Some Humans Ain't Human

So goes the title of a John Prine song that seems somehow fitting to me tonight. The passage of the ACHA, the replacement bill for the ACA, in the US House is haunting me. Republicans don't give a shit about people.

Prior to passage of the Affordable Care Act, 45,000 people died each year as a result of limited access to health care. These were people who were uninsured or perhaps not insurable under previous regulations that allowed insurers to charge exorbitant rates for pre-existing conditions. The ACA has now provided insurance to approximately 25% of those who were previously uninsured or uninsurable. The ACA is costing less than expected and is also effectively lowering health care costs.

Republicans passed this bill in less than a week. It had no public hearing. Debate was limited to 3 hours. The one amendment they allowed did nothing for pre-existing conditions except provide talking points for Reps who will be ducking for cover during recess town hall meetings. According to the Congressional Budget Office, this bill will remove 24 million Americans from health insurance and put millions more with pre-existing conditions in peril. It's a shameful catastrophe.

Almost unimaginably, the bill slashes Medicaid to the tune of $800 billion and stuffs those Benjamins into the pockets of the 1% through related tax breaks.

In a healthy democracy, there would be outrage from elected officials from both parties. The media would be reporting on the devastating impact on poor families, women and children. Instead, we have the game-show president tweeting about fake news and CNN hand-wringing about Democrats jeering Republicans for passing the bill.

In a healthy democracy, any elected official who voted for such a monstrosity would face certain defeat at the ballot box. Instead, congressional districts are so gerrymandered to make elections a mere formality. Democrats won 47% of votes cast in congressional districts and won only 44% of the seats.

What the electorate has taught the Republicans is, politically, there are no repercussions. Don't hold a vote for Obama's Supreme Court nominee. No problem - we'll send you back. Grab women by the genitals. No problem, Mr. President. Pull health insurance away from 24 million Americans - we'll see but I'm not hopeful.

These are dark days.