Greg Sargent: Don't sugarcoat this. Trump just called for 32 million people to lose health coverage

[highplainsdem]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/06/30/dont-sugarcoat-this-trump-just-called-for-32-million-people-to-lose-health-coverage/

Beyond this, though, it’s worth taking Trump’s tweet as an actual policy statement. Trump has now called for total repeal of the Affordable Care Act, with no guarantee of any specific replacement later, or even a guarantee that any replacement would ever materialize at all.

-snip-

We can estimate the impact of repealing those things. Indeed, the Congressional Budget Office has already done so, when it analyzed a previous version of a GOP repeal bill over a year ago. And this analysis found that repealing those things would result in 32 million people losing coverage by 2026, 19 million of them people who would lose Medicaid coverage.

-snip-

Whether Trump meant this or not, or even knew what he was calling for, are irrelevant. That’s because it could theoretically happen. In fact, conservative Senators such as Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ben Sasse of Nebraska are actively calling on fellow Republicans to go forward with repeal alone right now. Sasse doubled down by tweeting an endorsement of Trump’s demand.

Trump, it pains me to inform you, is the president. When he calls on Congress to do something, he is basically saying that he would sign it if they did do it. There is no reason to treat this as trivial or frivolous, simply because Trump is an ignoramus and a buffoon. Indeed, Republicans have in fact voted for repeal multiple times in the past. The only reason they aren’t doing so right now is because repeal cannot pass, now that there is a Republican in the White House who would actually sign such a bill. (Yes, Trump would sign such a bill in two seconds. He called for one today, remember?)

-snip-

[onecaliberal]

1. K&R

[madashelltoo]

2. To Wipe Out OBAMAcare?

You bet he would. This nut's hate runs deep.

[spanone]

3. k&R... he. doesn't. care....he just wants to 'win'

game show host.

[riversedge]

4. More correct is that TRUMP IS TAKING AWAY HEALTH INSURANCE FOR 32 MILLION

[Turn CO Blue]

7. Agree, more correct. When did we start calling insurance the same as care and why?

Insurance is just a form of gambling at the very root of it. And confabulating health care (treatment by a doctor or nurse) with insurance (financial protection) gives insurance companies all the power.

And they do have that power because it's part and parcel of the process now. There are very few doctors (if any) that will deal with a cash-payment patient.

If you call in to try to see a doctor or go to an urgent care clinic, the second thing the receptionist asks you is what kind of insurance you have.

Maybe progressive activism should have focused on two fronts besides trying to defend the ACA - maybe we should have put some of our efforts into bolstering the hundreds of sliding-scale clinics we used to have or in those giant health or dental clinics the counties used to have. Making sure people actually get seen by a doctor and get their needed physicals and tests is the real answer here.

[LiberalLovinLug]

14. Here in Canada it is always referred to as Health Care.

Under a single payer system, we don't even use the term "insurance". Even though technically it may be one giant insurance model (with mandatory tax support). But its not even thought of as that. Health care is simply a right you have from cradle to grave, no matter the seriousness of the accident or illness. You make an appointment with your doctor, see them, and then leave. "insurance" is not in our vocabulary when it comes to medical help.

[Eliot Rosewater]

5. The election was stolen by on the ground russian agents and gop operatives.

We are at war with Russia and deplorable republicans.

If you have anyone in your life who is not a white, christian str8t male, their lives are in danger, today.

Right now, in danger.

Every republican in the WH must be removed , peacefully, but removed and allow the elected president, HRC, to move in.

Gorsuch must be removed GRRRRRRRR

[Iliyah]

6. The present GOPs' don't give a rats arse

[procon]

8. AND if repealed everyone with workplace insurance will loose all the benefits

and protections that were part of the ACAs mandate. Good job!

[pandr32]

13. Important point!

[Gothmog]

9. Trump hates his base

[oberliner]

10. He got the idea from Ben Sasse

Let's not pretend any of this is emanating from Trump himself - he does not know anything about this subject.

This is something that is being pushed by Congressional Republicans.

[Perseus]

16. You are 100% correct

Trump is a decoy, and doing his job as one very well...while he makes noise, the evil-doers are busy in the back doing their dirty work. Please note I did not say "his dirty work", I said "their dirty work" because as oberliner pointed out, it is the congressional republicans, trumposo has no clue what is going on.

[american_ideals]

11. Sargent speaking the truth, one of few journalists

We need more journalists like Sargent who will speak the truth, not just report on what people say.

When the media reports and repeats people's words without regard to truth, people are encouraged to lie to manipulate the media, and that's how America ends up with liars like Trump and totally false policy programs like the GOP.

[Hekate]

12. KnR

[Perseus]

15. Does the US president have too much power?

What is going on? It seems that since Trump took office everyone s&(ts in their pants every time he opens his mouth to spew some sort of threat to the country.

Beware, not so much of the decoy who is Trump, beware of the people behind him, they don't make noise, they act and destroy. Be aware of the dog that doesn't bark.

[oberliner]

20. Congress is leading the way on this

Trump is following their lead.

[Grammy23]

17. This cornered rat who is currently occupying the White House....

and it IS an occupation--- is desperate to put something in the WIN column. It doesn't matter who gets hurt or who dies. All he wants to be able to do is try to sell it as delivering on a promise to repeal Obama Care to the dumbasses who voted for him. As things have gotten worse for him and he truly has less and less to brag about, he feels compelled to win at all costs. He is truly a sick monster who should be removed as quickly as possible. If the people who can accomplish this task continue to leave us dangling in the wind don't act soon, we need to turn our wrath toward all of them come next Election Day......IF there is one. 😳😵😒

[safeinOhio]

18. I would hate to be a repub senator that votes

for this crap. Bye, bye.....3 years from now.

[Texin]

19. It would be nice to think there WILL be an election in three years. Or any thereafter.

I don't think there's a citizen of this country who will be safe from these monsters and their evil, despicable agenda of class warfare on the poor and disenfranchised. They would gleefully cancel elections and just say, "Deal with it!"