This reminds me of why we didn’t get universal healthcare

[peenie 1,966]

I don’t remember the facts but I specifically voted for Obama because he was for universal healthcare. I thought the Democrats supported him and that was why he was their candidate. I was shocked to find out, at the last minute, that some Democrats were against universal healthcare. I asked ChatGPT to explain why we don’t have universal healthcare today: 

When Barack Obama took office in January 2009, he did campaign on expanding access to health care, often using the term “universal coverage.” However, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — which became law in 2010 — fell short of true universal healthcare (i.e., a single-payer or government-run system that covers everyone).

Here’s why:

1. Political Constraints in Congress

• Democratic divisions: Even though Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress in 2009–2010, there were deep disagreements within the party. Some favored a single-payer system (like Medicare for All), while others — especially moderates and those from swing states — opposed it as too radical or expensive.

• Republican opposition: Republicans were uniformly against any large expansion of federal involvement in healthcare. Since the Senate effectively required 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, Obama needed every Democratic vote he could get, forcing compromises.

2. Industry Resistance

• Major stakeholders — insurance companies, pharmaceutical firms, and hospitals — lobbied heavily against proposals that would eliminate private insurance or impose tighter price controls.

• The Obama administration chose to work with these groups to avoid total opposition. In exchange, the ACA kept the private insurance system intact while adding regulations and subsidies.

3. Public Opinion and Messaging

• In 2009–2010, polls showed that Americans wanted healthcare reform but were divided on single-payer.

• Many were concerned about losing employer-based coverage or facing higher taxes. Opponents effectively labeled broader proposals as “socialized medicine,” which hurt support for a more sweeping reform.

4. Economic and Political Context

• The country was in the midst of the Great Recession, so the administration’s main priority was stabilizing the economy. Obama and his advisers believed they could only realistically pass incremental reform given the circumstances.

5. The Result: The Affordable Care Act

• The ACA expanded coverage dramatically — through Medicaid expansion, insurance marketplaces, and subsidies — but it preserved the private insurance system.

• As a result, by 2016, the uninsured rate hit a historic low (~9%), but millions remained uninsured.

In short:

Obama didn’t abandon the goal of expanding healthcare — but political realities, industry resistance, and the need for compromise led to the ACA instead of a fully universal, single-payer system.

[peenie 1,966]

You see there??? DEMOCRATIC MF DIVISIONS!!! 

Democrats suck ass. 

[lickin_starfish 2,007]

I didn't vote for Obama because he said he wanted to make energy prices skyrocket. That's the first time I didn't vote for a Democrat, and they've gotten ultra looney since then. 

Now it's hard to even vote for Republicans, since my eyes have been opened to the corrupt coalition between the two sides.

[Strike 6,023]

I don't remember all the specifics but I don't think Universal Health Care was ever on the table.  However, you should know better than to trust an AI to tell you the "facts."  AI's are notorious for making sh*t up.

[peenie 1,966]

4 minutes ago, lickin_starfish said:

I didn't vote for Obama because he said he wanted to make energy prices skyrocket. That's the first time I didn't vote for a Democrat, and they've gotten ultra looney since then. 

Now it's hard to even vote for Republicans, since my eyes have been opened to the corrupt coalition between the two sides.

Did energy prices skyrocket under Obama? I recall gasoline prices fell during his time in office. In fact, I recall paying $4/gal during Bush Jr., but reduced with Obama. 

[BunnysBastatrds 2,605]

5 minutes ago, lickin_starfish said:

I didn't vote for Obama because he said he wanted to make energy prices skyrocket. That's the first time I didn't vote for a Democrat, and they've gotten ultra looney since then. 

Now it's hard to even vote for Republicans, since my eyes have been opened to the corrupt coalition between the two sides.

 I didn’t vote for him when said “You didn’t build that” talking about people who start businesses.

[peenie 1,966]

2 minutes ago, Strike said:

I don't remember all the specifics but I don't think Universal Health Care was ever on the table.  However, you should know better than to trust an AI to tell you the "facts."  AI's are notorious for making sh*t up.

Well my memory might be flawed, but I accept the answer that there were just many different opposing issues and he tried to come to an agreement. That’s fair. 

[lickin_starfish 2,007]

1 minute ago, peenie said:

Did energy prices skyrocket under Obama? I recall gasoline prices fell during his time in office. In fact, I recall paying $4/gal during Bush Jr., but reduced with Obama. 

Did he say that he wanted to make energy prices skyrocket? That's why I didn't vote for him. If it weren't for his statement, I probably would have voted for him.

[BunnysBastatrds 2,605]

 The only reason ACA passed was because Chief Justice John Roberts was a coward 

[peenie 1,966]

28 minutes ago, BunnysBastatrds said:

 I didn’t vote for him when said “You didn’t build that” talking about people who start businesses.

But he’s right and it explains why immigrants come here and make their fortune but couldn’t do so in their own country. It takes a lot of moving organized parts that are not corrupt to build a functional business, not just a great idea. 
 

It’s funny how you all knit pick every syllable Obama made but you completely ignore all the lies Trump tells. Where is the lie in his statement? 
It’s like saying a great QB wins games. It’s the team of players not just the QB. I love Tommy and he’s the greatest, no doubt, he’s been a winner wherever he’s been, but he didn’t get all those rings all by himself.

[BunnysBastatrds 2,605]

28 minutes ago, peenie said:

But he’s right and it explains why immigrants come here and make their fortune but couldn’t do so in their own country. It takes a lot of moving organized parts that are not corrupt to build a functional business, not just a great idea. 
 

It’s funny how you all knit pick every syllable Obama made but you completely ignore all the lies Trump tells. Where is the lie in his statement? 
It’s like saying a great QB wins games. It’s the team of players not just the QB. I love Tommy and he’s the greatest, no doubt, he’s been a winner wherever he’s been, but he didn’t get all those rings all by himself.

 So with that illogical statement, my father and I didn’t build our company? Working our asses off and sacrificing much to make it build and become a smal successful corporation to make money and also help others? And great ideas in this beautiful country of ours was born and built with the idea of building, which is what got us all here today. 
 

 And this conversation isn’t about Trump or what he says. It’s about black baby Jesus. Stop deflecting and think about the topic at hand. The ACA is a completely total disaster that was built on lies. I wasn’t able to keep my healthcare or doctor. And my family was and is pay double what it was previously. Why? To pay for others under his plan. On the back of hard working Americans that actually did build something.

[The Real timschochet 7,465]

Obama didn’t give us universal healthcare but by passing ACA he made it almost inevitable. The most important aspect, by far, of ACA is that people with pre-existing conditions cannot be rejected by insurance companies and get to pay the exact same premiums as everyone else. Once this was done, there was no way to keep health care affordable without pouring loads of government money into it, which we’re doing now. Eventually we will end up with single payer as a result. 

[peenie 1,966]

9 hours ago, BunnysBastatrds said:

 So with that illogical statement, my father and I didn’t build our company? Working our asses off and sacrificing much to make it build and become a smal successful corporation to make money and also help others? And great ideas in this beautiful country of ours was born and built with the idea of building, which is what got us all here today. 
 

 And this conversation isn’t about Trump or what he says. It’s about black baby Jesus. Stop deflecting and think about the topic at hand. The ACA is a completely total disaster that was built on lies. I wasn’t able to keep my healthcare or doctor. And my family was and is pay double what it was previously. Why? To pay for others under his plan. On the back of hard working Americans that actually did build something.

So only you and your dad worked at your company? You didn’t need a loan or investors or a building or materials or products or employees or electricity or clean water or streets for cars to drive on or trucks or trains to deliver or tracks laid down for trains to travel? Yes, you worked hard and deserve the credit but he was just saying this is a great country because so many people work hard, hand in hand so that it makes it so people can be successful. 
There are countries in Africa where brilliant people live but how can they implement their ideas in a state where the electricity turns off weekly or where the streets flood when it rains due to poor sewer systems. In India, a woman is unable to start a business because in her village she shouldn’t be outside after dark. Or worse, she can’t get an education because she’s a woman. Obama was simply explaining how businesses thrive due to all the people and parts working together. 

Obama was a huge disappointment to me, certainly not black baby Jesus. 

I’m atheist. 
 

No offense Volty, but I doubt this would happen in America today:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ7GL7iDz3y/?igsh=N28ya29nZDRxZXZz
 

[weepaws 3,352]

I find universal health care to be a very scary institution, it seems like it would be more government, like socialism.  

[peenie 1,966]

7 minutes ago, weepaws said:

I find universal health care to be a very scary institution, it seems like it would be more government, like socialism.  

Do you think joining the military is like socialism? 

The military provides extensive and universal benefits, such as 100% health coverage, subsidized housing, and free education and training.

[seafoam1 3,422]

2 minutes ago, peenie said:

Do you think joining the military is like socialism? 

The military provides extensive and universal benefits, such as 100% health coverage, subsidized housing, and free education and training.

Until the dopes you vote for decide to close down government and refuse to pay their salaries.  

And by the way, that's the military, not the rest of the country. For you to confuse this is insanity. 

[weepaws 3,352]

6 minutes ago, peenie said:

Do you think joining the military is like socialism? 

The military provides extensive and universal benefits, such as 100% health coverage, subsidized housing, and free education and training.

No, that’s the military.  Let’s get make that mistake again Capiche? 

[peenie 1,966]

26 minutes ago, weepaws said:

No, that’s the military.  Let’s get make that mistake again Capiche? 

But you can comprehend the government paying soldier’s healthcare, just change soldiers to citizens. 

[weepaws 3,352]

58 minutes ago, peenie said:

But you can comprehend the government paying soldier’s healthcare, just change soldiers to citizens. 

When did compensation with health care for military personnel turn into socialism? I don’t think it ever has. 

I said when I think about universal health care I see more government,  find more government scary, I think of socialism, since we haven’t seen universal health care for non military personnel, we don’t know the outcome correct? So in your opinion, ne isn’t allowed to have ones own opinion to a question you asked, like all, not most, but all lost souls, you want to ask a question, with only answer that equals your own view, so you really don’t want opinions, you want dominance, I call that, liberal bull.  Thanks indeed Amen