Torpedoed

What did people do before there was health insurance?
They died a lot.

   The president warned that he would stop government payments to insurance companies as subsidies for low income folk who can't afford health coverage, unless Democrats bow to his wishes and join his "repeal and replace" effort to overturn the Affordable Care Act.
   This kind of threat is the same "get with the program or go away" strategy that the administration has used before, and continues the bullying tactics that may work during real estate negotiations, but can only backfire on those who use it in politics and government.
   The president may be within his legal right to stop the subsidies, but the social impact on those who now have coverage because of the Affordable Care Act will be catastrophic. They stand to lose it, and many others who would otherwise sign up for health care insurance through the program will be unable to do so.
   Result: Millions of Americans without adequate health care. That will mean an increase in the death rate from untreated or inadequately treated illness or injury.
   Many American will remember the days when health care insurance was available only to those who could afford the premiums, or were wealthy enough so that it didn't matter.
   Then came the wage and price freeze imposed during and after World War II, which meant companies could not attract employees by offering higher pay. Instead, they offered side benefits, including pension plans and health insurance. Incidentally, these additional benefits also provided tax deductions for the employer, so both worker and company gained.
   Still, part-time workers do not typically get such benefits, and low wage workers can't afford the expense.
   The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare and modeled on the Republican program begun in Massachusetts under then Gov. Mitch Romney, resolved that issue.
   Oddly, there are many folk who praise the Affordable Care Act, but recoil in anger when asked about Obamacare.
   After years of condemning Obamacare and threatening to repeal and replace it as their first priority in their new administration, the attempt to do so crashed.
   Now, the Republican president is using bullying tactics to get his way and force Democrats to bend to what he wants.
   Question: Why should they? Millions of Americans now have health care insurance they did not have before, which they would lose if the Bully in Chief gets his way.
    Like trying to get a mule to move, if you want to tell him something, you have to get his attention first.
   New elections are coming up for those who vacated seats in Congress to take jobs in the Republican administration.
   Be warned.