Ripple Effects

Everyone knows that if you toss a pebble into a pond, ripples extend outward from where it hit the water.  Other possible changes brought about by that pebble can include frightened fish from the pebble's descent; a splash from the pebble hitting the still surface of the pond; or a bird frightened by the plunk, the sound of the pebble hitting the water.  We know that our actions also affect others, ripples ever extending outwards. It is change enacted through a single and simple act...  the ripple effect.

The Democrats in Congress enacted what is erroneously called the Affordable Healthcare Act aka Obamacare. There isn't anything 'affordable' about it and it has cost many people.  The blame for Obamacare lies strictly on the shoulders of the Democrats as not a single Republican voted for it.  Nancy Pelosi's now famous comment, "You have to vote for it to see what's in it" resonates with her disdain for those people who voiced concerns about the act, those who wanted to read the massive bill before its passage.  But, no....  the Democrats rammed it through.

One PROMISE that people heard a lot from the White House, from the President's own lips was, "If you like your health care plan, you can keep it.  If you like your doctor, you can keep him."  We Americans have been hearing him say that for years, at least since 2009. Other highly ranked Democrats continually supported his statement.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that Obamacare "means making sure you can keep your
family's doctor or keep your health care plan if you like it."

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin told Americans, including those who were happily insured, "we are going to put in any legislation considered by the House and Senate the protection that you, as an individual, keep the health insurance you have, if that is what you want."

Harry Reid

And, let's not forget that Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray said: "If you like what you have today, that will be what you have when this legislation is passed."

They lied.  All of them.  Lies & fabrications...  An empty promise but one heck of a sales pitch and boy were Americans sold a bridge in the middle of the desert.

Now, the ripple effects from those lies and from the passage of the bill are being felt by one & all.  Here are some of the act's side effects.

1. Millions of people have lost their INDIVIDUAL health care plans, plans that they liked.  This number doesn't include those millions of people who are going to lose their insurance when the business mandates kick in AFTER the 2014 mid-term elections.
2. Obamacare taxes, mandates, regulations, and indirect costs on small- and medium-size businesses are directly impacting whether or not businesses can expand and hire. CBO Director Doug Elmendorf testified before the House Budget Committee that Obamacare will result in an estimated 800,000 fewer U.S. jobs. A survey of small to medium sized businesses, which was conducted by the US Chamber of Commerce showed that many businesses are already seeing increasing health care costs and, to cope, 31% of franchise and 12% of non-franchise businesses have reduced worker hours, a full year before the employer mandate goes into effect.
3. Health plans offered by colleges have been severely affected.  As of today, 9 New Jersey schools saw the cost of the health care plans they offered to students triple.  Students at Bowie State in Maryland saw the cost of their health care policies go from $100 to $1800 for two semesters. This is an increase of about 1500%.  Bowie State has dropped the plan.  Many colleges finding  have stopped offering health care policies to their students.
4. Obamacare adds 18 million people to Medicaid and it is estimated that by 2019, more than 80 million people will be on Medicaid. Taxpayers, who are already strapped by rising costs of essential goods will be footing the bill. 
5. Nearly 25% of ALL SENIORS rely on Medicare Advantage. Obamacare makes such deep cuts to the M.A. program, $455 Billion, that 50% of those seniors, who are currently covered, will lose their coverage. Where is that $455 billion going?  It's going to pay for Obamacare. 

Cancelled Coverage as of Nov 14, 2013
Article at Wall Street Journal

Obamacare is an unmitigated disaster.  The dysfunctional portal with its lack of security to our most personal information is only the 1st symptom.  It is a sinking ship and the rats are abandoning it in an act of self-preservation.  Remember who those rats are the next time they run for re-election.