Politically speaking, at this point, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is no longer about the outstanding reforms contained in the statute. You all know them by heart: No being kicked off insurance plans for preexisting conditions, the great preventative care regime, young adult kids being able to stay on their parents plans, etc, etc.
That's all good stuff, mind you. But that stuff is behind me now as part of the landscape that the Act will bring to fellow Americans. No, the brouhaha now over the ACA is, to me, all about Republicans demonstrating how much they hate America.
(Jump with me.)
Not everything that gets passed by the Congress has to go through a Judicial review all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In fact, few statutes do. When conversing with conservative colleagues and acquaintances, I really push this point home. And because we live in a society that values things expressed in talking points, the convo sounds like this:
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Dude, the ACA, "Obamacare", is a law that was:
- Passed by both houses of Congress, our legislative branch elected to represent the people.
- Approved by the Executive Branch via a signature of the President - elected by a majority of Americans to represent the people.
- Found to be Constitutional by any number of courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.
That's EXACTLY how our system of government is supposed to work under our Constitution. And yet Republicans are still trying to nullify this law. What the heck? Don't you Republicans love America??
[Note, when delivering this last line, look directly into the other person's eyes. Bore right in, don't say anything, don't look away, don't blink. Keep the uncomfortable silence until they give up - and they will.]
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Again, the benefits of the ACA are widely known and even accepted as popular among the American people by Republicans. The law has passed muster from all three branches of our government.
It is time to directly confront those who support nullification of this law - whether you're teacher, an accountant, or you're Rachel Maddow - and ask them directly about their fidelity to the Constitution and our Country.
For in fact, by their actions, Republicans demonstrate that they do not love America. The love Republican dogma. Period.
My dos centavos.