Good night all....

Dan,

"Translation: Am I my brother's keeper?!?"

Give it up with the narrow-minded, faux-religious routine.

I'm a Christian and believe all Americans are my brothers.

Not just the ones I like.

Dan,

"Trump doesn't even have a concept of a plan"?

I've been seeing that line used since 2016.

Since that time, he's served four years as president and four more out of office thinking, strategizing, learning and making plans.

Now he's throwing down the gauntlet about health care and you still think he doesn't have a plan?

You might want to start reading some new material.

Yav,

"Did you think you could shame SNAP recipients?"

Did I ever say that?

You're the one bringing up shame. I've never suggested using Food Stamps is anything to be ashamed of. I used them in my younger days.

My point was simple. The "starving American" narrative doesn't match the data.

The USDA's own reports show plenty of processed snacks, sodas, and convenience foods among top SNAP purchases.

That doesn't look like a population wasting away from hunger.

Like I said....political theatre.

Yav,

"Did you get that from Facebook? From the laughable "Economic Policy Innovation Center"?"

Dan,

"Why does every major developed country with UHC pay a lower percentage of their GDP for better longevity results?"

Why is America's infant mortality rate 33 out of 38?

Clearly, our health care system isn't delivering the results or value it should.

I get the impression Trump is at least trying to address some of these structural issues.

We didn't get here overnight, and blaming one party or the other won't fix it.

It's time to work together to focus on the problems, to find real solutions.

Dan,

Forcing healthy people to subsidize a system that never addressed the real drivers of cost such as bloated pricing, complex billing and insurer profits, was a big mistake but would not have passed if it had.

Dan,

So...are you saying continuing the extensions without any changes to ACA is morally and fiscally responsible?

UHC is off the table right now and you know it. Insurance companies are doing just fine.

What else do you suggest other than waiting for a generation to die?

Dan,

I can talk about several things. Not sure which way to go.

Higher taxes, longer lines, broken cost structure, adding millions more people to a system that alteady struggles to remain solvent?

Boomers dying off won't fix a broken system. At some point later might be a time to address some issues but that's a while off.

Waiting for boomers to die is not the reform we need now.

Nixon,

"It is clear the GOP has no interest whatsoever in fixing the problem. They've had over TWENTY years to fix the problem instead of just voting to kill ACA piecemeal and what have they proposed?"

The GOP didn't write the ACA. Democrats pushed it through without a single Republican vote.

Since then, every attempt to propose reforms has been blocked or they frame it as a plot to repeal ACA. Even sometimes make it racial to shut down the debate.

Dems will say anything to generate noise to get what they want.

You can't "fix" something when one side treats it as untouchable and uses it as a campaign prop instead of a policy.

Dan,

Eventually companies will just stop offering health care benefits altogether.

When companies can't afford to continue eating the cost or employees complain their payroll deduction is so high, it is inevitable companies will have to do something.

Then more people will be forced onto Obamacare.

Is that what dem leadership is actually hoping for?

Dan,

"Starvation isn't the barometer. Food insecurity is."

Neither are.

It's Congress not doing what's good for all Americans, and not just the ones who vote for them.

Dan,

If the extensions are continued as is, how many more years will it be before someone else tries to address it.

How much worse will the built in problems get?

As is now evident, dem leadership doesn't care.

Dan,

Or maybe as you put it, Not my Problem?

Dan,

So what is your opinion on the working and Middle Class issue with Obamacare we've been hearing about for years?

Answer that question without deflecting.

You don't care?

Yav,

"Starving people is just fine with you."

The USDA who manages SNAP put out this list in 2024 of items purchased by Food Stamps and prioritized them in order.

Top Items Purchased with Food Stamps

Rank Item Purchased Rank Item Purchased
1 Soft Drinks 11 Candy
2 Fluid Milk 12 Infant Formula
3 Ground Beef 13 Frozen Pizza
4 Bag Snacks 14 Refrigerated Juices/Drinks
5 Cheese 15 Ice Cream
6 Baked Breads 16 Coffee and Creamers
7 Cold Cereal 17 Cookies
8 Fresh Chicken 18 Water
9 Frozen Snacks 19 Shelf Stable Juice
10 Lunchmeat 20 Eggs/Muffins/Potatoes

"starving" Really?

There are struggling families, sure.

But the narrative of widespread "starvation" in America is political theater, not reality.

Snoofy,

"So, it's not always appalling to use food as a weapon.
It's not appalling when your side does it.
Got it."

I believe in why Trump is doing it. It's not blind loyalty to Trump.

That actually makes it a different situation.

The Dems leadership is doing what they know best. Pandering to the poor for votes.

Trump isn't pandering. He has a limited time in office and wants to make a lasting contribution to all Americans.

The temporary, enhanced premium tax credits that raised subsidies and expanded eligibility under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 and were later carried forward by the Inflation Reduction Act were written to sunset at the end of 2025, returning subsidy rules closer to pre-ARPA levels unless Congress acts to extend or make the enhancements permanent (sources: [1], [1], p1_s3). The Affordable Care Act's original premium tax credit remains part of law and would continue after 2025, but many households would face substantially higher premiums if the ARPA-era enhancements expire (sources: [3], p1_s2).

It's due to expire the end of this year, regardless. Democrats are determined to extend the enhancements and Trump is determined it won't happen.

I side with Trump who wants to fix the existing problems with it.

Snoofy,

"Trump Says He will Defy Court Order"

Sometimes you've got to throw a little tea in the harbor, too.

Btw...do you think every use of the autopen during Biden's term was handled correctly (legally)?

Yav,

"So you are fine with Trump executing an evil action to coerce an action under duress - holding vulnerable people hostage - to get what Trump wants?"

No...I'm not okay with that.

But at some point, time to act responsibly. Trump is doing what others won't even touch.

The Democrats refusal to address the Affordable Care Act's flaws hurts working and Middle Class Americans who earn too much for subsidies but not enough to absorb rising premiums.

Trump said on 60 Minutes he wants to fix the ACA. It's long overdue.

Redial,

It was hauling freight, I believe. Only 3 on board.

Good thing is wasn't carrying uncounted ballots.

Redial,

"Looks like an engine came off on takeoff and the debris trashed the other one."

Worse than that.

I think they said, "uncontained engine failure".

Basically the engine came apart and the speed of the spinning parts flew out like shrapnel damaging hydraulics, electronics, etc.

The engine came off before impact, like you said.

gtbritishskull,

I'm not equating Trump to an emperor.

"Render unto Caesar" was Jesus response when asked about civil authority.

gtbritishskull,

"I was just looking at another thread where BillJohnson was talking about being a Christian.
How does this conform with Christian values?"

I've said this before. It's all a matter of perspective.

America isn't legally a Christian nation, and it never has been.

Sometimes you have to compartmentalize issues to not go crazy.

But I'll say this plainly to be clear.

Weaponizing food for the poor is appalling.

The President has made it clear what he is expecting and the Democrat leadership is ignoring him.

"Render unto Caesar."

It's creepy the way Mamdani squints in photos I see of him.

He hides his eyes from being read.

Just a perfected plastic phony face that would make a creepy Halloween mask.