Quote:I don't think that the public market should be allowed to undercut the private market. To compete, yes, but not to undermine. I actually like Obamacare's income-based subsidies to make healthcare more affordable, and I don't mind paying taxes towards subsidies.

 

Subsidies don't make anything more affordable.  In fact, they artificially increase demand, relieve the producer from external market pressure and actually increase cots over time.  


 

What I hate is how it was implemented with a heavy hand, penalties (!) for people who don't have insurance, and what appears to have been a wink-nudge agreement that the big insurers could bail as soon as Obama left office.

 

You just said you don't mind paying a tax towards the subsidies and now you're complaining about the main tax driver for the subsidies.  Sounds like you should make up your mind.  


 

Basically, in principle I like the ACA, but it was clearly a rushed, half-aced plan designed to pass Congress by a hair, not something designed to be a long-term solution.

 

In short you heard the word affordable and the liberal parts of your heart started going pitter patter.  

 

Subsidies don't make things cheaper, they're just a way to transfer cost.  BIG DIFFERENCE.  

 

And as to your above point about public markets, you have medicaid, medicare, S chip, SS disability and 3k per child income tax credit for the working class.  We really needed a whole other 2 thousand page entitlement?  

 

but hey, they said the word affordable so that must be good right?

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