It Works.
That's it. Any rationale put forth can be traced back to those 2 words. After Hurricane Katrina, Paul Krugman penned an Op-ed titled "Miserable by Design." This should be required reading by all political television pundits. In essence, Republican dogma is that government doesn't work. Put incompetent people in responsible positions, and when government fails say, "I told you so."
More people have insurance than before the law. More people are getting the care they needed. Fewer people are showing up at emergency rooms with no coverage. Insurance companies that did not participate last year are getting in this year. Companies that did are expanding coverage. Cost increases have slowed since implementation and in some cases are even decreasing. In other words, It works.
This is the essential divide between Democrats and Republicans. Republicans always say government is the problem and Democrats want you to be dependent on government. Democrats say that government CAN be A solution. If you, or your friends, have ever received Social Security, Food Stamps, Unemployment, and now you are off the program, you know that it helped you. It also did not MAKE you dependent on the program.
S*#t hits the fan. One party wants you to be free to s*#t near fans and wants companies to be free to place fans where you s*#t. The other party says maybe government should help clean up when that happens. Like Bill Murray said, "S*#t happens, somebody's gotta deal with it. And Who Ya gonna call?"