Richard wrote:But does it really reduce the deficit? Obamacare has far reaching effects that are not self-contained or included in the 84 billion that it is estimated to save over the next 10 years. And remember, those are estimates, not actual savings yet. It doesn't appear that you read to the line where the article that I posted said that 2012 actual costs for Medicare will exceed estimates by 26.4 billion. That is just 2012. Medicare's problems are being exacerbated by the cuts to fund Obamacare.
Only time will tell whether the CBO's estimates are accurate. However, the bill is about healthcare reform and brings about a lot of needed improvements & consumer protections. Cost is not the only issue. Besides, the status quo wasn't working either... so until something better comes along, it doesn't make sense to go backwards. As for Medicare, I've read that the cost savings are to be had by policies that reduce waste, increase quality of care, and cut spending in wasteful areas. Articles I've read say that healthcare providers are already making major changes to provide better care for less.
Richard wrote:Obama also talks a great deal about the "rich" needing to pay more taxes. His health care law already does that. I haven't seen a single economist say that raising taxes will not hurt our sputtering economy, but yet he still wants more. The best way for the deficit to improve is for our economy to improve.
And one of the ways to improve the economy is to fix the major problems holding it back, like healthcare, among other things. Unfortunately the bill doesn't go far enough in doing that and more should be done, like more to control costs. An efficient single-payer system is the ultimate answer, but the public hasn't figured that out yet.
As for taxes, the 'Bush tax cuts' primarily benefited the wealthy and look where we are now. I'll have to agree with Obama on this one too, tax cuts for the wealthy don't work to strengthen the middle class, which is under attack and shrinking.
Richard wrote:Obamacare is funded by deep cuts to Medicare (which will help it to run large deficits) and large tax increases (which will not help our sputtering economy). When you look at the financial effects that Obamacare has on other things............ the rosy picture you are trying to paint just isn't real.
The "rosy" picture I am trying to paint is that it's a move forward in many areas. What do you want to do? Go back to the status quo that was self-destructing? That wasn't working either, and was even worse... so if you don't like Obamacare, what is your better idea? I know everyone claims to have better ideas, but the reality of the situation is that there is no magic solution, and getting Congress to pass anything so significant is virtually impossible. And, as you likely know, they tried for DECADES to pass significant healthcare reform and FAILED. Like Obama or not, he got it done. If the GOP somehow manages to destroy it, then they won't do crap replacing it, or will pass some little, practically meaningless, reform and call it a replacement.
So bottom line is that, as imperfect as it may be, the ACA still moves us forward.
HAHAHAHAHAHAH 
