Obama's Health Care Reform: One Year Later & Still Failing...Why?

It has been a year ago this week that President Barack Hussein Obama and his administration pushed the Health Care bill into law against the wishes of a great majority of Americans. The Affordable Care Act was met by a great deal of controversy at the time, but health policy experts were certain that it would “catch on” and that the public would soon embrace the idea.

These experts used Medicare as an example and reminded Americans that the Medicare program was very controversial in it's day, back in the 60's, but that it soon became quite popular, and good for many citizens. They also insisted that Medicare Part D was much the same way when President George W Bush extended it to cover medicines. Yet neither of these programs forced Americans to purchase health care like the Affordable Care Act does.

However, despite the optimism of the health care advocates, one year later and the law is even less popular than it was. As a matter of fact, support for the health care reform has now hit an all time low. Why is this?

It is not just a matter of the huge amounts of money that this bill will cost the government when our deficit is already in the critical stage. It is also not simply because it is over two thousand pages of very complicated wording which most of those who signed it into law did not even understand. It is not even the fact that this bill forces American citizens to purchase health care which they may not choose, or need, or be able to afford. Those are the reasons that the original protestors of the bill were giving a full year ago. So why have the new ObamaCare protestors joined in the fight?

It is because they were convinced, or tricked into believing that this law was not only inevitable, but necessary. Those who were not one hundred percent in favor of the bill were pushed into “accepting fate” so to speak, because they were made to believe that this new health care reform was necessary in order for the country to survive.

Now, a year later, judges have denounced the bill, and over half of the country has filed a lawsuit against it's own government in an effort to reverse the law. Many of those states are creating their own laws which would make it illegal to prosecute their citizens for not adhering to the Health Care Law.

The country has not only survived without the bill, but the bill has actually turned the country against itself, and many are beginning to notice that this law, which was so important to the survival of our nation, has instead torn the nation apart. Some are even beginning to wonder if that was part of the plan all along. “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” (Abraham Lincoln, quoted in Springfield, Illinois on June 16, 1858 from Matthew 12:25.)

State of the Union, Worded to Bring Compromise

US President Obama State of the Union Message: “Compromise”

As the president of the United States of America prepared to give his State of the Union speech in Washington, an empty chair was left for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head at a meet and greet in Tucson, Arizona. Congresswoman Gifford is still in the hospital in Houston. A standing ovation was given in her honor as the event got underway. Her husband, NASA astronaut Mark Kelly was invited to the speech but was not expected to come since he decided to stay by his wife's side.

The family of nine year old Christina Taylor Green, and twenty other people were also invited to sit with Michelle Obama as President Barack Obama gave his State of the Union Address. The president used the shooting as a challenge to Congress, urging them to unite after the tragedy. “What comes of this moment is up to us,” he stated. A great chunk of the beginning of the State of the Union Address was made up of words intended to encourage compromise, suggesting that it is what the country wants, and what will help the economy. Obama touched on all of the major issues facing the nation today, with clear implications that such a compromise would be the solution to those issues.

Once the president had the minds of his listeners primed for compromise, he reiterated many of the same promises which was in his speech last year, touched on the success of such nations as China, spoke of global trade talks with Korea, Panama, and Columbia along with other Pacific and Asian countries, and insisted that the Health Care Law will slow the rising costs of our deficit, and that to repeal that law would add a quarter of a trillion dollars to that deficit.

“We cannot win the future with a government of the past,” he insisted, adding, “In the coming months, my administration will develop a proposal to merge, consolidate, and reorganize the federal government in a way that best serves the goal of a more competitive America. I will submit that proposal to Congress for a vote – and we will push to get it passed.”

President Obama also spoke on the war in Afghanistan, once again looking to unite the minds of the audience in compromise as he stated, Our troops come from every corner of this country – they are black, white, Latino, Asian and Native American. They are Christian and Hindu, Jewish and Muslim. And, yes, we know that some of them are gay. Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love.”

He went on to speak of how good it is to be an American, no matter how bad the democracy may get at times. He once again pushed for compromise and unity with the words, “We may have differences in policy, but we all believe in the rights enshrined in our Constitution. We may have different opinions, but we believe in the same promise that says this is a place where you can make it if you try. We may have different backgrounds, but we believe in the same dream that says this is a country where anything’s possible. No matter who you are. No matter where you come from.”

Reminding the audience of another tragedy which united the people of America, and the world,  President Obama told the story of Brandon Fisher, who is a small business owner which lives “the American Dream.” Brandon started a small company located in Pennsylvania which specialized in new drilling equipment. As he was watching television last summer, Brandon saw a story about 33 Chileans miners who were trapped in a mine, and thought perhaps he could help. Brandon went to Chile, and began to drill the hole that ended up saving the miners. Once again, the minds of Obama's audience were united at the memory of triumph over tragedy.

The speech ended with “The idea of America endures. Our destiny remains our choice. And tonight, more than two centuries later, it is because of our people that our future is hopeful, our journey goes forward, and the state of our union is strong. Thank you, God Bless You, and may God Bless the United States of America.” Indeed, Mr Obama, indeed.