Lincoln Film and the Affordable Care Act

[kairos12]

I watched the movie yesterday and quite liked it. As the film mostly deals with the passage of the 13th Amendment (banning slavery) I was struck by the debate currently going on in our society today. In witnessing the wave of red state governors refusing to set up their state for Health Care exchanges it reminded of the debate portrayed in the film over the passage of the anti-slavery amendment. In many ways today the debate over whether someone is afforded health care by nature of being a human being versus something you "earn" echos the debate as to whether a person only has value if he is deemed employable, and thus is entitled to health care. The linkage between work and health care chains a person to their job even if other opportunities come available to them that would benefit them, their families, and society in general. In the end, it seems that some debates never end, Democrats see people, who, at a basic level are deserving of health care regardless of economic status or birth right. Republicans see people as chattel whose existence is only worthwhile as property and can be discarded without remorse, especially if they no longer serve an economic purpose. End the linkage between health care and work. Free people.

[PATXgirl]

1. One thing that struck me was the scene Lincoln talks about the Emancipation Proclamation and giving

The citizens 18 months to think on that before choosing to reelect him for a second term. And by doing so it convinced him that the people were ready for the end of slavery. It would still be a fight, but one most Americans were ready for.

As I'm listening to it, I realized Obama signed the ACA about halfway through his first term and after 18-24 months of thinking about it, the majority of the people still voted him into a second term. That shows the majority of Americans agree that the insurance/medical system we have now needs work and we want everyone to have access to medical care.

[kairos12]

2. Well Said

[Honeycombe8]

3. "The linkage between work and health care chains a person to their job"

This has been my situation off and on for some years. It's a reason for health care that is often not discussed.

It would free millions of workers to change jobs, if they chose, to work in another field, or get a higher salary, or do a job more enjoyable. It would, seems to me, HELP the economy.

This is one reason why I think massive numbers of employers won't stop providing health care....unless getting policies on their own becomes too competitive with the employers (which hopefully will happen). But as it stands, employers use health coverage as a way to keep workers at their jobs at lower than normal wages. ESPECIALLy older workers.