As we close in on March 31st, end of the registration for early ACA sign-up, we must not think we can rest on our laurels. The GOP, Koch brothers et al won't rest. They don't want the law and they'll continue to try to repeal it. Just because a law has passed and benefits the people it was intended to benefit, don't think there aren't those who won't still try to overturn it.
Below I'll repost a diary I did last October on Catastrophic Medicare and how even after it became law and benefited those it was intended to benefit, those who opposed it still came after it and in the end won the war.
Just because the Affordable Care Act is law doesn't mean it can't be repealed, it's been done before. In 1989 the MCCA ( Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act Of 1988 ) was repealed before it even had a chance to work. So when you see the GOP (primarily the Republicans in the US House of Representatives) talking about repealing ACA aka Obamacare, there's precedent.
I was selling Medicare supplements back then, the MCCA would have eliminated the need for my product. And that is one of the major differences between ACA and MCCA. The MCCA eliminated the need for insurance companies' involvement and ACA incorporates insurance companies as part of plan.
But the primary reason MCCA failed was ignorance. Most of my clients would have gone from paying $200 a month to and insurance company to paying and additional $40 a month premium out of their Social Security check. Which as you can see would have saved many of my clients a net of $160 a month. Leading the charge at the time against MCCA and adding to the misinformation was AARP, which at the time was nothing more than a marketing instrument for Medicare Supplement insurance. (If you've seen the adds, you realize this is true again.)
So if you think the battle for ACA is even close to being over, think again. Incorporating insurance companies into the program was and is helpful, but the health insurance companies are in it for the profit and ACA holds them accountable for delivering more services to their clients by eliminating lifetime caps, pre-existing conditions etc. They like the mandate for everyone to be covered but they'd prefer not to have to pay for everything.
The battle is only begun. Getting the website going is only a skirmish. We're in for a long slog.
On with the games!!
Mojo Friday Guidelines
Disclaimer; Kinda like the Pirates Code, they're just guidelines, meant for fun. They aren't hard and fast rules.
1) If you comment you have to recommend all comments. (in order to receive mojo you have to give mojo. It's only good mojo manners.)
2) Everything you say may be taken as a joke (so if you ask a question, expect a silly answer)
3) You must recommend the diary (and pimp it unapologetically)
4) You don't have to comment to recommend.
5) You can't steal my idea (right, like that ain't goin' to happen. It has in numerous forms, I'm flattered!)
6) Mojo mojo mojo mojo, mojo mojo mojo.
7) TexDem (that's me) is not bound by the guidelines. Neither are you
Mojo Friday Goals
Disclaimer; These are mostly here for nostalgia, the site has changed so much and the servers have been upgraded to the point I don't think we could fuck with the site with 1000 people participating. 2007 it ain't.
A. At least 300 different commenters and 1000 comments by 1:30 PM EST and 1500 by 5:00 PM EST Friday Night that it's posted.
B. 100 recommends for each comment, at least.
C. Stay on Recommend List at least five hours (this requires some strategic planning by you guys, refer to guideline #3)
D. At least 200 diary recommends. 300 would be better, spread the word.
E. And always, fun fun fun.
F. Have at least 75% average participation rate as seen here in the Mojo Friday Postgame Show by Woodtick and bjedward.
G. (New) Have at least 30 kossacks over 90% participation (see here for some tips).
H. Overload the servers with recommends, not to mention dominate Top Comments Mojo list. (we do tend to mess with the site with all of our recommends at one time)(also, to dominate the Top Comments Top Mojo we need at least 50 comments with over 200 recommends, see guideline B)
I. That's enough for now. (Have a suggestion? Post it.)
MKinTN posted a diary to help everyone achieve greater success called How to Succeed at Mojo Friday Without Really Trying.
For those of you new to MF (Mojo Friday) we have our own lingo about a few things. Thank's to MF'er Jez (the link will explain) go to this diary for a little more fun and explanation. Official Mojo Friday Snecktionary.