The deficit and Obamacare

Obamacare is failing.

I just got a call from a reader who attempted to sign up for Obamacare. She was declined for a pre-existing condition. She was told she could get “free” health care by signing up for Medicaid but that she didn’t make enough money for Obamacare.

So here is a woman who can and wants to pay for her own health care but according to the law her only choice is to accept free care. They don’t make much but they manage their income well and could afford reasonable premiums.

Her pre-existing condition is pregnancy. If she had a major disease or condition with huge expenses she could sign up.

Another woman has been paying her own insurance for several years. The premium was $49.00 a week. It was a stretch for her but she was doing it. Under Obamacare her premium is over $150 a week which is beyond her ability to pay. She isn’t a fan of the “Affordable Care Act” because it isn’t affordable.

Over four million Americans have lost their health care due to Obamacare. 2.2 million have signed up. Thanks to Obamacare two million fewer Americans have health insurance. Supporters call this a success.

I also received this letter: Dear Sir, You recently accused congress and our president of spending money like drunken sailors. As a former drunken sailor I take offence at that. I always had to quit spending and drinking when the money ran out.

The headlines last week read: December deficit down. This doesn’t mean better management. It doesn’t mean less debt. It doesn’t mean anything except some money was paid into the treasury earlier than expected. In simple terms, if your family is spending 100 dollars a week more than you make you have a deficit of 400 dollars a month. If your boss gives you your January paycheck in December, you don’t have a deficit BUT your debt is the same.

Our national debt isn’t a Republican or Democrat problem. BOTH spend like drunken sailors. Democrats like to claim there was a surplus under Clinton and that the Obama administration is only paying for “George Bush’s wars.” Both are lies.

The Republicans like to claim Regan balanced the budget and that they are fiscally conservative. Both are lies.

Both sides like to use misleading information like “percentage of increase” of the debt.

Suppose you borrow one dollar. If you previously owed 10 dollars that would be a 10 percent increase. If you previously owed only one dollar it would be a 100 percent increase in debt. Or if you previously owed 100 dollars, a one percent increase in debt.

Percentage of debt is all smoke and mirrors. Since 1971 the national debt has increased UNDER EVERY PRESIDENT AND EVERY CONGRESS.