# 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:** 90
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1782 "2014-03-26T13:13:05Z")
Well, wow. That’s it, just wow. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1783 "2014-03-26T16:53:47Z")
This isn’t hard. Dispproval means disapproval. You’re asking me to prove that disapproval means disapproval, because you’re sure it doesn’t mean disapproval. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1784 "2014-03-26T18:50:00Z")
To repeat: Wow. [The latest Kaiser poll,](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/03/26/1287511/-KFF-poll-Keep-Obamacare-fix-it-and-shut-up-about-nbspit?detail=hide) for those not impervious to actual data: Keep as is - 10% Keep and improve - 49% Repeal and replace with Republican alternative _{never mind that there isn’t one}_ - 11% Repeal, don’t replace - 18% For the trend: > [@](#): > > In March, 46 percent say they have an unfavorable view of the law (down 4 percentage points since January), while 38 percent say they have a favorable view (up 4 percentage points since January). The gap between unfavorable and favorable views is now eight percentage points, down from a recent high of 16 points in November and January. Based on the newest data, what side would a senior adviser tell a pol with national aspirations to be on? Class? Not you, **adaher** , you’ve had your turn already, and you need an extra-credit assignment to pass. Here it is - please comment on this tidbit: > [@](#): > > 74 percent of all respondents support the Medicaid expansion in the law, including 69 percent of independents, and 64 percent of Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1785 "2014-03-26T19:06:49Z")
Adaher Disapproval != Repeal ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1786 "2014-03-27T01:06:00Z")
It does when you simply ask people whether to choose repeal or keep. And in the real world, those are the only two choices. Democrats do not favor any changes to the law at this time. Fixing the law is a wonderful thing. Democrats should explain how they intend to fix the law. And pollsters like Kaiser should ask what specifically voters want fixed about the law. I bet they don’t because Kaiser supports the health care law, and if voters start saying scrap the mandate, let people keep their insurance, etc., then the law is pretty screwed. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1787 "2014-03-27T03:43:48Z")
An update on Halbig v. Sebelius: > **[Combative Bench Grills IRS in Halbig v. Sebelius | National Review](https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/combative-bench-grills-irs-halbig-v-sebelius-jonathan-keim/)** > > There were fireworks at the D.C. Circuit today as the IRS and HHS squared off against appellants challenging the IRS’s power grab in Halbig v. Sebelius. I attended arguments today and provide the f… The fun part: At one point, Judge Edwards claimed that because the statute was entitled the “Affordable” Care Act, the court should construe it so care would be affordable. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1788 "2014-03-27T04:21:58Z")
that’s stupid. The title of an act is now legally binding? The titles of acts often have no relation to what the law actually is. He’s just desperate for an excuse to let the administration interpret the law to mean the opposite of what it actually says. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1789 "2014-03-27T05:32:08Z")
So now it’s just a few days before the deadline and 30 million people remain without health insurance, which means a heck of a lot of voters are going to be subject to the individual mandate, at least in theory. Republicans should be microtargeting those folks like crazy, reminding them what the Democrats tried to make them do. Are they going to take that lying down? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1790 "2014-03-27T13:23:56Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Democrats do not favor any changes to the law at this time. You \*do \*know better. I’m sure of that. It’s a pity that such knowledge doesn’t affect what you say. > [@](#): > > Fixing the law is a wonderful thing. Democrats should explain how they intend to fix the law. The list is endless. > [@](#): > > And pollsters like Kaiser should ask what specifically voters want fixed about the law. Should they also ask the 11% who want to dump it and replace it with a Republican alternative what that alternative is? I know, let’s start by asking _you_. What is the Republican alternative, how does it differ in any meaningful way that actually serves the public interest better, and is it not the most important characteristic that it removes Obama’s name from it? What is \*your \*answer to the simple question of “Okay, critic, what is \*your \*plan and why haven’t we seen it yet”? Might as well start working on an answer, because every Republican who tries to campaign against Obamacare is going to have to answer it. > [@](#): > > if voters start saying scrap the mandate, let people keep their insurance, etc., then the law is pretty screwed. If there were any real-world data that said that was happening, you’d have a point. You can have all the wet dreams you like, but telling anyone else about it is cause only for embarrassment. ---
**Author:** ![2ManyTacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/3da27b/32.png) [@2ManyTacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2ManyTacos)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1791 "2014-03-27T21:24:34Z")
ACA marketplace enrollment passed the sought-after 6 million enrollee number today. That’s a pretty hefty lift, right? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1792 "2014-03-27T23:28:55Z")
> [@2ManyTacos](#): > > ACA marketplace enrollment passed the sought-after 6 million enrollee number today. That’s a pretty hefty lift, right? Not really. You have to read past the headlines. 1. The original target was 7M. It was revised last month to 6M to be more in line with what they actually thought was going to happen. That’s not what I’d call “sought after”. I call it moving the goal posts. 2. The 6M [is probably not the correct number](http://finance.yahoo.com/news/obamacare-tops-6-million-signups-190000288.html;_ylt=AwrSbnBKszRT.nwA6kZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTB0MDQxdTIwBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2dxMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDM1MV8x): > [@](#): > > But just how many people fully enroll in the program this year remains to be seen. The latest figures reflect those picking plans, not paying their premiums. Only those who pay their first month’s premium are considered enrolled, while those who don’t pay have their policy selections canceled. > > Insurers have said that the share of people sending in payments is in the 80% range. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1793 "2014-03-28T07:23:46Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > You \*do \*know better. I’m sure of that. It’s a pity that such knowledge doesn’t affect what you say. Just today, six Senate Democrats likely to lose their jobs in a few months came up with three small bore ideas. Unless that’s what you’re talking about, all I can say is, “CITE?” ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1794 "2014-03-28T07:33:47Z")
Oh, and I’d note that Democrats control the Senate. It’s not hard to pass bill out of the Senate to change ACA, and many changes will find Republicans receptive. Even if they aren’t, actually trying to pass a change to ACA says that you’re trying to change ACA rather than just talking about it because you’re asses are on the line. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1795 "2014-03-28T13:08:34Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Not really. You have to read past the headlines. > > 1. The original target was 7M. It was revised last month to 6M to be more in line with what they actually thought was going to happen. And is still 6M more than the Republicans would prefer. > [@](#): > > That’s not what I’d call “sought after”. I call it moving the goal posts. I’d call even attempting to make that point something far less respectable. ---
**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:** [March 28, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1796 "2014-03-28T13:39:01Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Oh, and I’d note that Democrats control the Senate. It’s not hard to pass bill out of the Senate to change ACA, and many changes will find Republicans receptive. Even if they aren’t, actually trying to pass a change to ACA says that you’re trying to change ACA rather than just talking about it because you’re asses are on the line. Are there 60+ Democrats? If not, the Democrats do not control the Senate as long as the rules allow 40+ members to filibuster anything that doesn’t toe the right wing Republican line. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1797 "2014-03-28T13:50:55Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Oh, and I’d note that Democrats control the Senate. It’s not hard to pass bill out of the Senate to change ACA, and many changes will find Republicans receptive. Other than total repeal, Republicans won’t support changes. At least, they won’t favor anything that might make the ACA more successful. I mean, are there any R’s that aren’t running on “repeal, repeal, repeal”? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1798 "2014-03-28T14:35:09Z")
People are talking so much about the 6 million figure, they haven’t noticed what _really_ has Republicans shitting in their pants about the ACA: [Obamacare helping millions register to vote](http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/obamacare-helping-millions-register-vote) > [@](#): > > Under the terms of an agreement announced this week between California and an alliance of good government groups, the state will mail voter registration forms to 4 million people who applied for Obamacare via California’s online exchange. The deal could end up creating 400,000 new registered Golden State voters—the actual numbers will be available later this year. > > Nationwide, Obamacare could ultimately be responsible for registering anywhere from 3 to 7 million voters—potentially over 10% of the total number of eligible voters who aren’t registered today—over the next eight years. > > “We think it’s a huge opportunity to reach people,” Sarah Brannon of Project Vote, which worked on the California settlement, said of the health care law. > > Here’s why: Under the 1993 National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which aimed to boost voter registration, people applying for public assistance—as well as DMV customers—must be offered the chance to register to vote. That means every state insurance exchange like California’s, as well as the federal exchange, will need to ask people whether they want to register. Even those people who end up getting covered via Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion or through other parts of the law, rather than through the private market, will still be offered the chance to register to vote. > > … > > In some ways, Obamacare represents the perfect voter registration tool, because there’s a high degree of overlap between the group of Americans that aren’t registered to vote and those that are uninsured and eligible for health coverage under the law: In a nutshell, both groups skew poor and non-white. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1799 "2014-03-28T17:10:22Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > And is still 6M more than the Republicans would prefer. Yes, Republicans are poopy-pants. We already know that. > [@](#): > > I’d call even attempting to make that point something far less respectable. Well, isn’t that special! However, if you’d like to debate this, I’m good. Resolved: _Changing the target from 7M to 6M is NOT a case of moving the goal posts and even if it is, one should not mention it._ Now, it might be that the poster was mistaken and thought that the original target was 6M, in which case he was simply mistaken and I corrected him. In which case we can debate: Resolved: _One should not correct posters on issues concerning Obamacare if that correction reflects negatively on that law._ ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1800 "2014-03-28T17:46:10Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Yes, Republicans are poopy-pants. We already know that. :dubious: A responsible adult approach to stating that would be along the lines of “They don’t have an alternative to the improving health care coverage, only sniping.” Which is, in fact, the case. > [@](#): > > Well, isn’t that special! > > However, if you’d like to debate this You are not doing a great job of making it seem worthwhile. > [@](#): > > Resolved: _Changing the target from 7M to 6M is NOT a case of moving the goal posts and even if it is, one should not mention it._ No, you’re still not grasping the topic. Try: “Resolved: 6 million more insured is better than 0 more insured,” and observe that forecasts are often not precise. If that sort of post doesn’t fit into a both-sides-do-it template, that’s too damn bad. > [@](#): > > Resolved: _One should not correct posters on issues concerning Obamacare if that correction reflects negatively on that law._ Nope, you’re still not getting it. Try “Resolved: If you’re going to criticize people trying to help fix a problem, you need to offer an alternative and be prepared to explain why it’s better.” Or, you can go with juvenile poopy-pants cracks instead. That’s certainly easier, although far less convincing to others. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561/1801 "2014-03-29T00:15:00Z")
It’s not 6 million more insured. You’re not only counting those who haven’t paid for plans, you’re counting those who lost their insurance and had to go to the exchanges. And there will be a lot more. Pretty much all of us, within the next few years. If you like your health insurance, don’t get too attached. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561.md?page=89) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-ongoing-opinion-of-the-affordable-care-act-title-edited/647561.md?page=91)