Are American voters stupid?

[watcher1]

So suggests Jonathan Gruber of MIT and one of the architects of the American Care Act, aka Obamacare.  Several videos have surfaced with him saying the concept behind Obamacare was so unpopular that "a lack of transparency" in writing the law was a "huge political advantage" in getting it passed. As was, he said, "the stupidity of the American voter."

According to the NY Times in a 2012 report, it was Gruber's research that convinced the Obama Administration that health care reform could not work without requiring everyone to buy insurance. Gruber was also paid $400,000 to advise the Obama government.  He is also on record saying that certain subsidies the government now provide for insurance coverage were deliberately kept out of the law to encourage states to set up insurance exchanges.  Most states didn't create exchanges, meaning millions of Americans stand to lose their subsidies if the challenge goes to the Supreme Court.

But why does he call us voters stupid?  Gerrymandering in the states have all but guaranteed once a politician is elected it would be very hard to unseat them. Or does he mean we are so gullible that we believe what the politicians tell us? 

[joan1984]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adrdmmh7bMo

Professor Gruber has billed the U.S. Government Agencies over
Two Million Dollars for Consulting Services related to Medicare,
Medicaid, Social Security, and the Affordable Care Act... and he
also consulted on Romney Care.

The President only heard yesterday about him, he said....always seems to be the case, doesn't it, but if the President only reads The Washington Post, or gets his news from Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, maybe that is the problem.

Nancy's apparent Alzheimer's prevents her from remembering who Professor Gruber is, she said recently, but of course she has sung his praises back in the Obamacare passes with ZERO Republican votes days.

If anyone here is just hearing bout Professor Gruber's comments, and needs to read 'sources' to get familiar, please think about where you get your news... this is old stuff. The videos date to 2012, and the past two weeks have been all over the news, just not reported by the sources you may be seeing.

Are you stupid? Are we stupid? Think about that, as this law is repealed, please, and all the hand wringing that will be in that process.

[watcher1]

It's the "Affordable Care Act."

Please post links to your sources.

And yes, they are.  Just look at the mid-term turn out and results.

My sense of patriotism got the better of me.  Correction  noted.

My source was from the Chicago Sun-Times, a noted liberal paper.

[Elizabeth]

I'll stick with my "Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance"..thank you very much.

Love,
Liz

[coacheric]

I'll stick with my "Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance"..thank you very much.

Love,
Liz

Until your monthly rates are so high that you have no option other than to drop it. I know for HAP we pay close to $400 a month for the four of us an I've heard we are getting off cheap.

[joan1984]

$400 a month is a low price.Wonder what the new deductible will be? some are facing $6000 to $9000 deductibles, as well as higher rates.

Pre-2009 monthly payments for $1500 deductible Blue Cross and Shield for a single woman in DC was about $150 a month... now well over $400 a month, with far higher deductible.

So much for saving the family of 4 $2500 a year...

If you have $6000 to $9000 set aside for a one year deductible, per person covered by your insurance, why do you even need insurance?

I'll stick with my "Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance"..thank you very much.

Love,
Liz

Until your monthly rates are so high that you have no option other than to drop it. I know for HAP we pay close to $400 a month for the four of us an I've heard we are getting off cheap.

[Katiebee]

Talking about HSA plans?

[Athos_131]

It's the "Affordable Care Act."

Please post links to your sources.

And yes, they are.  Just look at the mid-term turn out and results.

My sense of patriotism got the better of me.  Correction  noted.

My source was from the Chicago Sun-Times, a noted liberal paper.

The Sun-Times is a piece of shit.

[watcher1]

It's the "Affordable Care Act."

Please post links to your sources.

And yes, they are.  Just look at the mid-term turn out and results.

My sense of patriotism got the better of me.  Correction  noted.

My source was from the Chicago Sun-Times, a noted liberal paper.

The Sun-Times is a piece of shit.

If I posted from the Tribune, a conservative paper, I would have gotten flack.  But I agree, the Sun-Times has fallen on hard times and are trying to lure readers to their internet site, as are many papers. But a city like Chicago needs two newspapers to keep politicians somewhat honest.

[joan1984]

HSA plans make sense, IF there is no 'use it or lose it' provision; IF the money earns a reasonable amount of interest while encumbered; IF one may withdraw it for things other than paying Healthcare bills to Insurance Companies or Hospitals, such as to pay Dentist, for Eyeglasses, for nontraditional medicines and care like Acupuncture and other items; if the money is withdrawn before taxes are even calculated, with no income limits; and, if the money is held free from any tax penalty for withdrawal, as well as not being counted for the purpose of determination of new worth in any manner, such as being called an asset in Divorce or Civil matters, or evaluation for Medicaid and Child Care, and Welfare assessment, etc.

Allow it to grow,  as if it was in a IRA, or create provisions for money in a IRA to be withdrawn to pay for similar circumstances without any tax penalty, and we already have the provision needed.

Now allow competition nationwide for all Health Insurer Plans, and provide for a few select items from the ACA, and we have something worth consideration by Congress, by whatever name is necessary. The mumbo jumbo of the existing law needs to be exorcised by full repeal, and removal of the bureaucracy created with it, of course.

Talking about HSA plans?

[Katiebee]

Most people I know do not like HSA plans. They are limited in catestrophic illnesses.

[joan1984]

Need to be made viable for all, fewer restrictions, good interest rates, ready access for reinbursement or for payment, use to pay insurance premiums monthly, specific expenses, and the like.

[Katiebee]

Sounds like the the ACA.

[joan1984]

quite the opposite

Sounds like the the ACA.

[Katiebee]

No, I think not. You are promoting a single plan type, the ACA ENCOMPASES many plan types. One size does not fit all.

[Lois]

How does an HSA benefit those with no money to fund their HSA?

HSA's only make sense for those with a disposable income after basic necessities are covered.  You've just excluded almost 50% of the US population.  That is not a solution to the problem.

[joan1984]

How do people who cannot afford to fund a Healthcare Savings Account pay for their Obamacare insurance? If a tax free payroll deduction would not help them, rather than a after tax deduction from their pay, than how will those folk care for themselves? What is their short term, and long term plan to exist as a family entity?

Choices is the answer. Live in a less expensive place, eat less expensive food, drink tap water only if needed, no tobacco, no alcohol, no expensive toys, or electronics, or automobiles. Take the bus. Walk. Move to a place where you can take the bus, or walk.

Or is the plan to be on the dole, let your neighbors pay for your health care, and for your rent assistance, and for your food, and medicines, and other essentials a responsible person would plan for and pay for in one way or another.

How does an HSA benefit those with no money to fund their HSA?

HSA's only make sense for those with a disposable income after basic necessities are covered.  You've just excluded almost 50% of the US population.  That is not a solution to the problem.

[Katiebee]

You really don't understand. The ACA is a private insurance program for people who DO NOT have employer sponsored plans. There is NO employer deduction for ACA plans.

You are so far from the actual reality that your suggestions cannot be given credence.

Joan you have a great deal in common with Marie Antoinette, neither of you have a clue to the actual situation.

Telling people to eat cake when they don't even have bread is not only callous but stupid.

[Lois]

There is stupidity, ignorance, and in Joan's case: brainwashing.