Back to “normal” today. A few notes before we get started – a man who sent “filthy” texts to an underage girl was just chosen for police chief, Alito sucks, the “peace” deal for Ukraine is nonsense, unacceptable, and infuriating, Epstein files will never actually get released after a rare show of unity from Congress (although at one point we could hope), more revenge cases from the DoJ, and now we are moving along to the first topic of today. We need to keep it in the news.
It’s about healthcare. No, Democrats have not forgotten about that, and it seems Republicans have. How they can continue to be so oblivious is unbelievable. Yes, Congress passed a bill to open up the government again. Yes, there is a rider in there that healthcare has to be addressed before January. No, it’s not going to happen, not unless we can get a handful of Republicans to join us, and Epstein unity or no, it is not happening. From Raw Story:
Republicans are going to face “accountability” for their latest moves surrounding health care, according to Democratic Senator Chris Murphy. Murphy, who represents Connecticut, appeared on CNN over the weekend and was asked about the recent shutdown and the healthcare subsidy debate that was surrounding it.
It’s certainly a volatile subject. People who have had healthcare for a number of years won’t be able to afford it. That’s going to hurt. If they can’t pay the premiums, they can’t afford anything related, either. What is the cost for a doctor’s appointment without insurance? Will they have to suffer in silence because they *literally* cannot *do* anything? People in Congress are lucky. They have the care. People outside Congress aren’t so fortunate.
He said that he’s not surprised that Republicans aren’t committed to fixing the problem, but noted that, once the higher healthcare premiums kick in, the GOP lawmakers will face consequences for their actions. “The pressure is just gonna ramp up and ramp up and ramp up,” he said. “So yes, today maybe Republicans are saying they’re not going to do anything about this, but when that pain hits millions of families’ pocketbooks in January, maybe we will have a shot then.”
Won’t that be too late? The new year starts on January 1. By that point, most folks will have had to let it lapse. We don’t know if there will be a new enrollment after that. Even if something happens after that, the likelihood that it will be a year before they can get it back is ridiculously high. People are going to suffer anyhow. Even those of us who are fortunate enough to have healthcare through our place of employment are going to get hit with increases, because *someone* has to cover the costs.
Posting the video on X, Murphy wrote, “Republicans aren’t going to be able to avoid accountability for the massive health premium increases that are coming.” “Some people in Connecticut are getting a $25,000 increase. What Republicans have done is immoral – it’s going to get people killed,” he added.
WHAM. There it is laid out in black and white. It partly goes back to what was mentioned earlier. If they don’t have the money, they will be suffering, and possibly dying, in silence. It will make the news too late. Coulda, shoulda, woulda won’t matter then. It’s too late. And the American people will be dragged further down the dark road that we are already seeing with the economy, skyrocketing costs at the grocery store, a negative job market, impossible-to-afford housing, and ICE. Damn.
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise, among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest working. We’re a group of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
FAFO.
Writ large – indeed as large as it can be.
My question, as a foreigner, is this.
What percentage of the CPI basket is Healthcare premiums? If it’s significant, then these rises are going to have a huge impact on headline CPI numbers, and this impact will only correct with a lag time when people drop out of the system.
It will also have a massive social cost (one of the presenters of a podcast I listen to regularly has openly stated that premiums for herself and one son is projected to go from about $700 to about $2,700 per month, which is genuinely existential). Either the family ponies up, and basically stops ALL discretionary spending (with the associated multiplier effect on their local community), or they wing it uninsured.
What is CPI?
Consumer Price Index.
If we’re allowed to vote freely and not be cheated by the gop. The blue wave is going to be cosmic records high. They wanted to make the libs cry, but they really wanted everyone to die. Farmers are the canary in the mine, 1st to go and with no one able to fork over money for rent and food and gas, health care isn’t even an option. It’s just winning. Good job cheeto.
Actually, it’s never been about “the People.” It’s always been about the MONEY & the RICH! So America, don’t you think it’s about time to take charge of your Destiny? Come together, right NOW! We must make sure, the RW AH’s, don’t CHEAT!