# Resolved : Congressional Republicans Are Evil **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 8, 2017, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125 "2017-05-08T13:39:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/61 "2017-05-09T13:09:56Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Cite? Seriously? You need a cite that fewer people will be covered? Or that not having insurance leads to higher mortality? ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/62 "2017-05-09T13:40:43Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Evil, or do they just really believe that if we give rich people more money they’ll build a perfect world for everybody? Distinction without a difference, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/63 "2017-05-09T13:43:31Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > So, where do I go to get that hunting license? In hell, with your Congressional Representative. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/64 "2017-05-09T13:47:30Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > It’s kind of driving me crazy to see so many leftists analyze this as “objectively evil” and so forth, not because I feel sorry for Republicans, but because that sort of inaccurate analysis makes it less likely that we’ll win. > > Republicans didn’t do this so they could twirl their mustachios and give deep-throated chuckles of villainy. They did it because it aligns with several principles of theirs relating to states’ rights, low taxes, and a construct of personal freedom that depends on minimal government interference. > > The attack on them needs to be based on several factors: > > 1. They were desperate for a partisan win, so they passed this before examining it fully. > 2. They refused to wait for a CBO analysis of it. > 3. They valued principles over effects: the bill will likely result in actual harm to millions of people for minimal actual benefit. They’re behaving like blinkered ideologues rather than wise stewards of the public trust. They cut funding for essential healthcare to give money to people who are already rich. This is not disputable. While they may have had other alleged motivations, we can only infer those; the bill, if passed, will kill Americans and make rich people richer. These are facts. And if you’re ready to concede the battle on facts, truth, and knowledge, then they have already won, and you certainly don’t belong on \*\*this \*\*messageboard. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/65 "2017-05-09T13:51:12Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > How is this any different than the other 100 times they did this? > > How does it get past the senate? Will they destroy the filibuster for this? McConnell has not indicated that he is contemplating this. The only difference is that they did it this time with an expectation that the President would support them. But your argument is that these Reps had already established their evil credentials? I’ll count that as agreeing with my debate proposition. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/66 "2017-05-09T13:54:01Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Not at all. When Republicans pass a tax cut for the rich, they never say “we’re doing this so they have more money”. There’s always some other goal. “We’re doing this to create jobs”, or “we’re doing this for better health care”, or “we’re doing this to spur innovation”. Maybe they really believe it; maybe they believe if they just give rich people enough incentives to be richer that pollution and unemployment and health care will all just fix themselves. They’re getting paid a lot to believe it; they may be delusional, but not evil. So your counterargument is that they’re not too EVIL to represent US Citizens, they’re too delusional. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/67 "2017-05-09T13:57:10Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > In this context, a figure of speech I used to describe the “correct” legislative process. What that might actually be is fluid, and depends on the results. Sometimes, if there’s no substantial difference and the result is what the person making the argument desires, this process is irrelevant. > > But the phrase itself comes from _Dune_. Kanly is the art of vendetta, and there are certain rules about how political assassinations may and may not be performed. Thanks. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/68 "2017-05-09T14:00:19Z")
> [@mistymage](#): > > And that is the question haunting a few Iowa Trump supporters as they slowly come to their senses. > > A local newscaster interviewed Congressman Rod Blum (R), First District in Iowa, and after being asked what the difference was between: > > A) Blum only allows those who show ID that show they live in his district to be in his Town Hall meetings – something about you don’t let a non-district voter vote in your district so, no, he doesn’t answer to all of Iowa, just his district. > > and > > B) The reporter asked if he would accept money from a Republican who lived outside his district (let alone outside the state). > > Blum jumped up and was outta there. > > [http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Blum-walks-out-of-exclusive-interview-with-TV9-421676713.html](http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Blum-walks-out-of-exclusive-interview-with-TV9-421676713.html) And he went to his town hall where his pre-approved audience still yelled at him.😃 > **[Iowa Republican Congressman Feels Heat Over Health Care Vote](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rob-blum-health-care-town-hall_n_5911190ae4b0d5d9049f60e7)** > > “You voted for this bill in a rush. There were no committee hearings. This is my life." ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/69 "2017-05-09T14:02:55Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > They cut funding for essential healthcare to give money to people who are already rich. This is not disputable. While they may have had other alleged motivations, we can only infer those; the bill, if passed, will kill Americans and make rich people richer. > > These are facts. And if you’re ready to concede the battle on facts, truth, and knowledge, then they have already won, and you certainly don’t belong on \*\*this \*\*messageboard. Feudal Mentality. We can’t give anything to you, you’re poor and therefore irresponsible. So we’ll give even more money to your boss and maybe, just maybe, he’ll throw a little something your way. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/70 "2017-05-09T14:05:07Z")
> [@Lucky\_Mike](#): > > \ You’re confusing the ACA and the AHCA. The ACA is Obamacare. The AHCA is Trumpcare. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/71 "2017-05-09T14:06:28Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Bullshit. Just the sort of erudite reply I expected from the SDMB’s resident Shitwit Laureate. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/72 "2017-05-09T14:24:24Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > 1. They valued principles over effects: the bill will likely result in actual harm to millions of people for minimal actual benefit. You call a tax cut of hundreds of billions of dollars for America’s richest people ‘minimal actual benefit’? The Koch brothers beg to differ! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/73 "2017-05-09T14:30:30Z")
> [@mistymage](#): > > And that is the question haunting a few Iowa Trump supporters as they slowly come to their senses. > > A local newscaster interviewed Congressman Rod Blum (R), First District in Iowa, and after being asked what the difference was between: > > A) Blum only allows those who show ID that show they live in his district to be in his Town Hall meetings – something about you don’t let a non-district voter vote in your district so, no, he doesn’t answer to all of Iowa, just his district. > > and > > B) The reporter asked if he would accept money from a Republican who lived outside his district (let alone outside the state). > > Blum jumped up and was outta there. > > [http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Blum-walks-out-of-exclusive-interview-with-TV9-421676713.html](http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Blum-walks-out-of-exclusive-interview-with-TV9-421676713.html) Yeah, he doesn’t ID that money coming in to see if it came from his district. Bet he doesn’t check the IDs of lobbyists who come through his door either. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/74 "2017-05-09T14:36:55Z")
> [@eulalia](#): > > I don’t think the Republicans are all evil, precisely, I just think they are clueless about what it’s like to struggle to make ends meet. People mostly only “choose” not to buy insurance because they don’t have any money left after paying for food, shelter, child care, heat in winter, transportation to work and such. But here’s the deal: they could easily educate themselves about this, and one could make an argument that they’re morally obligated to do so. Representing people in their districts who are living this sort of life is, after all, part of their day job. IMHO, that they choose not to is a moral failing on their part, obligation or no. And the numbers on the earlier version of the AHCA were pretty stunning: loss of coverage for ~24 million people. And the version that passed the House is clearly worse than the version that they didn’t bring up for a vote several weeks ago. They have no excuse for failing to realize the harm that this bill will cause if it becomes law. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_White\_Dope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/22d042/32.png) [@Great\_White\_Dope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_White_Dope)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/75 "2017-05-09T15:00:57Z")
**[Running The Numbers On Mortality Rates Suggests Obamacare Could Be Killing People](https://thefederalist.com/2017/04/25/running-numbers-mortality-rates-suggests-obamacare-killing-people/)** _What happens when we calculate the death rate after excluding all external causes of morbidity (ICD-10 codes for deaths caused by drugs, alcohol, assault, suicide, and accidents — in short, anything that is not due to an internal illness)? For the decade 2004-2013, the death rate is 247.4 people per 100,000 population. It is more stable than the all-cause death rate, with a low of 244.7, a high of 249.9, and a standard deviation of 1.7._ - With Obamacare extending insurance to 15 million more people, this death rate should fall to 238 per 100,000. The 2014-15 data show the actual reported death rate among U.S. adults, excluding external causes, is … 252.9.\* Facts \> Scare Mongering ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/76 "2017-05-09T15:03:16Z")
House GOP’s new motto: “[We delete our promises.](http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/republicans-start-literally-deleting-their-health-care-promises)” ---
**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:** [May 9, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/77 "2017-05-09T15:12:29Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Just the sort of erudite reply I expected from the SDMB’s resident Shitwit Laureate. Give **Clothy** a break. He can’t afford the co-pay for Viagra. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/78 "2017-05-09T15:21:12Z")
> [@mistymage](#): > > Blum jumped up and was outta there. > > [http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Blum-walks-out-of-exclusive-interview-with-TV9-421676713.html](http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Blum-walks-out-of-exclusive-interview-with-TV9-421676713.html) IDs or no IDs, [his constituents were pretty pissed at him last night at the town hall](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/rob-blum-health-care-town-hall_us_5911190ae4b0d5d9049f60e7?xt). ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/79 "2017-05-09T15:24:30Z")
> [@Great\_White\_Dope](#): > > **[Running The Numbers On Mortality Rates Suggests Obamacare Could Be Killing People](https://thefederalist.com/2017/04/25/running-numbers-mortality-rates-suggests-obamacare-killing-people/)** > > _What happens when we calculate the death rate after excluding all external causes of morbidity (ICD-10 codes for deaths caused by drugs, alcohol, assault, suicide, and accidents — in short, anything that is not due to an internal illness)? For the decade 2004-2013, the death rate is 247.4 people per 100,000 population. It is more stable than the all-cause death rate, with a low of 244.7, a high of 249.9, and a standard deviation of 1.7._ > > - With Obamacare extending insurance to 15 million more people, this death rate should fall to 238 per 100,000. The 2014-15 data show the actual reported death rate among U.S. adults, excluding external causes, is … 252.9.\* > Facts \> Scare Mongering This is damn near a sensible article, right up until he goes to interpret the statistics, where he goes fucking snooker loopy. We’re going off _one_ year of data seeing a very minor increase in a noisy chart, and claiming causation based off of a weak correlation that makes no sense on its face - not so much “vaccines cause autism” as “vaccines cause shaken baby syndrome”. The headline is, of course, complete crap. Meanwhile, news sources not pushing an agenda actually look at potential causes that are: A) In the data and B) not fucking nuts: [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/01/health/american-death-rate-rises-for-first-time-in-a-decade.html?\_r=0](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/01/health/american-death-rate-rises-for-first-time-in-a-decade.html?_r=0) > [@](#): > > Chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease take by far the most American lives, far more, for example, than suicide or homicide, so any change in such causes can have a big effect on the final numbers. Dr. Anderson pointed out that the death rate from heart disease, which had been declining for decades — and offsetting the rises in drug deaths, for example — flattened. That gives other causes of death more of an influence, Dr. Anderson said, as they are no longer being offset by declines from heart disease. It brings up several other factors in the data. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125/80 "2017-05-09T16:05:29Z")
> [@Great\_White\_Dope](#): > > **[Running The Numbers On Mortality Rates Suggests Obamacare Could Be Killing People](https://thefederalist.com/2017/04/25/running-numbers-mortality-rates-suggests-obamacare-killing-people/)** > > _What happens when we calculate the death rate after excluding all external causes of morbidity (ICD-10 codes for deaths caused by drugs, alcohol, assault, suicide, and accidents — in short, anything that is not due to an internal illness)? For the decade 2004-2013, the death rate is 247.4 people per 100,000 population. It is more stable than the all-cause death rate, with a low of 244.7, a high of 249.9, and a standard deviation of 1.7._ > > - With Obamacare extending insurance to 15 million more people, this death rate should fall to 238 per 100,000. The 2014-15 data show the actual reported death rate among U.S. adults, excluding external causes, is … 252.9.\* > Facts \> Scare Mongering Facts are absolutely \> Scare Mongering. Your post is a perfect example of the latter, complete with cherry picked stats. The author took almost 40% of the population out of his sample (only included 15-64). He used only a decade for his standard deviation. Fixing both of those and using ALL of the CDC’s data, gives you a mean mortality rate, without external causes, of 765.8, with a standard deviation of 21.9. 2015’s mortality rate is less than half a standard deviation from the mean. The author also dropped this conveniently ignored bit in too: [QUOTE=Dope’s Scare Mongering “Cite”] We know that the same year Obamacare’s insurance expansion provisions took effect, there was\*\* a pronounced, and statistically significant, surge in U.S. adult mortality\*\*. We know the surge in mortality remains after removing drug-related deaths,and other external morbidity causes, from the statistics. That is all we know. The rest is speculation. But it is fascinating speculation. [/QUOTE] Bolding mine. That statement requires a “for certain statistics” added on. An article that openly states correlation does not equal causation, then ends by all but openly blaming Obamacare, isn’t exactly a unbiased view. Does it raise a valid point for study? Yes. Does it support your view in any way, shape, or form? Not by the longest of shots. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-congressional-republicans-are-evil/786125.md?page=5)