Ok I've had enough. I can't keep my thoughts in my head over all this anymore or it might explode. All over my Facebook feed I've been seeing people moan and whine about the inconveniences to their lives caused by the current government shutdown. Things like field trips canceled, parks closed, or unable to talk to the IRS about some issue. (um people do know that taxes were due last April right?) Honestly, the whole thing reeks of the very selfishness that these malcontents are whining about. Oh blessed hypocrisy, thou art everywhere!
The sheer ignorance of how government works, what each branch is responsible for, and why the house of representatives is doing this is absolutely lost on the masses. I recently heard the phrase "low information voters" used to describe the people who are bellyaching over this shutdown. I think that says a lot about the majority of people who whine the loudest when their 'services' are suspended, cut off, shutdown, or otherwise interrupted for any reason. They don't see past the immediate inconvenience to the real root of the issues at hand.
First, a little history lesson here for those of you who really don't understand the legislative process and how our government is funded. Apropriation Bills (laws that say how our government spends our money they collect in the form of taxes) MUST according to Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution originate in the House of Representatives. This power is given to them to be a check to the budget created by the president and make sure that our government is spending it's money wisely. (I know, insert hysterical ironic laughter here.)
So many out there blame the "Republicans" (when in fact it is only the liberty leaning Republicans in the house that are standing their ground here.) for refusing to fund the government. When in fact the blame for this lands squarely on the shoulders of those who refuse to compromise. The members of the house of representatives are doing their jobs by listening to the people who elected them and sent them to DC specifically to tackle the problems with the presidents new healthcare law. An overwhelming majority (some polls are as high as 54%) do NOT want the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). Not funding it is the only recourse those people's representatives have right now for following their constituents' wishes. Even so, they have tried to compromise with the senate and the white house. They are asking to for a year to fix the issues with in the law that the HHS has admitted exist. They have offered funding bills for things that both the senate and the white house have said are important (though non-essential according to the rules previously established) and yet the Senate (at the direction of the white house) refuses to even hear debate on those bills.
So many out there blame the "Republicans" (when in fact it is only the liberty leaning Republicans in the house that are standing their ground here.) for refusing to fund the government. When in fact the blame for this lands squarely on the shoulders of those who refuse to compromise. The members of the house of representatives are doing their jobs by listening to the people who elected them and sent them to DC specifically to tackle the problems with the presidents new healthcare law. An overwhelming majority (some polls are as high as 54%) do NOT want the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). Not funding it is the only recourse those people's representatives have right now for following their constituents' wishes. Even so, they have tried to compromise with the senate and the white house. They are asking to for a year to fix the issues with in the law that the HHS has admitted exist. They have offered funding bills for things that both the senate and the white house have said are important (though non-essential according to the rules previously established) and yet the Senate (at the direction of the white house) refuses to even hear debate on those bills.
There are so many issues I have with Obamacare that I am happy to see people standing up to try to delay or stop it. I cannot believe the lies I've heard from the white house about this reform. For instance, the president said:
There. I've said my peace. For now. I'm sure there will be more rants on another day.
I know that there are millions of Americans who are content with their health care coverage -- they like their plan and, most importantly, they value their relationship with their doctor. They trust you. And that means that no matter how we reform health care, we will keep this promise to the American people: If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. ... If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan, period. ... No one will take it away, no matter what. (Remarks By The President At The Annual Conference Of The American Medical The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, June 15, 2009)The reality is that insurance companies are leaving states that have embraced the ACA, Coverage options are very limited, and if I do want to keep my doctor and have to change insurance companies to do so my family's insurance premiums will DOUBLE. According to the Cover Oregon financial calculator my family qualifies for a monthly subsidy of $165 towards our insurance premiums. In order to get the same the coverage, deductible amount, and out of pocket maximum allowance that we currently have with a company that includes our current providers our monthly premium for a family of 5 would be $1116 per month before the "tax credit". After applying the credit it would be $951 monthly. We currently pay a pretax medical coverage contribution via my husbands employer of a little under $500 a month. Under the "Affordable" Care Act our monthly insurance premiums would almost DOUBLE. That's an extra $5400 a year in health insurance costs over what we pay right now. Add onto that the additional taxes on medical devices, the reduction in the Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts by half, and any other unknown hidden costs and this law is going to cost my family money we just don't have.
There. I've said my peace. For now. I'm sure there will be more rants on another day.
