This is what winning looks like:
So I walk into my aunt's office. My grandfather is there. He watches Fox News nearly all day long. He had me listening to Rush Limbaugh when I was 6. This is just to give you an idea of his political influences. (He's really a very nice and tolerant individual, he had no problem when my mom married my Mexican father, and adores my immigrant children, even when one of them was 'illegal' - conservative media changes people)
Anyway, he made a crack about how even though I'm starting to make some money (I've been unemployed for a while) I will be, as he put it, "... broke because of insurance."
Now, I usually avoid talking politics with family, but this was too juicy.
So I told him: "Actually, I just went online to Covered California yesterday, you know what my premium will be? $317"
He: "A month?"
Me: "Ya. For all five of us" (my wife and three kids) "You remember what our premium was with my old boss when it was only the three of us?"
"More than $1,800"
He: "Really?" (this was genuine, like he looked up and the sky was green)
Later, I mentioned to my aunt - who is more of a Ron Paul-esqe conservative (she thinks the world will end any second now due to Wall Street, but it's 'socialism's' fault) - that my family's monthly premium was only $317. Pretty cool that I was saving so much money, right? She took 30 minutes to validate this fact, and then reminded me that I would still have to pay payroll taxes.
I expressed concern tbeing a single 20-something with no kidshat my younger brother might be on the short end of the stick - - but then she told me not to worry because he'd covered by his employer. I didn't realize this.
I told her that I was under the impression that Obamacare would bring on the Zombie-apocalypse. But, it turns out it just helps me afford to keep my family healthy.
Her response: "Sure, but what about business owners?"