Democrats open to replacing Obamacare

[SHRED]

Getting all wobbly isn't gonna cut it.
I hope this is just political posturing.
It still smells to me.

If the Democrats become involved guess who Repubs and the public will blame for its failure? And it will fail.

Democrats open to replacing Obamacare
A surprising number of lawmakers in the minority say they'd play ball if the changes aren't too far-reaching.

Senate Democrats will never vote to repeal Obamacare. But once the deed is done, a surprising number of them say they’re open to helping Republicans replace it.

“If it makes sense, I think there’ll be a lot of Democrats who would be for it,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.).

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/democrats-open-to-replacing-obamacare-232589

[kentuck]

1. It cannot survive in its present state.

There must be changes. Hopefully, most of the ideas of the ACA should be kept and fixed.

[SHRED]

2. Private health insurance in general can't

[Buzz Clik]

4. Health insurance is a massive, self-perpetuating gold mine with thousands of businesses...

.... attached to the money stream. It can survive, but at a huge cost. When health insurance becomes more expensive than paying for health care directly, the health insurance industry will collapse. And I will piss on its grave.

[Buzz Clik]

3. The Democrats in Congress are 100% responsible for "Obamacare" not being single payer.

So, of course they are willing to cave -- again.

[SHRED]

5. Just suggesting they'll work with these jackals

Just that is terrible to say.

They should have said, "Republicans have been promising a replacement plan for six years or more. Until we see that plan we have no further comments on this matter".

Why is that so hard for Democrats?

[Buzz Clik]

7. "Why is that so hard for Democrats?" Standing up requires a spine.

[kacekwl]

10. PERFECT RESPONSE.

[SHRED]

13. Thanks...It's pretty simple

[Nay]

14. Exactly. FFS. And some people on here wonder why we think Dems have

no spine??? This is why.

[SMC22307]

6. Jesus, wonder what else *Democrats* are willing to replace...

"if it makes sense."

[SHRED]

8. Why can't they draw a line in the sand?

Why talk about working with them now?

[MichMary]

9. Because they have no choice

They have the Presidency, the House, and the Senate. Even the filibuster is gone. They can choose to hold press conference and complain loudly or make outraged speeches, but that's about it.

The ACA in its current form is not sustainable. Many more people have coverage because of it, but a lot of them still can't use it because of the high deductibles. There are features of it that everyone likes, but there is much room for improvement. The Dems can go along with it and be part of the process (and get some credit for improvements) or not. I think in this situation a little cooperation might go a long way.

[PoliticAverse]

11. "Even the filibuster is gone." - the filibuster hasn't been eliminated for bills yet.

(other than 'budgetary reconciliation' bills).

[SHRED]

12. I don't disagree with you

But now is not the time to be making conciliatory statements in my opinion.

You want to later then maybe. But not now.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

15. *Blargh*

I can sort of understand why McCaskill, who's up for re-election in 2018 in a red state, might feel like she has to make some conciliatory statements (and if that's all they are, then, well, fine) but IMHO if Republicans decide they want to repeal ACA, THEY need to own whatever mess they make in the process and be made responsible for coming up with a viable replacement plan. I think that improvements need to be made to ACA but I think that they could be done- and the process be less messy- by focusing on the problems and not simply ripping everything up first and starting all over with McCain's "blank piece of paper". Besides, raise your hands here if ANYBODY here actually believes that the Republicans will actually include Democrats in the replacement plan or if they do, listen to anything we have to say about how to come up with a better plan? IMHO they just want political cover so that they can blame us for not "fixing" things when they go and mess everything up for a lot of people after repealing it. It's a trap!

[SHRED]

16. this

Agreed!

[uponit7771]

17. FALSE OP... not replacing Obamacare but refinig it just as they've been saying for years.

[SHRED]

18. We Democrats don't know how to avoid these type of headlines

These Democrats should have just kicked the ball back into the Republican court.
That would have spared us.