Trump's Phony Victory

By Scott Galindez, Reader Supported News

27 July 17

esterday’s vote to start the debate on repealing and/or replacing Obamacare was all symbolism. The worst-kept secret in Washington is that Republicans still don’t have a plan that will get 50 votes.

The latest plan, which may come to a vote before Friday, is a being called the “skinny.” The bill would end the individual mandate and the employer mandate while eliminating the tax on medical equipment. One reason we need to fear this bill is that Senator Dean Heller from Nevada views the bill favorably. He views the bill favorably because it would not cut Medicaid funding.

Eliminating the mandate, while possibly a popular political movement, would be a back door to repeal. The mandate is what pays for coverage of pre-existing conditions. Eliminating the individual mandate would at the least cause insurance companies to raise premiums. More likely it would cause many insurance companies to get out of the healthcare market.

The Republican dilemma is still that the Freedom Caucus crowd will probably not accept a plan that doesn’t cut Medicaid and allow insurance companies to provide less coverage.

The Democrats will likely stand together and seek as few as three votes from the GOP side of the aisle to kill every Republican bill for repeal.

I, like many of you, think Obamacare needs more than tweaking, but I don’t trust the Republicans to replace it with a plan that values people over the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. Until real reform comes that puts people first, we must continue to resist Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare.

The Republicans argue that the Democrats are not offering a solution. They only have to look as far Congressman John Conyers’ expanded and improved Medicare for All bill to find the real solution.

Obamacare is not the problem – the insurance industry is the problem. We pay more and get less than other countries. If Republicans really wanted to lower costs for individuals and employers, they would eliminate private insurance and join the rest of the world and provide public healthcare for everyone.

Trump, Ryan, and McConnell want a victory so bad that before the week is out they will spin anything as repeal. We can’t allow them victory. If they really want to lower premiums and provide greater choice they will support single payer. Under single payer, you can go to whichever doctor you choose. Employers would pay less for healthcare and could hire more employees at higher wages. It’s really a no-brainer, unless you are making money in the insurance industry. No, it’s not free, your taxes will go up, but that is offset by the elimination of premiums, co-pays, and prescription drug costs. And if you get sick, everything is covered without forcing you into debt. Why continue the unsustainable health insurance system? It doesn’t need reform– it needs to be abolished.

Scott Galindez attended Syracuse University, where he first became politically active. The writings of El Salvador's slain archbishop Oscar Romero and the on-campus South Africa divestment movement converted him from a Reagan supporter to an activist for Peace and Justice. Over the years he has been influenced by the likes of Philip Berrigan, William Thomas, Mitch Snyder, Don White, Lisa Fithian, and Paul Wellstone. Scott met Marc Ash while organizing counterinaugural events after George W. Bush's first stolen election. Scott moved to Des Moines in 2015 to cover the Iowa Caucus.

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