In Canada, it’s not mandated. You just pay your taxes and get healthcare in exchange. Provinces each run their own health care and education systems, with the feds kicking in transfer grants to provide additional funding.
And if it hadn’t been for the Republican obstructionism throughout the Obama presidency, it’s possible that something like that might have been negotiable. You can’t negotiate with folks who refuse to acknowledge your existence, however.
Nor here (anymore).
That’s definitely one way to do it, and from what I understand, works fairly well.
Yeah, I never really bought into that as much more than Democratic talking points. I mean sure, Republicans could, and do, say the same thing now that a GOPer is in office. But to me, that’s just not an argument that carries too much weight with people who aren’t strictly partisan.
Surely there were Republicans who wanted none of it, but there were others who attempted to bring forward alternative ideas. But as the Democrats had the Congress and the Presidency, their consent wasn’t really needed too much.
Uh… Mike? Party of No speech? Eric Cantor? Voting against their own bills? Arguably the most significant political strategy of a generation? Resulted in the rise of the tea party?
I mean, it was arguably the defining political movement of that entire decade, and both marked the result of Gingrich’s work the previous decade and the beginning of a lot of the stuff we’ve dealt with in this one. I’m legitimately surprised you haven’t read about this, it was a huge deal, and there’s been a lot of debate as to whether it was worth it (it resulted in Cantor himself getting primaried which was at least funny).
I thought the tea party arose more over bank bailouts than anything else? Healthcare just kept the movement going for a bit, but ultimately strangled it as Democrat-leaning supporters dropped out. If you recall, in the beginning the tea party and occupy movements both shared some crossover members and beliefs.
I think the only negotiation that would’ve suited Democrats in the period from January 2009 to January 2011 would have been how many weiners do we make the GOP suck? I don’t seem to recall there being much willingness on the part of either party, as the two parties were on opposite ends of the healthcare debate. The Dems wanted a government-sponsored system, the GOP considered that anathema to their core beliefs (even though it was championed by some conservative economists back in the 80s).
I mean, am I supposed to believe that if only the GOP had given a little, the Dems would’ve? But where? If one party is against the core of what the other wants to do, where is there room for negotiation but on the margins that neither side actually cared much about?
Eric Cantor? Glasses-wearing, used car salesman vibe? I remember, but also remember him being primaried over his immigration stance…
Does my memory suck this bad? Either way, this debate will require lots of Googling on my part, so instead of that I shall simply bend the knee on this one to you and @VaultHunter101.
Consider mine knee bended.
Depends on what you mean by rise Mike. You’re right about the origin, but the rise to political power didn’t occur till later. Yeah though, the early tea party movement was actually a fiscal backlash.
As for the rest though, remember that the ACA was originally based on a premise that had conservative think tanks behind it. I won’t claim to know that Republicans would’ve supported it if not for the Party of No strategy, but that strategy was behind damned near all political decisions by Republicans till the 2010 midterms (when it was declared a success, before the problems started hitting from the Tea Party beginning to gain power).
And no, Cantor was primaried by a tea party supporter, over his spending all his time in DC from recollection. I don’t remember immigration being involved at all to be frank, but I admit it was a long time ago.
Still training for the Understatement Olympics 2020, I see.
Just had to apply for unemployment benefits thanks to the plague. Don’t ask about my nerves…
Yep, it does.
Was it really a complete government-sponsored system for everyone? Reason why I ask is, over here there’s the possibility to leave the NHS equivalent if you’re self-employed or earn above a certain paygrade. Most pay a percentage of their income, though some pay fixed rates to a private health insurance of their choice. It’s not an all-or-nothing system. But I guess that shades and nuances quickly get lost when the debate is headlined by shouts of ‘Communism!’ or ‘Save Murica from the Reds!’ (the Reds that somehow look like an old geezer from Vermont in a rumpled suit 
)
There was no public option in the ACA as passed. Though there was before negotiation with Lieberman. So no. It was rather mandated purchase of private insurance basically.
As someone who is clueless really about American politics I can only presume this is refering to Trump so my best guess is GOP stands for Glowing Orange Person.
Now I know it refers to Trump, I can just picture his face with a line up of weiners in front of him. Bet he had a grand old party.
Damn Cur, that sucks mate I hope you manage to find something else fast or your job comes back when the crisis ends. Good luck buddy 
Ok, I admit I laughed at the sudden aside from our discussion of legal philosophy and political minutiae.
Sorry, man. Really. That was me in 2010 - definitely a low point in my life. It’ll get better, though, I promise. (That was also me in 2011.)
“This anti-establishment dynamic was evident in one of the dominant issues of the campaign: immigration reform. Cantor supported a Republican version of the DREAM Act, created to give legal status to undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, and Brat repeatedly called Cantor’s stance “amnesty.” Immigration reform has long been an issue that’s divided the establishment from the grass roots more so than it has the left from the right.”
Only posting this link because Temet had me questioning my own sanity. I could’ve sworn there was an immigration aspect to it. Another thing I enjoyed about Cantor getting primaried and losing was the money aspect: Cantor spent a million dollars, the tea party guy very little. I love it when someone loses even though they tried to buy the election.
Fair enough. Have to admit I may have been too busy being gleeful to really notice.
… I really loathed Cantor.
When your that desperate to be on TV, you make your own screen out of hot dogs. LOOK MA I’M FAMOUS!!!
Sorry last derail couldn’t resist, those hot dogs lined up too well! Have fun guys
Hence it was sometimes referred to as ‘Romney Care’ to try and mitigate the damage of the ‘ObamaCare’ label.
Pretty much what I was referring to above. And, of course, it’s latest incarnation with whatshisface not tabling legislation…
@stocky @MickityMike Thanks guys. While I dislike relying on the social systems, we’ll get by. I do prefer gainful employment, though 
Hm, the thread seems to have turned into a sausage fest. 
Oh well:
For fun in politics, dear Americans, it looks like you are ruled by Captain Bligh (or at least a huge fan of his):
‘Tell the Democrat Governors that “Mutiny On The Bounty” was one of my all time favorite movies. A good old fashioned mutiny every now and then is an exciting and invigorating thing to watch, especially when the mutineers need so much from the Captain. Too easy!’
More on that:
Seems dubious. However, I’m so desperate for sports, I might have to watch. Is the Ultimate Warrior still alive?
Given the massive debacle which is Florida’s completely overwhelmed UI application system, they need all the diversion they can get.
I propose they kick things off by holding a WWE/mixed martial arts cage fight featuring Ron DeSantis and any WWE/MMA fighter who isn’t afraid that incompetence might be contagious (or has family members who’ve been affected by Covid-19)
And broadcast it free of charge on whatever PBS affiliates might still be alive in Florida rather than have people attend in person.
growing cannabis is system relevant
You had me right up until this government-run media outlet. GUBMINT-RUN!!!1111
Just kidding - I like Sesame Street and Nova as much as the next guy.