A question for my fellow skeptics:

[trotsky]

There are two fact-like items regarding the ACA that I'd like to get your thoughts on.

First, there is a general feeling that the ACA, while eliminating some of insurance companies' biggest abuses (denying coverage, raising premiums, etc.), is also a pretty good giveaway to them because it forces more people to buy coverage. I mean, this was originally a right-wing "free market" plan designed by Heritage, right?

Second, Republicans give every indication they hate the ACA and want it repealed.

So, given that Republicans love big business, and love the insurance big business, which one of the above fact-like items are wrong? Is it all a game? Do Repubs secretly like the ACA and it's all a show? Or does the ACA really put a burden on insurance companies?

That little conflict has had me wondering for awhile. Curious as to what others think.

[libodem]

1. I have a couple of

Acquaintances who are insurance execs. One repeated during our conversation, "What right do people have to health care?" "Why do people think they deserve it?"

I've since heard she has had to fire about 40 underlings. What a despicable job.

[trotsky]

3. It's depressing to hear fellow human beings being so cold and callous toward others.

Those are usually the ones they put in charge of firing people, that's for sure.

[libodem]

4. I couldn't do it

I'd rather be poor.

[skepticscott]

2. Republicans love big business, but they hate Obama more

They would do anything to keep him from getting lasting credit for this (and I think they know that it will work and be very well-liked in the long run).

[dimbear]

6. That would be my opinion also. The Rs see the ACA as a foot in the door, to be inevitably followed

by a system closer and closer to the European or Canadian models, which work and are well liked, but don't much please big pharma/medicine.

[Lordquinton]

5. The act does much more than just make people buy insurance

It places a lot of regulations on the Insurance industry, like no denial of coverage for a pre-existing condition, must spend most of their spending on coverage, and not advertising (or somesuch, the details elude me at the moment, but that's the gist) and enforces standards of coverage, so you can't be suckered into a plan that's in reality just giving the company money for nothing in return.

That's why they don't like it.

[Act_of_Reparation]

7. There are plenty of fish in the sea...

...and politics is a numbers game.

Sure, insurance is big business. But there are a lot of other, bigger businesses lining the GOP's pockets. In going after the ACA they may alienate health insurance and biotech, but they are going to keep enormous corporations with armies of underpaid uninsured workers, like major retailers, and probably gain ground with small business owners (who are numerically superior to big business).

The GOP also has to worry about it's rabid base. You can't help your corporate friends if you've been primaried out of office by some illiterate, mouth-breathing, tea party upstart, so insurance companies may have to take one for the team.