) and is a corporal work of mercy (feed the hungry, care for the sick). I have explained to him why I feel that is unworkable and unwise but he does not agree with his mother or me on that point.
If he were currying favor, I don’t think he would take that position.
I’ll drop out now. I’ve made my point several times and I don’t see it going anywhere good from here. I’m glad your son is engaged by the issues, Bricker.
I’m not overwhelmingly impressed by Bricker’s son noticing that CLASS, as passed, is insupportable. That fact is actually something even a fifth-grader can grasp.
This, on the other hand, does impress me. Go, kid!
