Mike Luckovich for August 25, 2013

The only thing wrong with the ACA is that it gives us an excuse not to fix our evil, vile healthcare ‘system’. Americans who object to a one-payer system not tied to employment are complete stark-raving bonkers.I’ve lived under the UK and the US systems and the UK’s (even though it isn’t the best implementation of a National Health) is cheaper, and (for most things) far better. For example, you don’t go bankrupt in the UK if you get sick.

It wasn’t the “Americans” who objected to a single-payer system; it was the idiot GOP in congress who refused to let it be considered. And I’m going to enjoy watching the GOP destroy themselves. Two more elections should do it.

A single payer system is simply socialized medicine which failed in Russia and will fail here.

It’s OBAMA who has delayed 1/3 of his OWN implementations! How is it POSSIBLE he even TRIES to blame the GOP on that???

MStevenson58, gmgodsil: Do you believe the Affordable Care Act will “derail” – or do you hope it will? There’s a big difference in motivation.`I consider much of the opposition to ACA (or “Obamacare” if you will) – or social programs generally – is much more rooted in philosophy than in doubts of practicality or social benefit. All too many simply can not abide the thought that someone “unworthy” will game the system and receive unmerited benefits. (They tend to be they types who hold that the only roads which need to be paved are the ones they personally use.)`Predictably, with something as broad reaching and involved as ACA a number of participants will experience their difficulties and inequities. (That never happens in the private sector, right?) And those who hold that any program they oppose which is not a 100% success is therefore a 100% failure will tirelessly illustrate these missteps.

I remain in total awe of those in the US who splutter on about “socialism” blah blah… I lived in Canada and France and have always been taken care of medically by their wonderful systems. No-one in either country would deem this “socialism”… it is simply good policy to keep your citizens in good health. DUH. How anyone in the US can complain about “Obamacare” is obviously either rich enough to pay privately, or completely devoid of empathy and understanding for those who can’t. Either way, they are idiots.

Remember the old saying: “If you can’t say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything at all?”

“Who is in charge, Walker—not the republicans you blame for everything.”

What, exactly, is it you want?

On the one hand, you claim (perhaps not you personally, but your side) that the President is not a good leader. On the other, this government is set up to require a consensus of three branches of the executive – which is to say, the ‘leader’ of the country is a figurehead, not a dictator.

What you are objecting to is the actions of the elected representatives of the people, not of some official, legitimate leader.

The President is a figurehead. The problem in this country is Congress, because whoever you elect has already been vetted, approved, and got his or her marching orders from the Party.

As long as we continue to tamely elect their nominees, we are dead in the water.

@quipss & Omnius

The ONLY reason Obama put a delay on implementing parts of his disaster is because of the mid-term elections. He KNOWS if it started now there’s no way the Dems would ever win another election.

If you live in a blue state this will work great. In red states not so good. In my state they are not expanding medicaid so there are low income people who will get lower prices on medical costs, , BUT, if your income is too Low, they have to pay more.So, as usual, red states are making things harder the lowest income people.

Once again, I put the question to Republicans/Fox “news” viewers:Do you want the current American health care system to be improved? -No answers so far except, of course, some variation of ‘not Obamacare’, which isn’t the question. It is already well known that Republicans/Fox “news” viewers deeply hate Obama, Obamacare, and everything Obama does or does not do.

Yes, waiting for Skeptic and all those “individualist” righties to perform their own bypass or heart valve surgeries as well, because the world is an “I’m not dependent on anyone” world! Just because something is good for society, like many nations have proven with “single payer” type systems, doesn’t mean it’s “socialism”.

My daughter and her “ultra-right” husband moved to New Zealand two years ago. He’s an engineer, she’s an RN. While she has noted New Zealand could improve some things, like better PREVENTATIVE CARE programs, the system is far better than what she worked with in the U.S., financially, and treatment-wise. A note on that too, all “medically necessary care” is covered by the “insurance” you have called taxes. If you want elective NON-Medically necessary treatments, like face lifts, or totally elective procedures, you either pay yourself, or carry EXTRA insurance (think supplemental coverage for Medicare here for NECESSARY CARE) to cover the cost.

That system would work well here, and if the outrageous profits given to drug companies and insurance companies were controlled, like with VA, or in the case of excess insurance profits the ACA, costs will come down, but doctors, hospitals, drug companies, and insurance companies still aren’t going to come even CLOSE to “going broke”, but the people would be better served.

The real issue is to look at ignoring the “corporate monopoly” activity that has received the blessings of Republicans in Congress for quite some time, and yes, the Democrats HAVE lacked the “scrotal internals” to call them on it.

How CAN you btw buy a drug manufactured (sort of) in the U.S. from Canada, where that drug seller still makes a profit, plus shipping, for LESS, sometimes MUCH LESS than from a U.S. pharmacy?

@braindead08

My healthcare is just fine as it is. It doesn’t need to be messed with. As it is, no answer will be satisfactory with you. At opposition to Obamacare to YOU is an opposition to Obama. When in reality it’s an opposition to his POLICY! But…you’re too brain dead to realize that.

The only time I ever shut down a discussion was in Vancouver in 1972. BC had finally (by federal edict) gone on the Douglas health plan and there was a six-week waiting list for elective surgery from those who couldn’t afford it before. Naturally there were complaints. I said, “You can always use our system.” They crowded around to hear what it was. “If you can’t afford it, you die.” These were active co-op workers. I never heard any other word on the subject. A year later, when I had moved there, the waiting list had been used up and the only consideration was scheduling the operating rooms. My doctor, who practiced under both systems, said, “I can’t see that I practice medicine any differently now that I no longer worry about being paid.” His waiting room wall was papered in his research published in peer-reviewed medical journals.

If his opinions bother you so, why even make the effort to view his work?Just so you can rant and name-call and insult? Why irritate yourself, and others?We won’t miss you if you leave.

Please feel free to join PAJ in the “Exit” line.If Luckovich and his followers upset you so, do yourself and everyone else a favor and quit viewing his work. Hang out with Lisa Benson, or better yet Mallard Filmore, cartoonists more in line with your kind of “thinking.”We promise not to be upset by your leaving.

When you see followers of the GOP doing their best to limit and curtail health care for so many in this country (women, the elderly, the handicapped, the poor), the irony of listening to them criticize “Obamacare” is like listening to Al Capone speak IN FAVOR of Prohibition (which he did, because the 18th Amendment made him rich).

@beaindead08

There was a long time I went withOUT healthcare. But guess what? I worked hard. No handouts. Saved. Scrimped. Until eventually I built up enough to start gaining what I needed in life. If you’re ABLE bodied, you should DO the same. But as it is, you and your like who just like to lay prostrate Obama’s feet as long as he keeps giving you things. People like YOU are going to BANKRUPT this country!

You’re lookling at Obama through the lenses of your irrational hatred for the man himself. The problem with myopia is that you can’t see the forest for the tree you have your nose against.

You’re looking at Obama through the lenses of your irrational fairy tale for the man himself. The problem with this scenario is that your Emperor has no clothes.

Hopefully your right. So far (thanks to Obamacare) I lost my health insurance and my wife will next year.

Socialized medicine is not all bad. I lived in Japan for several years, and was delighted to find that my dental bill copay was a paltry $10, and that was with work on two crowns and a filling!

Let’s ask UPS employees if losing their family plan coverage last week as the latest large company to slash health care insurance coverage agree….

lied through her teeth, "You don’t get prompt treatment, either. I know people who live there (and in Canada), and that system sucks big time,. Most of them have their own private insurance, if they can afford it.

As DrC said before me, I don’t believe you either. Want a real anecdote?

I live in the UK, and today met up with my cousin in London enroute to Jo’burg and who now lives in Toronto. I hadn’t seen her since 1997. She loves the Canadian system. She’s lived in Switzerland and South Africa and states that Canada is by far the best system.

I have yet to encounter long waiting periods in the UK. My mother has had her hip replaced, for free. They would like to replace her other hip but she’s the one resisting. The GP is insisting. She’s 80. Although both her knees were replaced by the Portuguese equivalent of the NHS, the SNS, she is seen by British doctors who ensure they are fine. She is also well accompanied by a cardiologist. She had a stent inserted. She’s had a minor heart-attack a few years ago and was seen to immediately. She’s once been rushed to hospit6al by ambulance within minutes. Her cataracts are being monitored (2 opinions state unless affecting her vision, not to operate just yet but she can elect to have them corrected).Her GP also advised her about the dangers of her developing type 2 diabetes so, to avoid more medication, she is following a stricter diet. She was given a blood testing apparatus. The testers are also provided free of charge to her. She maintains her diet, is losing weight, exercises, and has kept diabetes at bay. Her heart is much better. Just her hip isn’t (arthritis is a bitch).

I don’t hear her complaining about the medical care she receives here. How much does she pay? Nothing.I do, on her behalf, as do my brothers and sister who all reside in Britain. We pay taxes. I also contribute to others who are unable to pay for their medical bills. I’m happy with that because I know that when I will need it one day, it will be provided and I won’t go bankrupt.

Now, go bs someone else.

Obviously, this Strip hit a big Nerve. That dark shadow in the back of the racists minds that the Black President will succeed. Excuse me: Continue to succeed. I am so grateful to the Tea Baggers for destroying the power of the right wing with their fascism—America’s own Taliban. Here come the train. I’m onboard.