Word is that, on Thursday, as House Republicans are voting to repeal Obamacare and replace it with something that will leave tens of millions of Americans without health coverage, President Trump will sign two executive orders. The first, we’re told, will restore “religious liberty,” allowing anyone who claims to have deeply held religious beliefs, the right to discriminate against those they see as morally objectionable. And the second, building on that, would relax rules on churches that choose to get involved in politics. So, essentially, it’s a theocratic one-two punch right to the gut of our rapidly collapsing secular democracy. And, for what it’s worth, I suspect it’ll work for Trump. A good number of people, I’m sure, will be so thrilled with the idea that they’ll no longer have to bake birthday cakes for homosexuals and sell slices of pizza to people who might be transgender that they’ll totally overlook the fact that Congress has voted to significantly shorten their lifespans by passing Trumpcare into law… I could go on, but I’m fucking depressed… Pleases make the time today to call your Representative and demand that he or she vote against Trumpcare. And, then, if you don’t like the answer you get, find someone running against your Representative next election day, write a check, and then volunteer to knock on doors. This has to stop. And it has to stop today.
One last thing… For what it’s worth, those of you who screamed so loudly about Obama’s tendency to circumvent the legislative process by way of executive order should know that, when Donald Trump signs these two orders, it will bring his total to 35, which is more than Obama signed his entire first year as President. And Trump is only 105 days into his term… So, one question. Where’s the outrage now?
16 Comments
He’s finally presidenting smart, and that’s scary.
This is a disaster, of course … but part of me can’t wait to see the unintended consequences.
Who gets to decide what a “deeply held religious belief” even is?
What’s to stop individuals or small groups from forming a “religion” and using it as a basis for refusing to do nearly anything?
Just a heads-up: I’m thinking MY new religion may forbid me to go to work, pay bills, mow my lawn, etc. …
From Salon: “Trumpcare simply refuses to die — and so does the self-destructive ignorance of Donald Trump’s supporters”
Read more:
http://www.salon.com/2017/05/04/trumpcare-simply-refuses-to-die-and-so-does-the-self-destructive-ignorance-of-donald-trumps-supporters/
Repealing the Affordable Care Act would take health care away from 7 million veterans and also hurt children with special needs…
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/03/us/politics/health-bill-medicaid-special-education-affordable-care-act.html
SAMPLE CALL DIALOGUE
Caller: Good morning/afternoon! Can you let me know Rep. ______’s position on the American Health Care Act and the Upton proposal?
OPTION 1: IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVE OPPOSES THE AHCA
Staffer: Thank you for calling. Rep. ______ opposes this legislation.
Caller: That’s great! Please tell Rep. ____ thank you for opposing the bill. I’d like to hear him/her speak out in the media or on the House floor against repeal of the Affordable Care Act. She/he needs to make it clear that she/he wants to protect people with pre-existing conditions, those on Medicaid, and everyone else who depends on the Affordable Care Act for their health and wellbeing.
Staffer: I will certainly pass on your message to Rep. ______.
Caller: Please do. This is extremely important to me and I will be watching closely for her/his public statements in opposition. Thank you for your time.
OPTION 2: IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVE SUPPORTS THE AHCA
Staffer: Thank you for calling. Rep. _____ supports AHCA and the latest proposed changes.
Caller: I’m very disappointed to hear that. This bill would take away health care from millions of Americans, would cut the Medicaid program, and give $600 billion in tax breaks to the wealthy. With the proposed amendments, states could get rid of protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Money for high-risk pools that segregate the sick into to higher-cost plans will not solve this problem.
[I/my family member] am at risk of losing [my/his/her] insurance. [I/ my family member] have a pre-existing condition that before the ACA could be used by insurance companies to discriminate against me. My health depends on Rep. ____ voting against the American Health Care Act.
Staffer: I will certainly pass on your concerns to Rep. _________
Caller: Please do. This is extremely important to me and I will be watching closely. Thank you for your time.
OPTION 3: IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVE DODGES OR HAS NO OPINION ON AHCA
Staffer: Thank you for calling! I’m not sure if Rep. _____ supports or opposes the American Health Care Act at this time, but I’m happy to take down your concerns.
Caller: I’m disappointed to hear that and would ask Rep. ______ to oppose this bill.
Here are my concerns. This bill would leave millions more uninsured and cut Medicaid for the most vulnerable. And importantly, these new proposed amendments still undermine critical protections for people with pre-existing conditions.
[I/my family member] am at risk of losing [my/his/her] insurance. [I/ my family member] have a pre-existing condition that before the ACA could be used by insurance companies to discriminate against me. My health depends on Rep. ____ voting against the American Health Care Act.
I expect Rep. _______ to publicly state his/her opposition to this destructive bill and prioritize the health and wellbeing of his/her constituents.
Staffer: I will certainly pass on your concerns to Rep. ______.
Caller: Please do, and please take down my contact information to let me know when Rep. ______ has made up his/her mind. I’m eager to hear what he/she decides.
This has Pence’s stench all over it. Disgusting.
Yes, I’ll be dying sooner, as I no longer have health insurance, but every day I have on this earth will be exponentially better because I’ll know that I don’t have to sell cake to faggots. America!
Eel,
It’s not about life now. It’s about the afterlife.
“They are rushing through a chamber of Congress a bill reorganizing one-fifth of the economy, without even cursory attempts to gauge its impact. Its budgetary impact is as yet unknown. The same is true of its social impact, though the broad strokes are clear enough: Millions of Americans will lose access to medical care, and tens of thousands of them will die, and Congress is understandably eager to hasten these results without knowing them more precisely. Their haste and secrecy are a way of distancing the House Republicans from the immorality of their actions.”
Also in the news today…..
Trump administration moves to roll back Obamacare protections for trans people
http://thkpr.gs/3f6315b0ca52
Paul Ryan in 2009: “I don’t think we should pass bills that we haven’t read, that we don’t know what they cost.” http://bit.ly/2qvRQ81
From the Washington Post: “Heroin dealer cites religious freedom as his defense. Court says yeah, but what about the buyers?”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2017/05/04/heroin-dealer-cites-religious-freedom-as-his-defense-court-says-yeah-but-what-about-the-buyers/
“We’re gonna have a wonderful day and a wonderful vote and we’re gonna take care of a lot of people.” -A real quote from a few minutes ago outside the White House
It all depends what “taking care of” means …
NYT: House Passes Measure to Repeal and Replace the Affordable Care Act
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/04/us/politics/health-care-bill-vote.html
Over the course of the 20th Century, the U.S. invested an enormous amount of time and money attempting to improve the lives of ordinary Americans – Public Education, Public Health and Safety, Labor Laws, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Civil Rights, Environmental Protection, etc. … yet now, here the 21st Century, we seem determined to tear that all down.
Even more inexplicable … the millions of poor and working-class Americans who are enthusiastically (and often angrily, spitefully) cheering on the wealthy elites who are instigating this ugly class warfare.
WE CONDEMN THE PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE ORDER TODAY THAT LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR VASTLY INCREASED DISCRIMINATION ACROSS AMERICA.
President Trump signed an executive order today that begins the process of allowing organizations to discriminate against women, LGBT people and other oppressed communities in the name of religious liberty. “The President’s executive order has nothing to do with protecting religious liberty,” said Steven Goldstein, Executive Director of the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect. “Frankly, his order has everything to do with disrespecting the love at heart of religion, and with rolling back liberty for the most vulnerable in our society. His reign of human-rights tyranny continues.”