Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    

The 16 July 2012 NY Times has an op-ed by Bill Keller discussing "Five
Obamacare Myths." It's quite a good discussion presented as what is wrong, 
and then what is right. The five erroneous assertions/beliefs:

1. Obamacare is a job killer
2. Obamacare is a federal takeover of insurance
3. The unfettered marketplace is a better solution
4. Leave it to the states, they'll fix it
5. Obamacare is a loser, run against it, run from it, but for heaven's 
sake don't run on it.

Keller does make the point that a positive message is important, but the 
bold type in the article lists all the negatives. 

Here's what he mentions that is bold and transformative:

1. "ULTIMATELY THE ACA COULD BE A TONIC FOR THE ECONOMY...USING THE 
GOVERNMENT'S MEDICARE LEVERAGE TO MOVE DOCTORS AWAY FROM EXORBITANT 
FEE-FOR-SERVICE MEDICINE."

2. THE ACA DELIVERS "30 MILLION NEW CUSTOMERS TO THE PRIVATE INSURANCE 
INDUSTRY."

3. "'TEN PERCENT OF THE POPULATION ACCOUNTS FOR 60 PERCENT OF THE HEALTH 
OUTLAYS'...AND THEY ARE NOT REALLY IN A POSITION TO MAKE COST-CONSCIOUS 
CHOICES."

4. "OBAMACARE ACTUALLY UNDERWRITES PILOT [STATE] PROGRAMS TO REDUCE COSTS, 
AND GIVES STATES FREEDOM."

5. "AGAINST [THE ACA], MITT ROMNEY OFFERSS SOME VAGUE FREE-MARKET 
PRINCIPLES AND ONE UNAMBIGUOUS PROMISE: TO DASH THE HOPES OF 30 MILLIION 
UNINSURED, AND ADD A FEW MILLION TO THEIR RANKS BY SLASHING MEDICAID."


When all are insured and their medical needs taken care of BEFORE they 
become a systemic political, personal, and social problem, society will be 
healthier and costs will be reduced!
  

    
That was indeed a very good piece.

<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/16/opinion/keller-five-obamacare-myths.html>

The points he makes are very strong points. And I loved his ending
quote:

> If the Obama campaign needs a snappy one-liner, it could borrow this
one from David Cutler: “Never before in history has a candidate run
for president with the idea that too many people have insurance
coverage.”
  

    
That ought to be out there for sure.
  

    
They're not myths--they'er deliberate lies from Republicans. Also
heard recently from Boehner: "The Supreme Court confirmed that
Obamacare is the biggest tax increase in the [something absurd]," and
"President Obama assured you that you could keep your current health
care plan, and now he wants to take that away."
  

    
Consumers Union has a good guide that explains the ACA:
http://yourhealthsecurity.org/the_new_law
  

    
That looks like an excellent page!