Obama: GOP budget critics holding US 'hostage'

Lederman, Josh. (Sept. 20, 2013). Obama: GOP budget critics holding US 'hostage'. Austin American Statesman. http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/top-news/away-from-dc-obama-regroups-for-fiscal-showdowns/nZ3RY/

Category of problem: Healthcare

Level of problem: National level

The article concerns:

The House has passed a bill which will allow for the continuance of government operations while defunding Obamacare.

Why is this important to families/individuals OR how does it affect individuals/families?

Obamacare has the potential to extend health insurance to families who might otherwise not afford it. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s the one we have for now.

What are your views on the issue/policy?

Obamacare is a controversial issue. More than half of Americans oppose the Affordable Care Act, but a recent poll shows more than half of Americans do not fully understand what the law will do. I’m continually amazed by the ability of Americans to oppose issues that they know little about. It makes it very evident that most Americans formulate their political opinions strictly along partisan lines or based on one or two key values.

On one hand, the uncertainty surrounding Obamacare is understandable to a degree. We won’t really know what quality of insurance will be available and how much it will cost until the marketplace opens on October 1^st. We’re also not certain as to how employers and individuals will react to the mandate and can’t fully anticipate the economic effects the law will have. What we can be sure of, however, is that this is a step towards providing health insurance to those who are currently uninsurable. I have friends and family with chronic diseases who are eagerly looking forward to taking advantage of their first opportunity to obtain health insurance in many years.

Is the Affordable Care Act perfect? No. Will there be difficulties and set-backs in the effort to provide quality and affordable health care to all Americans? Of course! Instead of wasting time defunding this law, I would like to see politicians working towards solving the problems. Before Obamacare, health insurance for all Americans was a pipedream. With Obamacare, we are actively taking steps to make that dream a reality.