Yes. Can you actually disprove an opinion? Probably not, unless you are the Solicitor General of the USA. But, you can provide sufficient information to make the continued holding of such an opinion nothing less than clear evidence of extreme addlepation, dull-brainedness, ridiculous thinking...well, you get it.
On Chris Hayes' show this evening, Ezra Klein lamented the sorry state of the healthcare.gov site, stating the continuing sad but multiple problems, stalls, delays, etc. which obviously lead one to understand why Obamacare is just such a trainwreck.
I am given to believe that Klein's erzatz honor (or something) is depending on John Q. Public having a difficult time on the site, with a survivor's story to tell in order to legitimize his ravings on the ills of the healthcare.gov roll out. I must ask myself: why? So, I thought I'd give it a try, to see if I would be another disgruntled citizen.
From the time I pressed "Enter" on the website address, it took me precisely 10:43, in human years, to come to a point where I had to choose to either select a lesser insurance cost with equal benefits, or leave the site. On Friday evening, the day AFTER the government shut down. Please Follow me just below the squiggledoodlethingey fold for a few suggestions.
Comments welcome. Just remember my two rules, please.
1) Play nice.
Which basically means to act like you are at your grandma's preacher's house as a dinner guest. Respect your Granny's faith. Respect my house.
2) Come prepared.
If you wish to pronounce your personal opinion, you are free to do so so long as you announce it as such. Feel free, just put a big box around it, and name it to be what it is: your opinion. If you wish to promote factual information to assert a point of contention, link it, and be fully prepared to apologize for (defend) it. ( Etc. :))
Okay, let me rant about these two points for just a moment, if I may.
Over the past few months i have, in one form or another, included both of these rules within the body of either my diaries--or within the tip jar comment.
NOBODY has violated them! Part of me is willing to believe that I haven't run into the "heavies" of DKOS yet, and that I should steel myself. So, it is with a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude for the blessed art of decency in communication that I relentlessly proceed. Thank you. [Grumbles to self: Of course, being publicly victimized and humiliated usually ain't worth takin' the risk of completely pissin' this hillbilly off, eiher, but anyway....]
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By the same token, I'm beginning to see similar rules popping up on other diaries around here, which is really cool. In both cases, I could also choose to believe that these two simple rules for dialogue, while easy to write yet so very difficult to honor, are sufficient IF the common goal is dialogue.
If I do the necessary work to create a diary worthy of your interaction, you will honor my two rules with your reply, comment, etc. This I choose to believe. I'm only nearly about to celebrate my 2nd KosVersary here, so I'm not quite a babe--yet certainly still a n00b.
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I feel relatively certain that different states are having different experiences.
For instance, my home State of Tennessee has been refused (by the refusal to establish Health Insurance Exchanges by our R/TP Governor, Haslam) the honor of having exchanges. Other States, like Texas for instance, created uninsured/under-insured pools last year to eliminate the need for the State's participation IN the healthcare exchanges.
Today, Governor Rick Perry signed the Death Certificate for these pools, advising the citizens of Texas to glom onto the Healthcare.gov site and sign up before January 1, 2014--or ELSE!
Note to the Texas AG: YES! The money from the pool really MUST be returned to the policy holders, as the liquidation of the insurance pool is, in fac....well, far be it from me to dare to presume to lecture anyone, much less the Texas State AG on insurance matters. However...
The experience of most Texans has been significant increase in benefits with a significant decrease in costs. So, while Texas tries to figure out how to steal a few billion in unearned benefits from a federal government who offered to give them away, you have "Governor Goodhair"'s permission to participate in ObamaCare, bless his little (miniscule, Dominionist yet barely visibleheart!) As the worst State in our Union for insureds of the qualified classes, this change could positively effect millions of citizens in the Lone Star State.
But you can bet your enchilada-encrusted Saguaro Cactii butt that Rick Perry, and the other millions of Dominionist God-Fearin' Texas-Christianscitizens ain't gonna pay into that damned Obamacare! No Siree! Those brown-skinned female peoples' others, danged citizens can have it, but Texas is NOT gonna pay for it! Or ELSE!
I feel relatively certain that different states are having different experiences as the Healthcare Exchange site continues to roll out in advance of the March 31, 2014 deadline.
Else is, in this case, to remain uninsured. Which is, according to the choice made by the good Governor, illegal. Texas chose not to have , or participate IN medical exchanges, remember? I do recollect noticing that they DID, however, include the funds they would have received in their 2014 General Budget. (You know, the constitutionally mandated balanced one.)
Governors and/or--err I mean Alec-controlled, I mean outright corruption-ridden numerous (26) legislatures are sadly finding that the reports of ObamaCare failure to be significantly premature, overexposed, and under-truthful.
This is NO way to have a fit, lemmeee tellz ya, cousin!
Yeah. 10:43 (minutes:Seconds)
Pretty disappointn' ain't it? Ya know what REALLY stinks?
My Medicare/TennCare is still better. Now if only I can figure out how to get good and honest, truth-tellin', God-Fearin' Tennesseans ta just PAY for i.....Oh, wait.
Nevermind. The good citizens of Tennessee DO pay for my Health Insurance, Hospitalization, Drugs, ....
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A Few Suggestions:
Use the Google Chrome web browser. If you simply cannot use Chrome, try Firefox, Do NOT use Internet Explorer, any version.
It will take you a few minutes to input your Username and Password. There are very specific requirements for creating acceptable entries for each; and they mean it. ("Choose wisely!")
You will have to provide a valid email address! You will have to authenticate your email to finally register your account.
After the system BOTH authenticates and accepts your valid email account...go shopping! insurance is still State-specific, but you will be shown the number of carriers available in your state (or market if you live in a major city/area), and at least one option for each level of the plans carried (Bronze, Silver, Gold).
Depending on the cirucmstance for your particular zipcode (and your annual income), you may qualify for financial assistance from the plan to either reduce or eliminate your cost/payments.
You still haven't chosen a plan. You can shop without doing so. You can also search your local area, or even the current Health Insurance you carry for alternatives or special opportunities available to you. You should do so.
You can save your searches, and come back later. You can (and definitely should) take the time to do your due diligence with this opportunity. I strongly encourage you to do so.
For me, today, this process took 10:43. Less than eleven minutes. In Tennessee. Today.
Sorry, Ezra. It werked purdy awesome fer me. YMMV
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One of the most obnoxious distinctions of the past few weeks has been the absolute lies coming from the Republican/Tea Party Terrorists about anything related to The Affordable Care Act. What I've written here is the truth as I experienced it. Today.
Can someone please tell me why the truth is so dangerous here, or anywhere?
I expect my electeds to tell me the truth. I really, really do. When they do not, I get so offended that I consider those requests of others to run (again) for Public Office.
Serving your constituencies is the first obligation of electeds. Sometimes, I am absolutely STUNNED at who those constituencies turn out to be.
"What is the color of their skin? What is their Earned/Gross/Net/Income level? What's in this for ME? How much is your lobby willing to pay for this privilege? Does ALEC have a Model Bill for this?"
I just think differently, that's all. I am accustomed to asking an entirely different set of qualifying questions:
1. What do they NEED for me to do in order for them to have a fair shake, or a fair shot, or a fair chance at living THEIR success...as THEY define it?
2. Do they live in my District? If so, what is their address? If not, same question. I'll at least get them to THEIR proper elected, no matter what! If so, when can we meet, in person within the next seven calendar days? (It's not a rule. It's a LAW!)
3. The first casualty of being a Public Servant is YOUR freedom, and YOUR opinions.
4. The first obligation of any elected is to directly communicate with their electors!
4. The first requirement of integrity is to speak the truth, no matter what. You can try to soften it, but not deflect it. You must speak it clearly, in a language and with words your elector clearly understands NOT to the point it (the truth) is understood. It (the truth) must be spoken so clearly to your electors that it (the truth) cannot be misunderstood.
5. Election to, and the engagement of Public Service is the highest honor the citizen will ever be afforded in this country in their lifetime. It is a bond, held in trust, based upon truth.
That's just a start, Buckwheat. I've got a much longer list. It's just mine. I wish more had one like it that they would willingly hand out to their potential electors long before election day.
Showing the error of someone else with the power of truth is only one part of the long battle of Public Service. You also have to expect others to tell truth to you. You also have to tell the truth, as you know or understand it, to those with whom you communicate. This Theorem is NOT reserved to only one party.
You can surely believe me when I tell you that this little set of rules is incredibly difficult to accomplish as a Public Servant. Of course, my first admonition is my first advice: Tell The Truth! If you cannot, will not, or feel you must not, you have already made the choice to voluntarily leave your elected position. Honor that choice, and give your electors a break, okay?
The only thing worse than what has directly threatened democracy in my land, as a Progressive these past weeks has been the sickening knowledge that MY Representative in TN-04, Scott Des Jarlais, is a Tea Party Member, and a most ultra-conservative Republican who went along with this insidious plan from the beginning. And he thinks himself honorable for having done so. He would have gladly voted (oops, DID!) to create the first ever default in the history of the United States Government. He is not a drinker of the Kool-Aid; he is a pourer of it. That IS the truth. (I will admit, we are not socially close, he and I.)
His electeds are, for lack of a more precise word, completely pissed at he and his party at this moment. So am I. AHA! Point of Agreement! YES! Now we can have dialogue!
As to what we must discuss, that is for a diary long away. To tell you the total truth, it is probably much further than 10:43 away.
It's still worth it.
For us all.