Yes - but a single payer system is also far cheaper. The UK NHS covers every legal resident for less per capita than what we spend on health insurance administration alone.
True. But it’s not Medicare, either. Medicaid is a more accurate representation.
http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2009/08/life-expectancy-higher-in-us-than-uk-at.html
The US has better life expectancy after age 65 than the UK. That’s as direct a comparison of Medicare vs. the NHS as you’ll see.
True. Now imagine how good our system would be if we weren’t spending billions to determine if people were eligible for care, or if a certain procedure should be covered by this plan or that supplemental plan, and so on.
I just looked at a bunch of videos on Youtube. Looked for longer ones. I watched a bunch and never heard one mention of how the “context” would change anything. But I did find that he put forth the same lie again and again.
So, if it turns out that he never offered the “context” that would make the lie not a lie, wood you be willing to admit that he simply lied, repeatedly?
No. As I said already, it’s true, to a degree. The administration grandfathered in any plan that existed at the time the ACA was passed. It’s misleading. It’s not a lie.
It’s so hard to prove that someone lied. I don’t even think that’s worth debating.
Let’s just say that Obama did not make a sincere effort to make sure everyone knew exactly what was going to happen. Hence the surprises.
If that was all he did, it would be one thing. But then he accused the critics of the law of lying. It’s entirely fair to hold him to the very standards of honesty that he demanded of his critics.
When did he do that?
The entire message of pushback against the law’s bad poll numbers was to say that dishonest critics were misinforming people about the law.
Far too simplistic. The entire message? Seriously? No other points were made, no corrections offered? Only thing he ever said in his pushbacks were that the other guys were lying?
Besides which, honesty is not simply a matter of facts, a clever man can string together a set of facts that will lead someone to a false conclusion. Like the car salesman who sincerely informs you of the cars great mileage, peppy performance and anti-luck brakes, but neglects to advise about the transmission held together with duct tape.
Those poor people.
It is almost impossible to make a case without misstatements. It happens all the time on this board. We aren’t thereby justified is telling others “we were lied to.”
Is accuracy better? Yes.
Is there ever going to be a democratic politician whose statements are completely accurate? Not if they make a case for a controversial policy. What about a politician who always admits to error when called on it? Not that either.
All politicians should explain how each policy they champion is based on uncertain information, and has winners and losers. But I don’t expect it and can live a fine life without it.
This this this.
How is the ACA going to remedy the problems detailed in this Time Magazine article on the cost of health care: link?. Seems to me the law will embolden all the major players (hospitals, big pharma, medical device manufacturers, as well as the health insurance companies) to keep gouging the public since we will be mandated to purchase the product. Already the health insurance companies are revising their forecasts upwards (link…The whole rollout just greatly underscores the fact that we shouldn’t even be tasked with shopping for something as fundamental as healthcare, which is a basic right in all other advanced nations. Ok rant over.
Other potential issues with the law:
Cadillac tax will incentivize employers to drop high quality plans
Millions left uninsured by failure of Medicaid expansion (fault of Republican governors, I know)
Over the long run, employers may stop offering health insurance since the ACA presents a cheaper (to them) alternative <<< Though Ezra Klein, the author of the post doesn’t believe this, I think the chances of this happening are good if the ACA is not a total disaster…
Oh by the way, I thought Obama’s “you can keep your insurance” promise was more directed to the majority of insured folks who get their insurance through their employers and/or the government (Medicare/ Medicaid). But yeah, it was tad misleading when considering those who purchase insurance on the individual market…
Okay, so I have posted this in another thread to hear other people’s reactions, but I saw this thread and though it would be fitting to include here… A little much needed comic relief. Check out the new healthcare site 
That might excuse has early statements, not the later ones. He knew that millions of people would not be able to keep their healthcare. Yet, he repeatedly made very declarative statements saying we could. Even adding the “period” at the end of the statement. I am extremely careful in concluding anyone lied, but that’s what Obama did here. He knew exactly what he was doing: Lie for the greater good. And then what are they gonna do? Squat. Especially with the the compliant media.
Quotes?
I’m having trouble finding the more heated things he said while trying to sell the law. So far, I’ve found this from this year:
“The same folks who fought tooth and nail a couple years ago and tried to make political hay out of ‘Obamacare’ are still telling tall tales about its impact,” he said.
That’s been the messaging from 2009 though, “Don’t believe the opposition, they are spreading misinformation.”
'To claim the President lied to the American People is not the truth! He did not write the law he was told how it would work and perhaps misunderstood at best.
If one were a believer in God they would accuse God of lying. First he was quoted as saying everything he created was good. Yet, later on he decided he regretted he created humans and killed all of the life on earth except one family and a few animals!
I wonder if the same people would say President GW Bush lied about Iraq? He was misinformed, but look at the consequences! Many innocent people are still dying and many injured some for life!
Since one cannot know the mind of either president they cannot accuse either of lying. Just one more way to spread hatred…So sad. UNITED WE STAND, Divided We Fall.
It was said America would not ever be destroyed by outsiders but from within!
We re paying now for the uninsured. Too many use the emergency rooms and the cost is add to the ones who have insurance or use the medical facilities. Years ago I was charged $50.00 for 2 aspirins, I challenged the hospital, and the person told me it went to the cost of the non-Insured!
Either way the working class pays.