During the Chris Hayes rebroadcast tonight, I had an interesting thought about "repeal & replace."

[MrScorpio]

Last edited Fri Feb 24, 2017, 08:04 AM - Edit history (1)

For the longest time, GOPrs were telling us that they wanted to "repeal and replace" the ACA, then after the shit starting hitting the fans for them, they pivoted to "repeal and repair." I'm sure that some have pointed this out, but neither one of these slogans makes any sense.

You know me, I love my analogies and metaphors. And this morning, from spending a little time at the dealership, I think that I've come up with another that applies to the GOPr ACA schemes.

Let's say that ACA is like Old Betsy, your solidly built older car, which still runs fine, it's all paid for and it suits just most, if not all of your current transportation needs. Kind of like my own 1996 Ford Ranger Truck, "Olive," which although it may not be a brand, spanking new 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor, she is MY cherry that only has 38,000 miles on it and still runs like a top.

Now under "repeal and replace" for trucks, I would take that perfectly adequate for my transportation needs, all paid for, still running just fine with only 38,000 mile Ranger and trade it in at the dealer for a shiny new $49,000 that I ain't got Raptor. Which makes me consider, as a truck owner, how smart is that shit for real?

I mean, who does "repealing and replacing" Olive actually help out here? I bought a couple of new cars once and what did I get? Monthly car notes, higher insurance rates, concern about every new scratch that you find on your new car, not to mention if something goes wrong with your new truck, that shit will get really, really expensive... They're all built to be that way. It's all about the aftermarket, that's where the money is made. A reliable older vehicle doesn't have as many and as much in expensive needs, it's not shiny and glamorous, but it's there for you.

Having that shiny new monstrosity is also not as care free as owning a reliable older vehicle that takes care of your needs and at a lower expense. And that's just the start with "repealing and replacing" Olive, less disposable income for me, even though I'd have way more truck than I actually need, and more of my money in the pockets of everyone from dealers (med providers) to (medical) insurers.

What if have you new truck, but can't afford it... Well, it's going to get repo'd. Not helpful at all. Going for the brass ring, only to lose it all.

With the ACA "repeal and replace," who in their right mind believes that the GOPrs would want a functioning, serviceable, self-sustaining public/private health insurance program that doesn't suck the life savings out of its users? Anyone? Of course, not, they want that shiny, new completely unsustainable monster truck that spreads your money around, all so they can brand it in their own names, instead of the black guy how got you that reliable older one. And if new truck get's repo'd, they'd say that it's ALL your fault. They wouldn't care one whit. That's how those fuckers roll.

Still with my mixing of metaphors here?

Anyway, when everyone got wind of their bullshit "repeal and replace" scheme, they gravitated to "repeal and repair." And in the contest of trucks here, that makes no fucking since at all. With "repeal," you'd trade in your reliable old vehicle, but with "repair," that puppy is being fixed up, but it's NOT yours anymore.

Uh, guys, what are were "repairing" again?

My question is, why are the GOPrs allowed, by the press especially, to get away with this bullshit for so long? No one can answer that, of course. But now that, we've gravitated from GOPr fantasizing to real possibility of taking everyone's reliable old Olives away, the owners are up in arms. And it's really, really cherry to behold.

As long as the constituents keep the GOPr run Congress's collective feet to the fire, there's going to be little that they're going to do to "repeal," "replace" or "repeal and repair." For one, these people are incompetent. They've never had a cogent plan beyond their petty sloganeering. Also, their ideas do not represent the needs and wants of the majority. ACA is a present and working FACT. Anything that GOPrs want to do will cause MORE harm than good.

We're talking about people lives and livelihoods. And although I seriously doubt the reasoning behind appealing to the basic humanity, empathy and intellect of your standard teabaggerati Congress Critter, because they ain't got none, it is super smart to get in their faces and embarrass the fuck out of them. Bravo, constituents. Bravo.

What I'm hoping here is that the people can take any success in saving Old Olive and apply it to the rest of government function that serves the needs of everyone, and in the face of the fools in the White House who are hell bent on dismantling our representative democracy.

This shit is just starting... It only makes sense to win.

[Motown_Johnny]

1. Only 38K on a '96?

As I mentioned yesterday, I sold my '94 Ranger in Dec. of '15 and it had over 300,000 miles on it. Also, it was still running fine. Are you sure that isn't 138,000? If your odometer is like mine it only has 5 digits so it would read 38,000 even though it is 138,000.

As a side note, my Explorer has over 200,000 miles on it and my Taurus more like 62,000. If Olive really has only 38,000 on it, can you put me in your will? Don't ever sell it... but if you go before I do I sure would love to take care of her for you after you are gone.



More to the point....

The (R)s claim that costs are too high with the ACA and that we do not have as much choice as we used to. The claims are bullshit since the choices we used to have sucked and the costs are increasing at a slower rate than they did previously.

One thing constantly overlooked by our "liberal" media is that the worst cost increases come from the 19 red states that did not expand Medicaid. These states skew the national average. The main problem with them is that economically they have the worst of both worlds. There are still people using emergency rooms as their primary source of care while the insurance companies need to keep up with the higher standards set by the ACA.


The (R)s broke it but they have yet to really own it. I just wish the "liberal" media would point out WTF is really going on.

[MrScorpio]

2. I'm the second owner

I knew the first owner personally and he didn't drive that much.

It's 38,000, best deal ever. I put 2,000 on it myself in the last year.


It's pretty much self-evident that everything the GOPrs are saying about the ACA is complete bullshit and they can't even come up with a coherent plan on what they want to "repair."

[Motown_Johnny]

3. That really is the best deal ever. I am jealous.

I still miss my little Ranger. I only sold it because owning 2 trucks didn't make sense so I bought the 4 door coupe to replace it.


The real problem the (R)s are running into is that the ACA is based on a Republican blueprint. It is the same approach taken by Romney in MA and that Dole ran on back in '96 (after the (R)s killed Hillarycare in '93 using the same complaints and empty promises we hear now).

It seems that now they just want to tag on some wish list items like selling insurance across state lines and medical malpractice reform. Neither of which will help the situation.

They are the dog who caught the car and are too stupid to let go.

[TexasProgresive]

4. Actually that's a great analogy mixed metaphors and all.

My "Olive" I should name is a faithful 2 tone blue 1994 F-150 that does everything I could want in a pickup. I paid cash for it 5 years ago. I don't drive it often as, well he does have a name, Thirsty, the mileage is not very good. I believe to replace this vehicle with a new one would be higher than your $45,000 figure and the new one would do nothing this one can but with lots of insurance bills and monthly payments.

It will be the same with the ACA. My concern about the ACA was that it relied on insurance companies in the 1st place. They are in the business of increasing their income not in outgoing payments. I do believe this was the only way to get it enacted. I would like to see a keep and improve by cutting the insurance companies out and replacing them with a federally run program, OH! single payer.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. It's my thought that all they wanted to do was take the credit away from President Obama

How many times did they try and fail? Wasting countless taxpayer dollars in the process. They still have no clue what they're going to do, but with Trump unexpectedly "in charge," they feel like they have yet another chance.

And I agree with you about replacing the truck. I drive a 2001 Pontiac - and I couldn't get another one even if I wanted to.

[Roy Rolling]

6. Another car veteran

Trump is a salesman with no clue on management. He manages by convincing people to do what he says, even if what he says is a management nightmare for the whole organization.

In my day, it's the same as when a dealer would appoint a salesman to run the service department. They would try to sell everybody on a managerial program that was terrible. Selling---that's what they do best. Knowing how to manage---not so much.

[CincyDem]

7. Makes me wonder..."Repair for whose benefit?"...consumers or insurance companies? n/t

[Cosmocat]

8. The meme here is a dog chasing its own tail

this is what they do with EVERYTHING - the ACA, imigration, education, etc.

They find something that the can use a political wedge, then mash it over, yelling and screaming a million times in their conservative echo chamber in simplistic, childlike ways.

YEARS of short, cut, trite phrases, YEARS of screaming about it, without even the first thought about the practical aspects of the issues.

NOW, they are in full power and after chasing their tail for all this time they have caught it ...

Well, fuck ... IT IS ACTUALLY CONNECTED TO MY ASS?

[JHB]

9. It depends on the fight between the actual ideologues and the pols...

The ideologues want it gone, and an end to Medicare and Medicaid too.

If they could get away with it, I think a block of Republican pols would prefer to "repeal and replace" by making a few tweaks and rebranding it as theirs. The ideologues and the the voter base they've created will fight that. The ideoologues tooth and nail, their base too except for some attrition as the actual effects slap some of them hard enough to knock th koolaide out of their mouths. But only some, and for many their first reaction will be to grab for another cup.