Back then, I thought it “outrageous” that our
elected officials would have the nerve to exempt themselves from the most egregious
provisions of Obamacare. I found it unimaginable that Republicans would go
along with such a scheme. Fast forward to today, and I stand amazed at the
manifest foolishness and hubris of the ruling class.
Just for a moment, let’s put aside any discussion of
the merits, good or bad, of Obamacare. I would like to ask my readers who
support the law to explain to me how you could possibly support your Congressperson
exempting his or herself from its consequences in a manner unavailable to
anyone else? If this law is such a breakthrough, so beneficial for our nation,
then why shouldn’t ALL of us be subject to its proscriptions?
Before Obamacare, members of Congress and their
staffs were covered under the Federal Employees Health and Benefits Program,
perhaps the richest plan in the history of Western Civilization. So, naturally,
any one size fits all plan that would replace it would be less generous and
more expensive. So, Senator Chuck Grassley back in 2009 sponsored a bill that
would mandate that any health care law passed would INCLUDE all members of
Congress. What better way to communicate to the American people that we are all
in this together? The provision passed his committee unanimously. But, after
the 2000 page monstrosity that famously, nobody actually read, was passed into
law, the results of its provisions soon became clearer. Suddenly, members of
Congress discovered that they would be paying LOTS more out of pocket for their
coverage and in addition would have fewer choices, etc. In other words, details
matter, and these details were unacceptable to the ruling class. So,
Congresspersons who make $174,000 a year and their highest paid staffs
discovered that they would NOT be eligible for any Obamacare subsidies.
Democrats and Republicans alike began whining to Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner,
“We won’t be able to afford this! Our staff people will leave for the private sector,
this is an outrage!!!”
Reports in this morning’s Wall Street Journal
suggest that President Obama himself magically worked out a deal with some
Personnel Management bureau that will provide ,out of thin air, a $4900 subsidy
for individuals and $10,000 per family to help Congresspersons and their
employees “cope” with the transition from their gold-plated health plan to
Obamacare. In other words, the greatest achievement of Barack Obama’s
Presidency is good enough for us, but not quite good enough for our betters in
Washington. Provisions must be made for the ruling class that are unavailable
for we mere citizens.
Now, I know there are those of you out there who
think that Obamacare is wonderful, and long overdue as a matter of justice and
compassion for the uninsured etc.. etc… But would someone please justify what
has just happened for me, because what little faith I have remaining in
government is about to disappear forever.
The silence is deafening.
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