A filibuster of course…. Or was it?
Yes, the rumors are true, Cruz read in full Dr. Seuss’s story Green Eggs and Ham while attempting to compare the book to Obamacare. Americans “did not like green eggs and ham, and they did not like Obamacare either,” he said. (Cruz also read from the Bible, but that’s not as provocative for headlines as Green Eggs and Ham is.)
We are all aware of the wildly debated topic, The Affordable Care Act, or more popularly known as Obamacare. Conservatives are actively campaigning against it, which is why Ted Cruz, a Republican senator from Texas, decided to “filibuster until he couldn’t stand any longer”. Well, Ted lasted 21 hours on the Senate floor (before being cut off by Harry Reid), attempting to persuade the defunding of Obamacare. Apparently, it was not a filibuster but rather a very long speech. Cruz is not technically allowed to prevent the Senate from conducting a test vote. Reid concluded that it was a “big waste of time”. If there is no agreement made about the Affordable Care Act, then the government will shut down on October 1, 2013.
What’s the big deal about Obamacare?
· Obamacare will potentially harm the youth with increasing unemployment numbers as a result of the Affordable Care Act.
· Many companies will limit employee hours to part time jobs in order to avoid providing health care. This will result in a decrease in full time employment opportunities.
· Congress and their staff will be exempt from the costs of Obamacare. (And unions may be exempt as well.)
· Obama promised $2,500 in annual savings as far as the eye could see; however, between 2014 and 2022 Obamacare will increase health spending by $7,450 for a typical family of four.
· “When Obamacare collapses in shambles, it’ll take down the private health insurance system with it, leaving nothing left.” –Senator Ted Cruz
· “Has Obamacare made it harder to achieve the American dream?” – Senator Ted Cruz
Maybe Obamacare can be helpful?
· Children of undocumented immigrants are eligible for insurance subsidies and possibly even Medicaid.
· The children and spouses of disabled veterans, who receive their health care through Veterans Affairs, could be eligible for subsidized insurance through the exchange, even if the veteran is not.
· Dependents may stay on their parents’ health care until they are 26 years of age.
· The healthcare law requires large employers to provide insurance to employees who work at least 30 hours per week.
· Beginning in 2015, employers with 50 workers or more will pay penalties if they don’t provide insurance coverage to workers who put in at least 30 hours per week.
· Since 2012, nearly 30 million women have benefitted from free preventive services including checkups, screenings for diabetes and HIV, contraceptives and family planning counseling. Women are also entitled to free birth control. Maternity coverage is also provided.
· You cannot be denied health care if you have a pre-existing condition.
(Disclaimer: by no means does my list cover all the potential pros and cons of Obamacare. I am not an expert on policy or the Affordable Care Act, yet.)
In theory, socialized health care sounds like a great benefit. However, our generation will have to bear the burden of the consequences. It’s great for people who only want part-time jobs, but for those who have bigger and better plans for the future, this may be worrisome. In case all of us college students who weren’t already worried about finding a stable job upon graduation, Obamacare will make it even more difficult. I’ll leave it up to you to weigh the pros and cons of the Obamacare. Even McDonald’s wants relief from Obamacare… I think that says it all.
“The people who gave you Obamacare are not bad people. They have big hearts, but sometimes, I think, not big brains” –Rand Paul
[If you want to learn more about Ted Cruz check out this (highly negative) article about him on NBC Politics. (The media isn’t biased, though, right?)]
Additional Sources
More Than 21 Hours Later, Ted Cruz Has Been Cut Off – NationalJournal.com.
Cruz concludes all-night floor speech against ObamaCare as vote looms | Fox News