Krugman: Health Care Panic, Again

[ProSense]

Health Care Panic, Again

Eduardo Porter is getting a lot of attention for his piece in today’s paper suggesting that what Republicans fear most is that Obamacare might succeed. He deserves it: it’s a very good piece. But I guess I’m surprised that so many people seem to find this a surprising and new insight. I thought it was obvious. Here’s a column I wrote back in July predicting more or less what is now happening, for exactly the reason Porter gives: GOP panic over the prospect of successful health reform.

And let’s be clear: the health reform fight has always been about more than health reform. Liberals have long viewed health reform as the opening wedge, a sort of proof of concept, in a campaign to strengthen the US safety net and reduce income inequality; that was basically what I was urging in Conscience of a Liberal, which gave its title to this blog.

Conversely, the right has long opposed health reform for exactly the same reason: it might, in the public’s mind, legitimate further government intervention to increase economic security.

But let’s also be clear that these positions are not symmetric. Liberals favored health reform both because it would work and because it might enhance their ability to push for other policies; conservatives were and are determined to kill health reform even though it would work — in fact, precisely because it would work — because it might weaken the rest of their agenda. Basically, liberals wanted to do something good that would enlighten the public; conservatives want to prevent something good because they want to keep voters in the dark.

- more -

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/02/health-care-panic-again/

Why the Health Care Law Scares the G.O.P.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/02/business/economy/why-the-health-care-law-scares-the-gop.html

Under Obamacare, Disney World Will Promote Its Part-Time Workers To Full-Time Status
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023767654

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. In other words, Mr. Krugman, it's about power.

Republicans have power and they way they hold on to it is to keep people dumb and miserable and blame it on "those damned, godless, socialists."

[SomeGuyInEagan]

5. It's always about power; because power=money.

Sometimes, I think many who claim to be conservative or libertarian are actually just damned greedy and would happily renounced their citizenship and move out-of-the-country if written a big check to do so.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. K&R and especially this -

Basically, liberals wanted to do something good that would enlighten the public; conservatives want to prevent something good because they want to keep voters in the dark.

By being a permanent minority in terms of political thought, the only way they can win is to vomit forth a massive FUD machine that not only scares their lemming supporters and tricks the apolitical into voting for them, but blocks the rest of us from being able to participate to make sure that they don't get elected.

[ProSense]

4. Yup.

They want people to believe it's the government, not the Republican Party, that sucks.

[jazzimov]

3. K&R

[Warren DeMontague]

6. And if low-mid level workers aren't kept in fear of losing their kids' insurance by their employers

They become a lot more difficult to control, under-pay, etc.

That's whats behind a lot of this.

[Dollysmom]

7. Absolutely!

Keeping workers fearful of losing insurance keeps workers fearful thus unwilling to challenge bosses. This is also of a piece with GOP weakening of education, less funding, home schooling, Christian school vouchers. Keep people fearful--sick--suspicious of their neighbors, gays, immigrants--and you can easily control them.

[gopiscrap]

9. Welcome to DU

[Jefferson23]

8. The GOP is giving it all they've got but in the end and as long as Dems keep pushing

back hard against the lies..these bastards are screwed.

There will be a time when a Republican voter's personal experience with the ACA
will be big news because it saved their life or that of a loved one..count on it.