# What is your ongoing opinion of the Affordable Care Act? (Title Edited) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 17, 2013, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561 "2013-01-17T23:21:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 82
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1622 "2014-02-25T17:15:25Z")
They didn’t hold otherwise, either. So? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1623 "2014-02-25T23:15:51Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Don’t expect an answer, **adaher** has ignored/refused to answer the no mandate question on numerous occasions. There is no mandate now. Not an enforceable one anyway. Millions are subject to the mandate this year. Guess how many the government will collect from. ---
**Author:** ![Hollow\_mask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hollow\_mask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hollow_mask)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1624 "2014-02-25T23:51:52Z")
I’ve been waiting for ACA (or something like it) for, well, ever. I like it a lot. People complained, and some do, still, about the S.S. Act, which was a huge milestone of progress. In time. Obama- care will gain the same acceptance. I would say “it’s about time” but for the fact that it is actua- lly about 50 years late. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1625 "2014-02-25T23:59:27Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > There is no mandate now. Not an enforceable one anyway. Millions are subject to the mandate this year. Guess how many the government will collect from. So what are you complaining about? If the GOP plan has all the benefits of Obamacare without the mandate, what is the point of repeal and replace? ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1626 "2014-02-26T01:42:10Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > And on what basis do you think premiums can be held low without mandated participation by a larger pool? > [@jasg](#): > > Don’t expect an answer, **adaher** has ignored/refused to answer the no mandate question on numerous occasions. > [@adaher](#): > > There is no mandate now. Not an enforceable one anyway. Millions are subject to the mandate this year. Guess how many the government will collect from. Not an answer to the question. Please come back with the effects of no mandate on the insurance market and premiums. Cites, please. Not talking points or opinions. This experiment has been done. The facts are out there. ---
**Author:** ![CatC303](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CatC303](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatC303)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1627 "2014-02-26T02:07:03Z")
I’m new here and confused to the max about how this all works. I’m liberal to the max but I’m also critical of “Obamacare.” Bottom line for me is that ALL people in the US should have health insurance. NO DEBATE ABOUT THIS. All the other modern nations do this. It’s a disgrace that the US is the exception. If you don’t like “Obamacare” then offer a change that makes it better — but always move in the direction of covering more and more people. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1628 "2014-02-26T07:39:14Z")
We’re going to find out, because there is no mandate. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1629 "2014-02-26T12:59:58Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > We’re going to find out, because there is no mandate. Then why do you want to repeal? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1630 "2014-02-26T13:06:23Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > There are a couple of differences. Mainly, there are no mandates. People can continue to buy “inadequate” insurance if they desire. I don’t remember this ever being a part of the discussion on the bill, that we had to make people buy better insurance than they already had. The opposite was said, actually. > > The GOP plan is like ACA only if you consider the parts the GOP kept to be the most important. For those who think the mandate are vital, the law “guts” ACA. But if you want my opinion, the GOP plan is Obamacare with wings, where as ACA is Obamacare with horns.🙂 > [@adaher](#): > > We’re going to find out, because there is no mandate. > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Then why do you want to repeal? Seriously, **adaher** - first you say that the main difference between the GOP plan and ACA is that the GOP plan has no mandate, and now you say that ACA has no mandate. Could you maybe go away, decide what the hell your argument is, test it against reality and get back to us? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1631 "2014-02-26T19:45:09Z")
I’m sorry the nuance is so hard for you. There is a difference between no effective mandate and no mandate at all. It’s kinda like immigration laws. They exist, but aren’t enforced very well, and under Obama, unless you are a felon, not at all starting a few months back. Conservatives don’t like BS laws. If the government doesn’t have the balls to enforce a mandate, they shouldn’t have one. This should not be a controversial topic. An uncollectable mandate simply should not exist. Laws that aren’t enforced breed disrespect for the law. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1632 "2014-02-26T20:18:14Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I’m sorry the nuance is so hard for you. There is a difference between no effective mandate and no mandate at all. It’s enough for you to demand repeal of the entire thing, though. Some nuance that is. Or is what you want to repeal simply the prefix “Obama-”? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1633 "2014-02-26T20:52:48Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Conservatives don’t like BS laws. Now THAT is a truly laughable statement. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1634 "2014-02-26T21:31:07Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I’m sorry the nuance is so hard for you. There is a difference between no effective mandate and no mandate at all. It’s kinda like immigration laws. They exist, but aren’t enforced very well, and under Obama, unless you are a felon, not at all starting a few months back. > > Conservatives don’t like BS laws. If the government doesn’t have the balls to enforce a mandate, they shouldn’t have one. This should not be a controversial topic. An uncollectable mandate simply should not exist. Laws that aren’t enforced breed disrespect for the law. This is incoherent, especially when paired with your previous statements like “there is no mandate”. To be kind, this is a recurring problem with you. Please try and correct yourself. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1635 "2014-02-27T00:09:13Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Conservatives don’t like BS laws. P.S. Let me introduce you to one of my favorite threads: “Stupid Republican Idea of the Day.” Someone does manage to find a new one nearly every day. > **[Stupid Republican idea of the day](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=511831)** > > Regulating the First Lady What the hell? So, they don’t like Michelle’s supporting girls in high school, vegetable gardens or military families? Or they just want to know what she’s doing in advance so protesters can show up? What is the “historic... But you’d just say they’re not real conservatives, right? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1636 "2014-02-27T00:28:07Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I’m sorry the nuance is so hard for you. There is a difference between no effective mandate and no mandate at all. Not according to you. “Nuance” does not mean “rubbish”. > [@](#): > > It’s kinda like immigration laws. They exist, but aren’t enforced very well, and under Obama, unless you are a felon, not at all starting a few months back. And yet funnily enough, under Obama illegal immigrants have been being deported at a significantly higher rate than under the previous administration and those that are being sent back are the worst offenders, the ones least likely to contribute to society and the economy. It’s the sort of policy you’d crow about if it wasn’t associated with Obama, as your healthcare policy demonstrates. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1637 "2014-02-27T20:12:44Z")
Apparently [this](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr2575)is the “Republican alternative” which they will ride to victory this fall, as our friend \*\*adaher \*\*tells us. [The CBO says](http://democrats.waysandmeans.house.gov/sites/democrats.waysandmeans.house.gov/files/hr2575.pdf)it costs more, does less, and leaves a million more people uninsured, but that’s a small price to pay for finally beating Obama at something. Oh, about Obamacare’s popularity? [Take a gander.](http://www.politicususa.com/2014/02/26/republicans-worst-nightmare-true-support-repealing-obamacare-hits-time.html) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1638 "2014-02-28T10:17:12Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Oh, about Obamacare’s popularity? [Take a gander.](http://www.politicususa.com/2014/02/26/republicans-worst-nightmare-true-support-repealing-obamacare-hits-time.html) Whatever do you mean? It says right there in the article that only 8% want it kept as it is! Never mind those other numbers or what they mean - _8%_! Only look at that number! Not the others! Clearly that means that 92% must hate Obamacare, right? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1639 "2014-02-28T12:53:38Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Apparently [this](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr2575)is the “Republican alternative” which they will ride to victory this fall, as our friend \*\*adaher \*\*tells us. [The CBO says](http://democrats.waysandmeans.house.gov/sites/democrats.waysandmeans.house.gov/files/hr2575.pdf)it costs more, does less, and leaves a million more people uninsured, but that’s a small price to pay for finally beating Obama at something. > > Oh, about Obamacare’s popularity? [Take a gander.](http://www.politicususa.com/2014/02/26/republicans-worst-nightmare-true-support-repealing-obamacare-hits-time.html) THat’s not the GOP alternative. That’s just a bill changing the employer mandate to cover only full time workers. Sure it means fewer insured and an increased deficit. Guess what else does? The President changing the law by executive fiat, like he’s done the past two years. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1640 "2014-02-28T12:55:27Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > This is incoherent, especially when paired with your previous statements like “there is no mandate”. > > To be kind, this is a recurring problem with you. Please try and correct yourself. No, the mandate is incoherent. “You have to buy insurance, but we won’t try to collect the fine unless we already have your money.” It’s also cowardly. But that’s what Democrats do. They pulled the same trick in Connecticut with their gun laws that nobody is obeying. They won’t have the balls to enforce that one either. “Pass and pray” seems to be their motto. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1641 "2014-02-28T13:02:07Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > No, the mandate is incoherent. “You have to buy insurance, but we won’t try to collect the fine unless we already have your money.” > > It’s also cowardly. But that’s what Democrats do. They pulled the same trick in Connecticut with their gun laws that nobody is obeying. They won’t have the balls to enforce that one either. “Pass and pray” seems to be their motto. “That’s what Democrats do”. LOL. Do you even read your posts before clicking “submit”? It’s like you’re playing for an audience from [RedState.com](http://RedState.com), but they’ve already left the building. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561.md?page=81) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561.md?page=83)