Three things about the ACA and the Republican legislative effort:
1) 1/3 of counties are down to one insurer, and one state had its final carrier announce this week that it is withdrawing from the market--i.e., the ACA is dead. The bugler is warming up for "Taps."
2) Single-payer means people die awaiting care, quality declines, and costs spiral. That's how government works, every time.
3) "Insurance for preexisting conditions" is not insurance. It's a gift. Consider fire insurance for preexisting fire: it's not insurance. It's a gift. Our society needs to decide what to do about the question of uninsurable, preexisting conditions. As in regard to all other public programs, there will have to be spending limits ("death panels"): there is no way an 85-year-old, fat, heavy smoker should receive a publicly-funded 12th heart operation. My belief is that this is best handled state-by-state, with different states providing different programs of coverage. Democrats no doubt will insist that the Federal Government handle it, because that makes borrowing money easier. In either event, an adult conversation needs to occur--but probably won't.
