The comments on Obamacare and Immigration "Reform" rightly indicate that both are deeply flawed pieces of legislation. Obamacare was forced down the throats of the American people despite deep opposition; the most recent polls show that more still oppose it than support it. Notwithstanding the fact that by redistributing wealth from the young and healthy to the older and sicker by requiring many to buy insurance they do not need, Obamacare is the most profound transfer of personal freedom to government overlords in this county's history. It was not well thought out, and recent delays in implementation by those who championed its passage show how untenable a plan it is. Obamacare (also called the Affordable Care Act) is not at all affordable, having already raised insurance premiums nationwide in anticipation of its enforcement.
Democrats (who passed it without a single Republican vote and must bear responsibility for the monster they created) claimed it would provide near universal coverage, but it still leaves 30,000,000 without insurance. In summary, Obamacare is a travesty that increases costs and leaves millions of Americans uncovered. It's a perfect example of making everyone suffer without fixing the problems of those it was meant to help. Let's be clear: Obamacare does not reduce cost or increase availability of health care. It just transfers more control to the government and steals from the young to give to the old. Don't forget that Obama had to take over $700 billion from Medicare in order to make the numbers for Obamacare work well enough to pass.
Immigration reform efforts are equally inadequate. The idea of granting permanent legal status and future citizenship to those how have violated our laws, without first securing our borders from further inflow of undesirables who might well have terrorist intentions, is completely unacceptable. Perhaps the most insulting part of the current proposals is how they grant the President and Secretary of Homeland Security the power to not enforce provisions they don't want to. Think this is crazy? Not worrying about? Obama has already delayed implementation of parts of Obamacare, which the law does not give him authority to do, because it is politically expedient for Democrats' election chances in 2014. Presidents are legally obligated to support our laws, but Obama did not defend the Defense of Marriage Act at the Supreme Court in accord with the wishes of his gay and lesbian voting base, and this could lead to federal enforcement of gay marriage despite state laws to the contrary. Obama's predilection for selective enforcement of laws he does not like combined with already lax security proposals show that Immigration "Reform" efforts are really poorly veiled Democrat voter drives. Adding millions of immigrants, illegal or not, adds to the costs that taxpaying Americans must bear. Their kids get schooling at our expense and they receive public assistance in the form of food stamps. To implement Obamacare, and then let more illegals into the country by not securing the borders, is a double blow to notions of budgetary rationality.
In short, both Obamacare and Immigration Reform in its current form should be stopped. Over time they can be fixed. But for now it's better to slow down. Keeping what we've got and know is better than rushing into newer programs that are worse.
Jim Nichols