The Lost War Over Health Care

Despite the Republican Party’s tremendous electoral success, pseudo-conservatives have chosen to ignore basic economics in favor of their constituents.

Although Democrats may have lost the battle in the 2016 elections, the recent Republican failure to repeal Obamacare goes to show that they have been winning the war over the hearts and minds of the American public ever since. Republican leadership was close to passing a “skinny repeal,” and the final push was defeated by a single vote.

Despite the media’s near constant “crying wolf” act, Republicans are in a better position electorally than ever before. Democrats, clumped in urban centers, appear to have grown “out of touch” with Middle America, and even with President Trump’s abysmal approval ratings are unlikely to retake the House or Senate anytime soon. However, the Republican party of today, eager to retain power and spearheaded by a populist demagogue, has squandered every chance to effectuate the conservative principles it espoused mere months ago.

Unlike the American people, the Republicans have lacked the chutzpah to “vote with their feet.” The failed “skinny” (more like anorexic) repeal, while undoing the individual and employer mandates, would have maintained the obligation to cover pre-existing conditions, incentivizing consumers to wait until they become sick to purchase insurance. In doing so, it took no serious steps towards deregulation or dismantling the monopolistic health networks created under President Obama. It did not even touch Medicaid. The Republican bill was more reminiscent of Steve Bannon’s purported R-rated hobby than of quality legislation. And yet, this “show over substance” Hail Mary was still deemed too conservative to pass.

President Trump, along with some hardline conservatives, then attempted to appear unfazed, going so far as to claim that the Affordable Care Act’s impending collapse will be to the Republicans’ political advantage. Such a naïve rationalization, however, defies the golden rule of democracy: taking away benefits is much harder than doling them out.